Turntable Tuesday | Alice in Chains, Jar of Flies

I could be wrong but I don't know how you could have been a teenager in the 90's and not listen to Alice in Chains, especially the album Jar of Flies. I guess my age is really starting to show when I can remember this playing on MTV and now thinking how in the hell is this record over 20 years old! I mean where did the time go!?

Jar of Flies was the release by Alice in Chains in 1993. An interesting fact I recently read about this album was it actually was never intended to be released at all. That just simply blows my mind! Written and recorded in just one week this Grammy nominated and has since been certified triple platinum.

Part of what we all know now as the grunge scene Alice in Chains too were from Seattle and with songs from Jar of Flies like No Excuses, I Stay Away and Don't Follow cemented them forever as one of the best and most well known bands of this era. Sadly with the passing of Layne Staley the music that Alice in Chains could have went onto make was not meant to be but for a brief period of time we were graced with some pretty amazing music that will live on forever!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Northwoods Life | Surviving

I have seen a lot of other bloggers picking a "word" for the year. I really didn't think I would be one of those bloggers to get into that type of thing myself but so far 2015 hasn't been what I thought it would be. Right now I am thinking "survive"... but maybe I am wrong but at this moment that's all I can think about trying to do. 

I have been pretty quite the past few weeks and falling behind on weekly posts that I have been really wanting to write but haven't had the energy for. As I write this I hardly have the energy for this one even, and let me tell you..... IT SUCKS! Basically without getting into too many nasty details I have just had a hell of a case of the flu and I HATE being sick! It makes me feel pretty worthless to both myself and the people around me and the last thing I want to be is some big complainer. It all started a little over two weeks ago when some pretty stressful work stuff combined with stressful personal stuff snuck up on me leading to high anxiety and not very good self care practices allowed this bug to get me.

I am of the conclusion that I just need to really start taking better care of myself body, mind and soul. Maybe that means my blog slips a bit, maybe that means I sleep later than I should, maybe that means picking up a book rather than chasing down emails, maybe that means instead of going for that tasty cheesy bite I choose something a bit more green and fresh and maybe that means getting outside and get moving even if it is cold. 

I finally went and got some meds today. I am not a big fan of doing that but I needed to get a clear and positive mind so I can really make 2015 a better year than January has been so far to me. Oh and a deer literally ran into the side of our suburban several weeks ago setting off both sets of side airbags and has been in the shop for almost a month... so that has been insult to injury with all of the sickness garbage too. 

Anyone else out there having a rough 2015 so far? With February around the corner I am determined to turn things around!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Trainspotting Soundtrack

What can I say, 2015 blogging didn't exactly take off like I thought... some life came and happened. Between some work, some sickness and a damn deer taking out the side of my suburban it's been a real fun start of the year what can I say! I have decided that I am going to try to not be so hard on myself if I miss a post or am late posting now and again. 

So in terms of records we all have our "whales" if you will and the soundtrack to the movie Trainspotting was my husband's. Recently he saw it for sale and he had to understandably have it! I know I watched the movie as a teenager back in 1996 directed by Danny Boyle and starring a young Ewan McGregor & Jonny Lee Miller like my husband when he was the same age but he lived for the soundtrack of this movie. I even recently read that in 2007 the editors of Vanity Fair magazine ranked the Trainspotting soundtrack as the 7th best soundtrack in history too. 

Listening to this soundtrack now present day it really is amazing and timeless almost 20 years later. Songs by artists like David Bowie, Underworld, Joy Division, Iggy Pop, Primal Scream, Lou Reed, Elastica and more... its just awesome! If you want to learn a bit more about this crazy 90's drug fueled capper, check out on Trainspotting IMDB. Plus the sunny, neon orange vinyl simply makes me smile when I know I could really use it, how about you?!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Thirsty Thursday | Widmer Brothers, Brrr Seasonal Ale

Hello and welcome to the first Thirsty Thursday of 2015! Considering the temperatures have been rather frightfully frigid in the Northwoods at the beginning of this new year I thought that it would be more than fitting going with a beer named Brrr! At the time I am writing this post it currently is -9 with a windchill / feels like temperature of -30 below zero with a weather advisory to limit outdoor exposure. So we will stay indoors with a tasty beverage instead, don't you agree?!

Over our holiday travels we were in Illinois to see family and while there we stopped at a well known liquor store chain called Binny's... it's pretty awesome and one of those must stop places whenever we are in the vicinity of one. This past trip we picked up lots of goodies and the Widmer Brother's Brrr Seasonal Ale was one of them!

According to the Widmer Brother's website Brrr is a hoppy Northwestern-style red ale which was pleasantly surprising for a seasonal winter beer. Many limited limited releases this time of year are either quite heavy like a stout or overly done on the spices like a holiday beer. A nice balance of hop and malt bring this brew to a 7.2% ABV which does exactly what should this time of year, warm you up a bit. I'd like to think these brothers from Oregon created this beer to keep you warm in the winter, but something tells me they have no idea what this latest Arctic blast in Northern Wisconsin would be like!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photograph: Fornear Photo

Northwoods Life | Polar Bear Plunge

I am not sure about your neck of the woods but in mine January is pretty damn cold time of year (as I am writing this the current temp is -8 with a windchill/feels like temp of -26 below. Yeah) This means it's cold old enough to stand, snowmobile and even drive a car on the frozen lakes in the neighborhood. For the last 15 years on the Saturday after New Years people have been cutting a huge hole in one of said frozen lakes and folks jumping in all for a good cause! Note I am NOT one of those crazy people, I don't mind winter but jumping into cold ass water... hell no! I am happy to go drink beer and cheer everyone on in support however! Check out the awesome Sprecher Brewing Beer Rescue Ambulance that came out for the day too!

I told you was drinking beer in support, ha!

Even one of my sisters and her two littles came out to watch!

Held at Bonnie's Lakeside in Three Lakes, Wisconsin this year there was over 100 jumpers dressed in lots of wild costumes and at a new location they raised over $50,000 for Angel On My Shoulder a fantastic local organization that helps those with and affected by cancer, especially children. One of the biggest things Angel does is puts on camps for kids who's family members have been affected by cancer and allow them time away from the situation to just be a kid again. Having been one of these kids myself (my father passed way from pancreatic cancer when I was 10 years old and my sisters 7, 7 and 5) I always think this would have been great had it been around when we were kids. Please go to their website to learn more, it really is a great cause!

When I was first out of college I helped at some of their first jumps and I am happy to say the brewery I work for now helped get involve this year too which means I will get to be a part of it going forward in the years to come. The weeks leading up to the plunge even had a 30 hour pledge-a-thon put on by the local radio station WRJO where I spoke on-air and even had several cases of gourmet soda donated away to people making some of the larger pledges toward the end of the drive. It was a blast!

The jumpers had it pretty good this year in terms of conditions, little wind and a balmy 29 degrees... it was the perfect day (with some liquid courage) to jump into a frozen lake. As you can see from the pictures it was an amazing turn out! So I have to ask... would you do something like this for a good cause??!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Turntable Tuesday | Run the Jewels, Run the Jewels 2

Are you into rap music? Well today I have a treat for you! Full disclosure... for a long time I was never really into rap, I think it was a relatability issue for me (I live and grew up in the quite Northwoods of Wisconsin, hours from the hardships others face in larger cities that many rap albums portray) not necessarily the actually sound of it. Through the years I have really grown to love old school rap and appreciate new rap as well.

My husband is the one who introduced me to Run the Jewels the rap duo of acclaimed Atlanta rapper Killer Mike and New York based rapper / producer El-P. The album Run the Jewels 2 (as the album indicates) is their second studio release and was also recently ranked the #1 album of Pitchfork's Top 50 2014 albums. With awesome hooks, beats and lyrically does not simply repeat for the sake of repeating (a rarity amid it's pears) there is never a dull moment while listening to Run the Jewels 2!

We have pretty much been listening to this nonstop since arrived in early December both on vinyl and as digital download in the car as well. Word of WARNING for those of you faint of heart... this one is quite vulgar and NC17. You might not know it from my posts but I can certainly have a mouth of a trucker at times and work in a very male dominated industry so I rarely take offense to that type of thing but I understand that it might not be for everyone, hence the warning. That said, if hip-hop music IS your thing this really is a great album and you should give it a spin today!

Credits | Author: Krista & Photography: Fornear Photo

Fornear Photo Friday | Jordan & Alison, Mequon WI Wedding

On a beautiful sunny day in early August on a day that was literally perfect by Wisconsin standards (not too hot or too cold) we shot one of our most fun and relaxing weddings of 2014 ... Jordan & Alison's. Personally they are both two of the kindest, easygoing and best natured people you can meet with a pretty crazy sense of humor to boot!

Like I have mentioned before I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE when couples choose to do a First Look! I have heard countless times from the brides and grooms who do this say it's not only even more special to them but helps calm their nerves before the ceremony in addition to have some of that much needed alone time with each other on a busy wedding day.

Note Alison & Jordan's awesome funny faces... I think they hands down win those of anyone we have met! I told you they have great personalities!

Both ceremony and reception were held in and on the grounds of the beautiful facility of Shully's Cuisine & Events near downtown Mequon, Wisconsin. We had countless photo opportunity spots and everyone was extremely accommodating. Before the vows bean bag toss was being played, refreshing cocktails and appetizers were served under a covered tent, the ceremony was set outside near a pond and under a large tree with the reception in Shully's brand new banquet hall with all of the bell's and whistles (fun fact when we booked Alison & Jordan they had already booked their wedding at Shully's but the new facility was still under construction!)

Lots of lovingly handmade signs informing, directing and thanking (including us!!) were designed. Centerpieces were made up of Alison & Jordan's photos of themselves at the age of the corresponding table number (which is so fun for people to see!) And this cake Made by Deb is just fantastic!  

Such a great day and great people, much love and happiness goes out to these two newlyweds!

Credits | Author: Krista, Photography: Fornear Photo, Reception: Shully's Cuisine & Events in Mequon WI

Happy New Years | Thoughts & Goals

Happy New Year 2015 friends! 

I think for the first time in my post 21yrs old life I hadn't had any set plans for New Years Eve this year. It was both odd yet felt perfect right. We ended up having an engagement shoot with a great couple from Milwaukee who wanted some shots in the snow of the Northwoods (and boy did they ever, snow angels and all!), then on a whim we hit up our favorite local brewery, Tribute Brewing for just a couple of beers and since they close at 9pm we headed home for a very late dinner making of NY strip steak toped w/ blue cheese & mushrooms, roasted potatoes and cheesy pull apart bread with a bit more craft beer and even some wine. Full and sleepy we hardly made it to midnight when my husband lit off a few fireworks and we called it a night... fun times!

It's funny I think I am sure I am like many others with making "resolutions" in the sense of them, you know the "this year I am getting my act together on X, Y, Z..." but after not being able to sleep after our exciting night, I thought maybe rather than resolutions I would work up a few "goals" and JUST MAYBE if I got them down I can hold myself a bit more accountable. 

Sitting here with a hot cup of coffee and quietly jamming out to The Shins, I realized that over the years I have found I more of a list making person than I ever thought I was. So in the spirit of lists here is what I came up with for my 2015 goals.

What do you think? I am hoping they will be both inspiring and do-able! We have personally have some big plans for the year and I can't wait to share them with everyone as they unfold. Here's to a great 2015!

Credits | Author & Graphic Design Images: Krista