Welcome to our new digs

Hey, Folks. Welcome to the new and improved blog. I've done some tweaking, re-work and even changed the domain! We're starting 2015 with a fresh, new face... and a puppy! 

Everyone - meet Charlie. Our little lab mix.

She's our pup-child and we're in loooove. Let me give you a little background on how this little darling of a pup came into our lives. On a chilly December afternoon, Phil and I went to the Golden Valley Humane Society to look at some dogs only to find a line. I was shocked! A line to get into the Humane Society at 11am on a Wednesday? Please. We briskly walked towards the dog kennel and found 'Zang' - a tiny pup who stretched off her bed and sat so pretty for us. Safe to say that she won us over immediately. Phil wanted to walk around and look at other dogs but I couldn't leave this little beauty to be snatched up by someone else. So I held my ground and Phil made a lap!

We got to play with her, signed some papers and we had ourselves a dog!

Fast forward to Saturday and we were ready to pick her up! We ran some errands - grabbed some bloodys and were off to the Humane Society. I will never forget when she came upstairs with the vet tech; leaping in circles. She put a smile on everyones faces!

The first night at home was a little rough, but good thing she had Phil to sleep next to her crate and even on the couch with her. Spoiled from day one!

Over the past 11 days we've watched her grow - literally, she was wayy too skinny when we brought her home AND mentally! She sits, lays down and is patient when we're filling her food dishes (if you know how labs eat, you know this is an accomplishment!)

What else did we do in 2014 you may ask? Well, we hung out at our cabins. Phil traveled. Celebrated freinds' baby news, engagements & weddings. Drank adult beverages. Celebrated 5 years of wedded bliss. Cheered on Johnnie football. Made plans for the future. Caught fish. PET A DEER!. Took Selfies.

Happy, happy New Year to you and yours. Make it a good one folks.

Girls Just Wanna Have.. Fundamental Rights?

I consider myself to be an informed person; staying up on current events, reading the paper, making informed decisions when voting, etc. So that is why I am so surprised that I hadn't heard about Personhood being voted on again in CO & ND until I was scrolling through twitter yesterday. In case you are as clueless as me, Personhood is an amendment in ND and CO that would give unborn fetus' the same human rights as, well, humans.

The proposed law reads so that if, for example, a mother and her unborn baby are killed - there would be two murder charges. This is great. This isn't the only impact that this proposed amendment will have.

Women would not have access to birth control; morning after, daily pills, IUDs, etc. No access to abortions (under any circumstances). Women would have to potentially travel out-of-state to receive fertility treatments. Why? Because according to some 'children are begotten, not made' and 'in IVF, children are created in a glass dish and not through the act of love'. This is where I get a little heated. Some politician is going to tell thousands and thousands of women (and men)(and me) that when going through fertility treatments there isn't love? That might be the biggest load of crap I've ever heard. Why on earth would anyone subject themselves to the pokes, prods, pricks and agony - the only reason I can come up with is love.

It blows my mind that time and time again it feels like we're taking steps backwards. Taking rights away from people (women) instead of granting new rights and being a progressive nation.

If this amendment passes tomorrow - it would be a huge blow to women's rights.

Below are a few links that I read and were pretty informative. Also, there's a Fresh Air (NPR) from 2013 debating this same issue. Enjoy.

Click Here

Click Here

Fresh Air

September 2014

Woah - I am overdue on my monthly recap. I just can't believe that September is gone. We are in the heart of fall now - the best time of the year (followed by the other best time of the year ;)).

In September we relaxed up north, saw an amazing concert, had the first big post on MadasCozyGifts, celebrated friends' birthdays, engagements & exciting baby news, cheered on the Johnnies, Vikings, Gophers & Irish and enjoyed the fall. Here is our month in photos. enjoy.

selfies with some pretty cool dudes. 

the head & the heart

andrea joy mee & myself pre-gamming for john/tom.

my favorite person & i

SHAMELESS SHOP PLUG ALERT:

Oh, and go ahead and click SHOP at the top of my page. Add a scarf or two to your shopping bag. Or, heck.. request something custom! Enter LOVEFALL as a coupon code at checkout and recieve 15% off. The greatest season of all is right around the corner. Stock up now!

Make it a good one, kids.

#mcg

big things are happening in my Etsy world; the first photo shoot!! it went great - mainly because i had great models! i am so excited to finally have my work all showcased online and not sitting in a pile in the corner.

here are some highlights from the photo shoot. to see more, head on over to madascozygifts on etsy and check it out!







[caption id="attachment_1585" align="aligncenter" width="630"] my beautiful models[/caption]













All scarves shown are available and customizable! So, send me a message and I can make one in your favorite colors, team colors.. anything!

And, coming soon: crochet headbands!!! Stay tuned for more!


https://www.etsy.com/shop/madascozygifts

wknd

Hey, it's Friday! This weekend I'm getting back to what I do best - tailgating + watching football. It's the home opener for the St. John's Johnnies and I'm headed to 'ol Collegeville, MN to cheer on little brother and step-brother. I'm ready for the smell of grilling, prentending like I know how to throw a football, good times and cold drinks.
#wideleft

August 2014

Oh, hey. The montly 'where did that month go' post is here. August is gone. Time for FALL: chai, changing leaves, FOOTBALL, scarves.. the list goes on and on.

AUGUST.

Nicole's Briday Shower: My cousin Nicole is getting married at the end of November and I helped plan! I love planning showers. It was such a fun day with family! Can't wait for the wedding! #chiefsbigday

 

#chiefsbigday

kiley & i

We had weekends away, selfies with the pup, lots of summer time beer and yard games, birthday & engagement celebrations.. the list goes on.

And now.. the fall.

My Side Business

For the past few winters I have crocheted scarves for anyone and everyone - babies, sports fans, friends, strangers, etc. I love doing it! On a nice fall (and bitterly cold winter) afternoon I curl up with a good glass of red wine and the news or trashy television and crochet away. The orders have started piling in already for Fall/Winter 2014. That said...   I'm excited to present my new logo and color swatches:













Shameless Plug Alert:  Want to place an order? Email me directly [amanda dot mahal at gmail dot com] or check out my Etsy page.

Make it a good one.

Happiness

As I was blowdrying my hair this morning I needed a little inspiration for my day and week - it is humpday afterall. I found this little gem. The sun was shining, weather is perfect and I had coffee brewing. Life hasn't always gone my way and it won't always in the future - but I am in charge of my happiness. So, it's time to buck up and smile.

July 2014

Well, my one blog post every 8 months is occurring NOW. To be fair, I have been updating our other baby blog kind of frequently, but nothing since 'the hiatus'.

(note: you can access the operation:baby posts on the right-hand column).

July 2014 has been loads of fun; cabins, outings with buds, a lot of time enjoying our truncated summer - due to the polar vortex, of course. Instead of rambling, I will update in photos and vow to keep this a little more current. Until then. xo, A

 

We're Back!

...well, not quite.

We had the past two months+ off to enjoy ourselves and family time around the holidays. It was glorious!

That said.. I am ready to get back. I am ready to try another clinic and hopefully find a place where we fit. I have had several long conversations with friends, family, my therapist and my husband and it all comes back to being totally upfront with our new doctor from the first appointment. I am going to share our past experience, what we want, what we don't want.

First appointment is beginning of February and we're back. Stay tuned..

xo - amanda