Vienna waits for you

I just got back from my honeymoon! Here are some favorite pictures from the wedding season...

We stayed at the Blackhawk Hotel in Cedar Falls on our wedding night, it was SO FUN!

Our Hotel in Vienna

Beethoven's Grave...we also saw Brahms', Schubert's, Strauss'...among others.


One of the many beautiful churches we saw

The Vienna Boys Choir's Pop Album.


The State Library


One of our favorites: Cafe Central


Lego Girl that looks like me


Cafe Schwartzenburg!


Famous Strauss Monument


I made a friend in the park and he took a picture of us!

Typical cafe treats

Almost A Burzlaff

Just a few more days!

Pictures from Home

The original Brant Kids: Amanda, Steve, Deborah, Elizabeth, Matthew, Paige

Samuel Roush

I love this picture...neither of them are running home!

Accidental twins

Mr. Nathan

Patrick playing baseball with the Roush kids

Clara trying on her "Princess Dress" for the first time!

Beautiful Anna

Brant girls, past and present (from left: Elizabeth, Amy, Paige, Amanda, Molly, Deborah)

Clara Roush, our Flower Girl

The Grapevine

The mountain pass from Los Angeles county to Kern county through the Tahachapi mountains is commonly referred to as "The Grapevine". I have probably driven through the Grapevine about 50 million times over the past 10 months (or about 4-6 times per month, anyway) but tomorrow will be the last time for a loooooooong time.

Today was my last day of work and tomorrow I am MOVING to Bakersfield, not just visiting. No more depressing late night gas fill ups and early Monday mornings, driving back to make it in time for work. Jess says she has never seen someone so excited to move to Bakersfield, but she said it best: "It's not the place, it's the people".

Being from Iowa, Bakersfield doesn't seem that bad to me. Californians hate it b/c it's not a typical southern California town. But I like it for exactly that reason. It is absurdly hot, however, and I'm sure I'll be cursing the move I've been longing for so much this time tomorrow, after all of the moving, lifting, heaving, and climbing in the 100 degree heat.

I am so thankful these 10 months are over. On to better things.

This one is for Amanda...

This is from the Strawberry Festival I went to with Patrick and a few people from work a few wknds ago!

I'm a size 8!

Patrick and I are up in the bay area visiting Brian and Paul & Christina. We stopped by Express for some new jeans and *zzzziiiip* I now own SIZE 8 jeans! Ummm so when was the last time I was a Size 8? I don't know, I think the summer before my senior year of high school.

I would like to thank the following organizations for my recent accomplishment of dropping 10 pounds:

Thank you Bally Fitness, who I literally see more often than my fiance. For a mere $27 a month, you offer such friendly service, you always have an eliptical machine available, and your weight machines are always so clean and functional.

Thank you Prevention Magazine, your recent article on the top 30 best tasting belly flattening foods has changed my life forever.

Thank you Attune chocolate bars, for tasting so much like chocolate but for still being so good for my digestive health.

Thank you Express w10 jeans, for making me look amazing at size 8, but who also made me look good when I was size 10 and 12. You truly are the perfect jean.

And finally, thank you to myself, who REALLY did it this time!!

Pictures from the Shower

Here are some pictures from my bridal shower last month. Try and guess which one was taken immediately following the "wicked" surprise ;)