A couple Saturdays ago I went with a group of friends to a Beer and Cheese Festival in a huge convention center in Madison. It was basically like Disney World for adults. 

I had gone to two Wine and Cheese Banquets before at Bucknell. They did it each year for graduation - so I went twice, one for my boyfriend's (who graduated a year before me), and once for mine. It was definitely a nice banquet they put on for graduating seniors. They gave you 3 free plastic cups of wine. You gave them 4 years of the third-highest tuition in the nation.

The Wine and Cheese banquet was naturally more sophisticated - so I naturally liked the beer and cheese one more :) I have this theory that everything is more fun if you're allowed to wear jeans. Everyone I went with was new to this Isthmus festival, so we did have one regret: we forgot out pretzel necklaces.

That's right - all the experienced Wisconsinites, in addition to stuffing their faces with cheese and beer, wore homemade strings around their necks with PRETZELS. It took serious self restraint not walk up to a stranger and eat pretzels from their necks. Because when you have an eternal supply of beer, cheese, and even some specialty tables with sausage, butter, and chocolate - pretzels are the only missing piece.

Well, that, and brats:

I've only had one brat in Wisconsin so far - at a Brewer's vs Phillies game with my boyfriend in September. He bought me a brat, and on the 3 second walk back to my seat, I dropped my brat on the cement. So he went back and bought me another brat, and missed something super exciting because of it.  Then I got nominated for the world's best girlfriend. Oh wait, that was when my mom and sister sent him birthday cards and gifts but I somehow didn't manage to get a card out in time. :)

Fortunately, I managed not to drop my tasting glass at the Beer and Cheese festival - every time someone broke (and shattered) a glass - the whole huge room of people cheered for their clumsiness.

If only I had managed any applause when I ruined my brat at the Brewer's game.

Hope your Januaries are going well...It's almost month number 2. One month closer to summer :)

two thousand twelve

It has been many sunrises and sunsets since I posted on here, but don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you! I'd like to say I haven't been blogging because I've been doing something super valuable - you know, saving Rainforests, running for office, training for a marathon - but I've pretty much just been relaxing. And loving it :)

I had a wonderful time at home with my sisters and parents - it was my longest Christmas break in 4 years! Special shout out to all the ballers who were still hooping on December 26th. Personally, you couldn't have got me to go to a basketball court on December 26th had you given me a million dollars. Or told me that Lil Wayne and Taylor Swift were going to give me a private concert there and then after it Prince Harry of Wales was going to propose.

Don't you agree that Lil Wayne and T-Swift should tour together? I've been saying it for years. And no, I'm not actually attracted to Prince Harry, I'm just saying, if things fall through with my current boyfriend, sharing Kate Middleton's wardrobe? HUGE INCENTIVE. Let's start with that darling white dress...

Anyway, it was so nice to spend more time with my family around the holidays than usual. While most of my friends were complaining about their shortest break in four years - mine was quite the opposite! I guess everything is relative.

The pictures above are all from Madison, I just love living by Lake Monona - so beautiful to drive by in the morning. My only problem is, when I try to go for runs by the lake, using my iPhone's Pandora app - all I ever want to do is stop and take pictures. Not much of a workout.

And yes, even though it is nearly mid-January, I am still able to run comfortably outside in Madison, Wisconsin! Crazy. We are supposed to get some snow tonight though...I'm secretly excited. But don't tell anyone :)

I just realized that this past week I hit some mile stones - January 5th, my six-month mark at work. And January 3rd, the anniversary of this blog.  Read my first post here: First Ever Rejoyce Post :)

Although I started it as a resolution in 2011 with a goal of posting every week day - I'm going to continue posting, but more sporadically. Writing is definitely a great way to reflect and put things into perspective for me. Anyone whose looking for a New Years resolution, I definitely recommend blogging! :)

Since I ended my first-ever post with a quote, I will end with a quote here as well:

"I write to understand as much as to be understood" - Elie Wiesel

When proof-reading this post, I noticed an excessive amount of smiley faces. Like, don't worry everyone, someone remembered their annoying emoticon pill today. But I decided to keep them in because I sincerely wish each one of you a HAPPY new year! :)