Diamonds, Jelly Belly, and Lady Pretz

As Brett mentioned earlier this week, life has been a little crazy but I've finally found a little time to post on the blog. I'll give a brief update on the happenings of the last two weeks and then share two amazing tidbits of information I learned just today.

These last two weeks have been a little stressful and super busy at work, resulting in 45-50 hour weeks. However, as much as I complain sometimes, I am really beginning to enjoy myself. Luckily Valentine's Day fell on a Saturday so I didn't have anything to worry about except looking cute. To help me with that, Brett gave me a set of stud diamond earrings. They say diamonds are a girl's best friend, so in my case I got two new best friends for Valentine's Day. Brett and I spent quite a bit of time deciding where we wanted to go to celebrate our first Valentine's Day together. Eventually we settled on a place called George's Chophouse. Really, with a name like that we couldn't resist. We had a great time; the food was amazing--my entree included a real flower in the center. And we topped off the evening with a detour to the McDonald's drive-thru for dessert! All-in-all it was pretty much perfect.

My super cute earrings!

Brett and I after we had stuffed ourselves. Doesn't the boy look hott in that blue sweater? Whoever gave him that sweater must love him very much.

Besides Valentine's Day the last two weeks have been pretty routine. Yet, today Brett and I have planned two small site-seeing trips. During a conversation today Brett mentioned the Jelly Belly factory in California and then he mentioned that he thought there was a factory around Chicago somewhere. After a quick Google search, we learned that there was indeed a Jelly Belly Factory in the Midwest, in Wisconsin! Chalk one up to the cheeseheads! Just a mere two hours from Madison. Quick trip #1.

Quick trip #2 will involve less candy, but is more dear the my heart. Recently my love of soft pretzels was rekindled. When I was younger I would love going to the mall because it meant new clothes and a warm pretzel. I love all types of soft pretzels--cinnamon sugar, garlic, salted, plain--I love them all. Imagine my excitement when I discovered an Auntie Anne's soft pretzel shop in a mall just five minutes from my apartment. Now I go to the mall not to shop, but for a comforting soft pretzel. Brett, knowing my love for soft pretzels, informed me just today that there is a town, Freeport, IL where the high school mascot is a pretzel. Why he just told me today I do not know. At first I wasn't sure I believed, but again a Google search confirmed that a pretzel is a school mascot. Amazing!

This "Pretzel" town is just 1.5 hours away; Brett and I are definitely taking a trip there. One of my favorite parts is that their high school girl's sports teams are called the Lady Pretz. Freeport, IL is now top of my list on potential places to raise a family. I want little pretzel kids...