My Newest Addiction

Since the remainder of the summer will consist of writing my thesis and analyzing data, that leaves me with a lot of time to go crazy and surf the web. Since I'm planning my wedding right now, I've discovered a new addiction that I've created for myself. I love, I mean LOVE looking at different wedding blogs and different photographers blogs for weddings.

I mean, you have no idea, I love looking at all the pretty pictures with real life people who look so magical on their wedding day that they look like movie stars. Everyone that surrounds these magical people look like movie stars too, its like some aura that the married people put off. It never ceases to amaze me how these people look.

One of my favs is www.weddingchicks.com, they have such chic and wonderfully simple looking weddings on their site. The types of weddings I really want to pull off but of course, I will fall short of their professionally planned soirees.

On this blog site are some of my favorite photography sites, they are listed on the main page on the right hand side. My photographers are also featured on their site, if you look under Nebraska, they are the Leekers. Their blog is fab as well, they are kinda new to the whole wedding thing but the few wedding pics I've seen on their blog I love. Their blog site is www.theleekers.com/blog.

I love looking at dresses, I want to see my flowers, I got my DJ booked (and even in dramatic fashion, beating out another bride!), I have my place and I even have my invites picked out (I think). I have nothing to do now, zip, nada, nothing, except keep working out.

Speaking of working out, its going great! Even though I have to get up at the break of dawn to go three days a week its totally worth it! I'm already seeing results and so I can't even imagine how I will look a year from now (not to toot my own horn or anything).

Oh, and the house is finally coming together! I love the color of my bedroom and bathroom. Its a color called soft denim, its a lovely blue that adds a punch but isn't overwhelming. Its a neutral blue that a lot of bright fun accent colors will be able to go with. I'm excited to have some money saved up to buy a new comforter and stuff for it.

I need to get the guest room (also called the green room) into shape and fast, we have friends coming! Katie, Anessa and Dom are all coming for a visit and I'm excited to see them!

Ok thats all for now, have a great Tuesday everyone!

The Bebe!!

BAM! As promised in the last post I have uploaded pics of Harley. He is so sweet and fitting right in and is learning manners even though I can tell its hard for him. We took him down to the lake last weekend for the fourth and I think he is still recovering.

Other than that, nothing else is really going on, I'll get in the mood to write one of these days I promise just not right now:)

Peace out home slices!

I've Gone Crazy

The reason I say this is because I looked in the mirror and I decided that I need to start getting in shape for my wedding. Yes, I know its a year away, however its never to early to start getting in shape. After doing some thinking about how I can't stay motivated to go to the gym by myself, I decided to go the class route. I then decided that I'm going to do a two week trial with this boot camp. The kicker is that the only class that really fits well into my schedule is at 5:15 in the freakin morning!!! Mark thinks I've gone crazy because I'm getting up so early to go to this class three days a week. However, I went and I got such a good workout!!! Its only 45 minutes and its painful, however I know I'll see results if I stick with it. It always helps when you have some lady yelling at you and the motivation of not being the quitter in the class.

As with the house, we are working on it. The master bedroom is almost done and Mark's parents are coming up next weekend to help us finish it. Harley is doing well, we are still working on manners however we know we can trust him not to make messes in the house when we are gone for a long period of time, which is huge in my book. Other than that, he is learning that the world does not revolve around him, which is painful for him but he is learning.

Other than that, school is going well. I'm plugging away at my thesis and finishing writing a grant this week and I'll start working on my presentation for the conference I have in July in Denver. All the while I'm trying to finish up lab work. Staying busy as always!!

Hope everyone out there in blog land is doing well!! I promise I'm going to get better at this one day:)

P.S. I promise in the next post I'll put up pics of Harley. I was going to do it here but my camera and computer are being slow. Boooo, I know!

Settling the Homestead

Hello All!!!!

Well we are all officially moved in to 1342 Idylwild Dr.! It was quite an exhausting week, the last week of May we began the big push to move everything over to the little cottage. It is so great, I love living here even more than I thought I would. Although our master bedroom is not quite ready yet, Mark has mudded the drywall so pretty soon all we have to do is paint it:). I'm so excited for the bedroom to get done!! Once its all done, we will HAVE TO have visitors!

Also, another exciting piece of news is that we got a dog!! Yes, I talked Mark into getting me a dog! His name is Harley and he is a 10 month old boston terrier, he is absolutely adorable, however we do have some manners issues to work out. He can get a bit bossy with us, but we are working through it!

With all of the hustle and bustle of moving, wedding planning had gone on the back burner. However, now that we are somewhat settled, I feel better about going back into planning and booking mode. We are now trying to nail down our photographer, I'm really excited about these people, its a husband and wife team and they seem to get what I'm looking for in my wedding pics. They are the Leekers, their website is www.theleekers.com, they are great fun and have some pretty awesome credentials.

However, the people that we have booked so far are the venue (Wilderness Ridge Lodge), cake, which is ever so important (the Cup). Also, the cake lady, Kristin is fab! She is so great and got what I wanted for the cakes right away, I'm so excited to work with her! The florist, which is Blooms and Bouqets, her name is Melissa and she is just as fabulous! She and I are having a peacock feather/earthy theme. I'm so excited to see the finished product.

However, with planning the wedding, I'm still struggling with picking out the bridesmaid dresses. I didn't know finding a grey bridesmaid dress would be this difficult, oh well I have tons and tons of time! I'll find something great really soon I'm sure:)

Thats whats going on in the Hahn-Didde household, hope all is well with you guys!!

I'm the worst blogger ever

I always forget that I have a blog. But, this will change, I promise! I need to set time aside each week to write about my adventures.

Well, last week Mark closed on the house, so now the house is OURS! Well, his but mine by default. So, last week the floor guy came up and he proceeded to rip out some of the old floor and sand down the wood floor that was already laid. He also began laying down new floor last week in the kitchen and dining room. However, half of our house is still floor-less.

Then, last weekend the future in laws (aka Mark's parents) and sister came up to help do some things around the house such as landscaping and painting the garage and such. Well, Friday night Mark and his dad are in the master bedroom (which is small) and decided to rip out the closet. They then decided that it would behoove us to move a wall a foot and another wall a foot. Thats right, Mark and his dad moved two walls in my house last weekend. I have no floors in 1/2 the house, I don't have two walls and I have to move in 3 weeks. Oh well, hopefully all of this gets done soon.

I have to go to Indiana today to accept some money, I'll be back on Thursday. Hopefully then most of the house that doesn't have floors will have floors again. That will make me feel better about the situation.

I wish I could say that I have pictures from this, sadly I don't. I know I need to become a better historian. I thought that was something that comes with age, but apparently this takes effort. I was going to post pics so that way you could see the house now and then when you come up to visit fully appreciate the state it is in finished.

Wedding planning is going. I'm really slow. I need to get on the ball about some stuff, its just that I feel some things can wait, considering I don't have walls.

Oh, but back with the house, the outside looks 21903597658934 times better than when we bought it. Thanks mostly to Mark's mom, she told us what to do.

Also, I'm officially an old woman, I have an herb garden and I will soon have tomato plants. I need to plant mint in my front pot for mojitos!

Ok, I need to get back to work. Peace out!

Such a good week and weekend!

Well, everyone that reads this already knows that Mark FINALLY proposed and we are now engaged:) It was such a wonderful surprise on Easter Sunday, he did it when I was least expecting it since two of our very close friends got engaged just three short days before that. But, we are so excited and me going to so many weddings, I know exactly what I want and where I want to have it. So, Friday we went and looked at a reception/ceremony location. It will be at Wilderness Ridge Golf Course, the wedding will be outside and then the guests and the group will walk up to the clubhouse for the reception. That is all I have planned right now, future wedding plans will be posted as they come up:)

This weekend I ventured to Manhattan, while Mark went to KC to meet up with some friends that were on his internship in Las Vegas. I went to Manhattan to meet up with my very preggo friend Riley and see Annie, Hallee, Claire and Katie. It was so great to see them all again and to catch up. We haven't seen eachother in so long but whenever we get together the conversation flows like we've been living together this whole time, its so great. Then, today when I got back into town, I went to the Chi Omega sibling day and we had so much fun in the beautiful weather at Holmes Lake Park. But, now I'm so pooped and I'm ready for bed. Pics and everything will be up later this week. Peace out everyone and keep it real!

Dana

Such a semi-lazy Sunday afternoon

This weekend, I feel like I've been working really really hard up until 5 minutes ago. I've been going into the lab this weekend to catch up on some work so I can make myself feel better about taking the weekend off in a couple of weeks. Also, I need to do a lot of lab work so I can go with the horse judging team in the middle of April and take 3 days off.



Anyway, today I worked until noon, then I went out and rode my horse. I came home and lounged (because its the weekend, and I can do that). Now, I decided that I should probably start putting a presentation together that I have to give in a week. But, here I am, typing.



As for anything new, nothing is new. I haven't heard a lot about my comps, however I did hear from my advisor that I did very well on her questions. So, still be keeping your fingers crossed that I passed with flying colors! Mark left me to go to KC for the weekend to help his sister paint her new house. I would've gone, but I had the aforementioned lab work to complete.



Oh, we bought new furniture for the house! Slumberland was having a super sale and we scored a sofa, love seat, two end tables and a coffee table for a helluva price. I'm very excited about it, again I can't wait to move into the new house!



Also, since the weather has decided to turn nice, I've been running outside and its been so great. I'm trying to get into bikini shape before we go down to the Lake of the Ozarks at the end of May. Hopefully all the running and riding I'm going to be doing will help slim me down fast.



Sigh, ok well I should probably get back to working on my presentation. Man, I feel sorry for these people that have to listen to this, they have to listen to me ramble on about crap for 40 minutes. Oh well. Happy days everyone!

I changed my look:)

Due to the fact that "my house" passed inspection and Mark and I (well Mark) are getting it, I changed the color of my blog. I feel that the new layout reflects my house's style, laid back, cool, and uncluttered. I'm so excited to move in I can't believe that I have to wait two more months before I move in!

Other than that, I'm totally nervous about my comprehensive exam tomorrrow. I've been told my pretty much everyone that I'm going to pass. The test is pass/fail, so I don't need a certain percentage to pass it which takes some of the pressure off.

Well, Mark is laughing histarically in the bedroom, watching America's Funniest Home Videos so I better see what he is laughing about.

Oh, and I heart Bravo, they have the best junk food tv for my brain.

In case you need to watch something funny, this is what I watched today when I needed a break from studying:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zi9zcRDeEcQ&feature=related

I leave you with that link, go ahead, click on it.....

All of the sudden, I feel very grown up....

Ok, I was trying to put these at the end, but I'm lazy and I don't want to move them. So, here is the house! Excuse the random people, they are family.

Yes, yes its true. Maybe a year late, but I feel like that all of the sudden I've been thrust from poor college student to you-have-to-be-an-adult poor college student. No, I'm not preggo or engaged (although last week at the wedding I did tell Mark that if he took the bouquet I caught we were officially engaged, don't ask, I was drunk). Mark recently bought a very cute little house for us to live in together. I'm very excited about it, we close May 3 and we aren't moving in until our lease is up at the apartment, which is the very end of May. So, the month that we have it we are going to redo the wood floors and do some painting. This way when we move in we hopefully have everything that we have to cover funiture for done.

Also, this week, I'm taking my comprehensive exam. For those who don't know what this is, it is an exam that your committee members make. I have three committee members and they will each submit 2 to 3 questions each, and some of these questions will be open book and most will be closed. I have all day to complete these questions. So Wednesday night, if your in Lincoln, you'll find me at Risky's which is right behind east campus. Come by and have a beer with me!

So, as you can see, I'm moving closer to graduating and moving into a house...yes, I'm being forced to become an adult and less of a beer slugging idiot. Although I never knew when this day would come, I'm actually excited about all of these changes. It keeps me going and makes me feel like even though I am in school, I'm not falling behind in making all of these key transitions.

Ok, now the moment you've all been waiting for...the house

Please excuse the random people in the pics, they are family members who were walking through with us!

Down in Georgia where the peaches grow...they drink coca cola and talk real slow...

Well, I've been back from Atlanta for a week. To catch up those who don't know, I was in Atlanta for a poultry conference (yes, get your giggles out now). I had to present some very important findings from the first half of my research on Monday. Then, we were there until Thursday morning and the rest of the days I took in the meetings, the people and the sights of Atlanta and proceeded to get my name out there in the poultry industry. I had a lot of fun and made some really great contacts. It renewed my excitement for all of my research and getting my M.S. done. Speaking of that, I've finally gotten a ballpark date for my comps (for those who don't know, in order to get a M.S. degree, you have to pass an exam given out by your committee and then write and defend your thesis), my date is around the first of March. So I need to get crackin on studying!

Other than that, I'm a crappy blogger. I think about blogging a lot, but just never get around to it, and for that my followers I apologize.

Anyway, since the weather has decided to be halfway decent (and I mean temperature wise) I've been getting in a lot more riding lately. Charlie is coming along nicely and hopefully I'll be able to show him this year. Keep your fingers crossed.

Oh, and a large piece of news that I need to share. Mark has recently decided that he (and by defalt, I) are financially prepared to buy a house. So, now we embark on the daunting task of finding one that fits us. I'll be sure and keep you posted on what we like and what we end up with. In order to get the tax credit, we have to move kinda quick (by April 30), so hopefully we will find something quick. Oh, and for those who read this as a sign that we will remain in Lincoln for ever and ever are wrong! Haha, since I'm getting my Ph.D. and we will be here for about 4 more years, it makes more sense for us to buy and then sell when I get a job rather than rent for 4 years.

Other than the above, that is whats new in my life. Let me know whats happening in yours! Leave comments, I love to read them, but only the nice ones, no mean ones please:)

Happy Days!

Fun times had by all

Last weekend the wonderful and fabulous Katie Franke came to visit me. We had the most wonderful time hanging around the apartment playing the Wii, eating out and playing with the ponies. She is planning on coming back over spring break, but I think is mostly so she can play with Wii and Charlie.
When Katie sadly had to leave us to go back to Manhattan, Mark and I decided to go to a movie. We ventured downtown to see the 3D viewing of Avatar. For those who don't think they will like it, go see it in 3D, its well worth the trip. Its so cool! I normally don't like those types of movies, but Mark and I both really liked it. It is a long movie though (2 and a half hours), so be prepared to take a pee break in there.
Other than that, I'm just trying to stick with my workout plan (which consists of running, and I recently added pilates and then I'm also going to add another workout video, but I have yet to get that from Amazon). I'm also preparing to go to Atlanta next week for the International Poultry Expo to present my research findings for half of my trial. Don't worry fans, I will take many pictures of the expo and around Atlanta. I'm pretty exctied, I've never been to Atlanta so its sure to be a good time.
Alright, I better get back to work before people catch on to what I'm doing. Happy day!

What do you want to do before you die?

I know its the trashiest channel, but MTV has come up with a concept for a show that genuinely intrigues me. Its called the Buired Life, and its about these 4 friends that make lists of 100 things they want to do before they die, and they go out on the road to accomplish these goals. Its the 20 somethings bucket list. The concept of the show has compelled me to think about some things I would want to do before I die. I know I've already accomplished some of the things on my list, and things that are probably on everyone's list. There are crazy, rediculous things I want to do, and some things that will be readily achievable. But, below is a short list of what I want to do before I die (in no particular order):
1. Get Married
2. Have a kid (shocking, I know but hopefully I'll get to that sometime...Not soon, but sometime)
3. Finish School
4. Go to Europe
5. Go to Germany (I guess this can be included in Europe, but I really REALLY want to go to Germany)
6. Go to Hawaii
7. Compete at the World Show (Quarter horse or Paint horse, don't care)
8. Place top ten at the world show
9. Win a world buckle
10. Go to a fabulous rich person party
11. Have a character in WoW reach level 80 (or 85 when the new installment comes out)

That is the short list, its not everything but just some things I could think of off the top of my head.
Think about what you want to do before you die, its kinda fun.
Happy Day!