LOTS.GoInG.on

The Thanksgiving holiday and hunting season had me busy the past couple of weeks, and I am finally rested up now!  The hunting season was fun.  Unfortunately this was my third year that I ended the season empty-handed.  I entered the season thinking "there's no way I will not get one for a third year!!"  Well, it happened...again.  I am determined for next year!  There's no way it can happen 4 years in a row, right?  Thanksgiving was also delightful.  Luke and I spent Thanksgiving with his family and we had lots of yummy food, that's for sure!  Other news:  Wedding planning is still the same.  We won't have much to do until it gets closer now.  My parents got their Christmas tree last weekend and my mom has the house all decorated for the Holiday so I am excited to spend this weekend at home, sleeping in, and doing homework.  Oh, did I mention that I graduate college in 2 weeks?  EEEKKK!!  My semester has been so low-key, but now of course I have final projects due in all three classes that we just got assigned yesterday.  It's going to be a busy few weeks for me.  It's overwhelming to stop and think about all the changes that are happening in my life.  All for the good of course, but still overwhelming at times!  The change I'm most excited for is getting married!!!  Did you know Christmas is in 26 days!!!  WOOOHOOO!!  Enjoy the weekend, everyone.  I am headed home this weekend for a Christmas party and to relax!

The Valentino Family Chsitmas Tree



hunting Eve

Well, it's that time of year again....the Eve of the opening weekend of deer hunting in Wisconsin.  I thought a lot today back to my first years of deer hunting with my Dad.  12 years ago was my first year.  The first couple years we had feet and feet of snow!  I spent my first couple of years sitting with my Dad.  He was and still is such a great teacher in the outdoors.  He taught me everything I know about being an active outdoors-woman.  It started as just a tradition between me and my Dad.  Just him and I, every year, in our blaze orange, out in the woods.  A few years ago, my younger sister decided to take on the sport as well.  She came with us for 2 seasons, but just didn't have the interest in continuing the sport.  I am glad she tried it at least, because many of our young youth, especially girls don't try this male-dominated sport.  She was sitting with me when she got her first buck.  I guess Dad's good teaching skills rubbed off on me as well!  Luke was recently inducted into the Valentino Deer Camp as well.  This will be his 3rd year with us.  My brother-in-law Phil will also be joining us this year.  At times it's hard for me to face the fact that our family is growing from a hunting standpoint.  It's not just Dad and I out there anymore...Yes, I even had a hard time "letting" my own fiance join us.  It's not because I am a mean or selfish person.  A lot of people don't understand how seriously I take this sport and the fact that it has always been Me and Dad's "thing."  When your used to just the "me and dad thing" it's sometime difficult for me to step back and realize that other family members should be a part of it as well.  It will always be me and Dad's "thing" because it's been our special bonding time together for 12 years now!  I'm glad that I have so many years of special experiences hunting with Dad and I know we have many more years ahead.  Now, lets see if Luke and Phil can "roll with the big dogs this weekend."  Wish us all luck as we head to Valentino Deer Camp tonight and hunt trophy whitetail all weekend long!

    My Mom ordered us awesome hats and shirts for the occasion!

Wedding.Update

Our wedding is in 199 days!  I can't believe it!  In 199 days Luke and I's lives will change forever.  We won't just have ourselves to care of, we will have to take care of each other.  Every decision, big or little will be a decision that we will both make.  I know we are both ready to take on married life and enjoy the journey of life as partners!  Wedding planning has been going fairly smoothly.  We have our date set, location picked, wedding gown ordered, bridesmaid dresses picked, DJ set, and we have chosen and asked all of the lovely individuals to be part of our big day.  Next steps:  FIND A PASTOR!!!  Flowers, cake, tuxes, decorations.  Phew, there's  alot more left to do than I thought.  We fianlly finished our wedding website and want to share it with all of you.  YAY, I can finally update the "Our Wedding" tab above!!!  Check back to it often for updates!  Don't forget to save the date: June 2, 2012 :)

www.weddingwire.com/valentinosipple

Penne with Almond Sauce

I love cooking and this is one of my latest favorite recipes to cook.  It's great for this time of year.  Stick to your bones goodness!  It takes some time, but it is so worth it!  Definitely try this one out!

Penne with Almond Sauce:

Giada De Laurentiis

Ingredients:

1 lb. Penne Pasta

2 Cups Slivered Almonds

2.5 Cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth

3 Garlic Cloves, Finely Chopped

2 Rotiseree Chicken Breasts, Cubed

1 Cup Frozen Peas (Don't use canned)

3/4 Cup Heavy Cream

2 Cups Grated Parmesan

Directions:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and boil the pasta until Al Dente, about 8 to 10 minutes.

In a food processor, blend the almonds, chicken stock, and garlic until it becomes a puree with some texture at the bottom.  Pour the mixture into a skillet and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes until bubbly and it begins to thicken.  Add the cream, parmesan cheese, peas and chicken.  Let sit 2-3 minutes until chicken and peas are warmed through.

Pour the cooked and drained pasta into the sauce mixture and toss until evenly coated.  Transfer the dish into a large serving bowl and enjoy!

 

Bundle oF joY

I spent the morning in my favorite spot:  up in a tree, all bundled up, and watching the deer.  Max spent the morning in his favorite spot:  up in my bed, all bundled up in a blanket, taking a nap.  What do we have in common?  We both sported our fancy camo clothing this morning.  It's scary how much I have in common with this dog.  I feel like he is me; in a dog's body :)  Have a Happy Thursday!

Can you see us???

all.Hallows.eve

I hope everyone had a great Halloween!  I spent it casually, hanging out with my in-laws, having pizza, and handing out candy to little children (I mostly ate it though).  As I've gotten older, I never got into the whole Halloween scene.  What I mean by that is: I was never the type of person in college to dress up and go hang out a bar.  Not my thing!  I like to keep Halloween strictly as a childhood memory.  This year brought me back to a special Halloween.  This year was the 20 year anniversary of the big Halloween snow storm of 1991.  I was 2 years old and my Mom, Dad, Sister, and I lived in Chaska, MN at the time.  I was too young to remember, but we have bins and bins of home videos (I am so grateful that my parents took home-videos of us all the time when we were younger!) and one of our videos is of Halloween in 1991.  My mom made pumpkin costumes for my older sister and I and my dad took us out in the snowy blizzard, and pulled us on a sled to go trick-or-treating.  We were SOOOO bundled up with hats, scarves, snow suits (thanks mom) that we could hardly see anything.  Thankfully we had our Dad to pull us around.  What a Dad!  Thinking back to that Halloween today literally made me cry.  I can't believe that was 20 years ago.  Time really does go by so fast!  I am so happy that my parents captured many of these special moments of my childhood on video so that I can always go back and watch what life was like back when I was little.  I will definitely do this someday for my children because one of my family's favorite things to do is sit together and watch our home-videos.  Thanks Mom and Dad, for capturing childhood moments that I would not know or remember if you hadn't caught them on film!  You don't know how much it means to me.  Love You! 

       I Love Treats!

1991 Halloween Blizzard Snow Fall Totals