Return of the Revenge of the Polar Vortex

February is such a short month.  And yet, it feels like it's been such a long time since my last goals post - for instance, snow sculpture seems like forever ago!  Probably because I stayed pretty busy this month.  We've been to Sleeping Bear Dunes in the summer - this year we decided to try it out in the winter!  The wind and cold were brutal, but the photos are unbeatable.

But hey, let's whip through those goals:

• Get the photobook ordered.  Done and done!  And it should arrive today!
• Go through my clothing and get rid of the stuff I don't wear. Um yeah.  I'm sure you saw this coming - didn't happen.
• Win first place with our snow sculpture.  We're so good, we got first AND second place! 
• Bottle the peach wine.  Okay, so this isn't exactly done, but I have it stabilized and backsweetened so it's ready to go.  
• Make a nice warming soup to survive the revenge of the polar vortex.  Check out this Szechuan hot and sour soup - it's sure to warm you right up.

Okay!  So let's make some March goals:

• I've got two books I want to read - I'm hoping to get through them in March.
• In honor of this week's Return of the Revenge of the Polar Vortex (sounds like a bad Syfy remake...) I've got another tasty soup recipe!
• Plan out my garden!  I'm a little behind on this game - gotta get those peppers started!
• Quick jaunt down to Indiana - as long as the weather doesn't interfere, we've got a quick family trip planned.  I hear the menu is Mexican!
• I started doing Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred and I am SO sore.  I'm hoping to work my way through levels 2 and 3 this month.

Goals out of the way, let's get to the photos!  Let's start with the sculpture.  It's still standing and I have a feeling it will be up until April or May.

Kyle and I went for a walk on one of the sunny days this month and I snapped this shot with my cell.

And while we were out for a walk, we were stopped by a photographer for the local newspaper.  This is what we get for going outside on the first sunny day in a long time.

In case you missed it, I made some awesome cupcakes for my friends gender-reveal party.

As a Christmas present from my parents, the whole family went to see a hockey game and partake in some fun post-game activities.

So that brings us to SBD.

The landscape looked and felt like Mars - barren, hostile, unforgiving.

The ice shelf was a testament to how violently the waves are driven into the shore.

At the same time, the formations were phenomenal, and the waves breaking inside the ice caves were amazing to watch.

The sun peeked out from the clouds occasionally, but there was nothing warm about it.  However, it really brought out the color of the water.

All in all, it was a wonderful trip that I hope to never do again - at least not when it's that cold and that windy.

Update:  stupid polar vortex...