tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359Mon, 16 Jan 2012 19:05:11 +0000SummerLifeTVfavorite thingsWeddingholidaysTravelspringTheatreFamilyMusicFoodWeatherWorkMoneyFaithExercisewinterMoviesFallSportsHealthBooksOff-key Duets is a blog by best friends and twin sisters who share a love for music, writing, God, good humor, hockey and reality TV.http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Heather)Blogger122125Off-keyDuetshttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-1345739740316427480Fri, 24 Dec 2010 13:10:00 +00002010-12-24T07:10:00.114-06:00holidaysFew things make me as happy as when people randomly break out in song and dance. It's been a topic of this blog more than once (here, here and here just to name a few; not to mention the numerous posts about Glee). It's why I continue to hope that heaven will be one eternal Broadway musical. And it's why I'm always a sucker for those flash mob videos that regularly pop up on You Tube. This one ishttp://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/12/hallelujah-hallelujah.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-781901992534438198Thu, 23 Dec 2010 13:10:00 +00002010-12-23T19:23:48.077-06:00SportswinterThis was me a week ago today at my third and final snowboarding lesson:Ok that wasn’t me, specifically, but I resembled that. Kind of. And this is what I’ve looked like for the past week:I know it looks like my arms were caught up in some industrial equipment, or perhaps burned in a fire. Thankfully, it was neither of those things. But I am nursing two broken wrists.I’ve been wanting to try http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/12/been-long-week.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-5851555390757087625Wed, 22 Dec 2010 13:15:00 +00002010-12-22T07:15:00.273-06:00FamilyI've been hanging with my nephew this week and I am wrapped around his finger just like the rest of his family. When he heard it was blog week he decided to have his say. He's pretty brilliant, but can't quite type yet. So this is exactly how he told it to me...'Sup people?! It's been a month since I got here and already I've gotten a lot of cuddles and am keeping my mom and dad guessing about http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-time-to-be-heard.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-1107038612995574964Tue, 21 Dec 2010 13:15:00 +00002010-12-21T07:15:00.607-06:00Travel The countdown to vacation is on. Last year at this time, I was celebrating the holidays with my family in Hawaii. What a difference a year makes as I now sit in this frozen, snowy tundra, awaiting yet another visit from the snow plow.My next vacation may still be months away, but as I research my destinations and get my passport this week, visions of my upcoming travel adventure to France and http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/12/going-international.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-904077591763438609Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:20:00 +00002010-12-22T21:00:12.696-06:00Lifeholidays Hi friends. Welcome to OKD blog week, day one! First of all, let me say that my staycation isn’t really turning out as planned. Since an unfortunate snowboarding incident last week, I can’t tell you how many people have said to me “This story is going to make a great blog post!” And I believe that’s true. But as I sit here typing with just two fingers, attached to two arms in plaster splints, I’http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/12/from-me-to-you.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-1644170823648785248Thu, 09 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +00002010-12-08T18:11:07.931-06:00Life I stumbled across this website today and thought to myself “oh yeah, that’s right, we have a blog!” So perhaps Jen and I have broken the biggest rule of blogging lately, which is to say something. Jen’s got a great excuse named Connor. My excuse is far less exciting but just as valid—I’ve been busy. But to tell you the truth, I miss having the “that would make a great blog post” thoughts in my http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/12/coming-soon.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-3641621847711640281Tue, 23 Nov 2010 13:54:00 +00002010-11-23T08:01:14.307-06:00FamilyConnor David arrived on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 8:51 a.m., weighing 8 pounds. He's such a blessing! His mom and dad are tired, but doing great.I hope you all enjoy a blessed Thanksgiving with your loved ones this week!http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/11/look-whos-here.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-1971687498555284035Sat, 13 Nov 2010 20:53:00 +00002010-11-13T14:58:04.577-06:00Work This weekend, I'm celebrating the end of my biggest, annual project at work—benefits open enrollment. It's like the Super Bowl for an HR communications consultant (except without the cool halftime show or a trip to Disney World at the end).Open enrollment is the time when the lines of my job responsibilities become blurred and I go—unwillingly—from communicator to benefits expert. Each fall, my http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/11/know-it-all-at-your-service.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-7574370628831392453Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:18:00 +00002010-11-01T15:30:43.197-05:00LifeIt’s November…the birthday month of my soon to be firstborn. Of course, the actual birthday could be hours, days, or weeks away at this point. Personally, I don’t deal real well with unpredictability, so between that and being physically uncomfortable, it’s been a drag at times lately. However, I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been able to maintain a pretty normal routine even into the final days ofhttp://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/11/making-most-of-wait.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-6567872644824109320Wed, 27 Oct 2010 18:01:00 +00002010-10-27T13:05:35.973-05:00Life Today I'm enjoying my first day off work in almost three months. And boy do I know how to pick 'em! Rain, snow, cold and hurricane-force winds are in the forecast. But for some reason that excites me. Because now I won't feel the least bit guilty about just resting. I'm not running errands like a crazy person or feeling I need to be ultra-efficient. Today, my idea of productivity is reading a http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/10/finding-rest.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-3144389699080664187Thu, 21 Oct 2010 17:29:00 +00002010-10-21T12:32:16.836-05:00FamilyLifeThe countdown is officially on…26 days until the date when baby Connor is due to greet his already adoring family. It seems as if things at work are finally close to slowing down, my house is packed full of baby stuff, and life as I know it is all too soon about to change. Maybe that’s why I recently found the current romantic comedy Life As We Know It so amusing. A story about two people who http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/10/laughing-at-life-as-i-know-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-6483968005393839601Wed, 13 Oct 2010 01:44:00 +00002010-10-12T20:49:09.311-05:00HealthExercise Oh, friends…I've missed you! Life is crazy; and that's all I'll say about my recent absence from the blogosphere. But I'm back, for today at least. And I'm posing a question to all of you: To join a health club, or not to join?Of course, the weather has been so beautiful, even if I was finding the time to work out these days, I'd probably be doing it outside, but I'm starting to warm up to the http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/10/going-clubbin.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-4383643232449341914Thu, 30 Sep 2010 18:41:00 +00002010-09-30T13:45:36.101-05:00MusicMoviesWorkTo all our faithful blog readers, we apologize for the recent silence in our Off-key Duets world (or maybe that’s not such a bad thing). My co-blogger and I have both found ourselves in a bit of a crazy life season lately. Namely, “eat a little, sleep a little, work…a lot.”Busy times like these makes you focus on and appreciate the little pleasant things of life. So I’m trying to enjoy my perfecthttp://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/09/appreciating-little-things.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-1779066424499485155Fri, 17 Sep 2010 20:49:00 +00002010-09-17T16:07:10.592-05:00LifeAs I’ve shared before, I’ve always thought the world would be a better place if life was lived out like a musical, with people randomly breaking into song and dance throughout the day. It would absolutely improve work meetings, grocery shopping, traffic congestion, and just about every other routine that normally comes with a bit of dread. However, after seeing this article about individuals who http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/09/embracing-normal.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-4355895194559802365Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:38:00 +00002010-09-11T19:41:50.933-05:00Musicfavorite thingsTheatre Broadway + Heather = Happy! What more can I say? While I love to blast the show tunes from my iPod (as I've been doing all day today), there’s nothing like seeing it live on stage. And as Broadway musicals go, nothing tops Wicked in my book. Having just seen it for the fourth time, I'm ready to paint myself green and fly around Oz for the rest of the weekend.Nothing I can write about it would dohttp://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/09/defying-gravity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-293021915286763090Wed, 08 Sep 2010 22:35:00 +00002010-09-08T17:39:21.815-05:00Earlier this week I was walking through the mall and came across one of those child play areas where tired shoppers bring their kids to release pent up energy by climbing on things and running around (while the parents watch closely from benches encircling the play equipment). Before I ever saw it, I heard it. I heard the squealy voices of tiny children…times 50. My reaction? I did not walk by http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/09/play-at-your-own-risk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-6165982404773159011Fri, 03 Sep 2010 22:27:00 +00002010-09-03T17:34:28.429-05:00 So much for that cute little bedtime saying "Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite." That was when I assumed bed bugs were some extinct or mythical creature. But now, there are images of them all over my television screen. I can't possibly suffer through one more story in the news about bed bugs. I've shared with you my disgust of bugs before. Nothing's changed—despite a full http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/09/feeling-itchy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-2226596489263574944Mon, 30 Aug 2010 21:59:00 +00002010-08-30T17:03:23.203-05:00FamilyLifeWhen you were growing up, did you ever have the back to school open house this time of year where you visited your new school before classes started? I remember something like this when I started both junior high and high school where I would go and find my locker and where all my classes were. My husband says he never had this…he just remembers being really confused on his first day of high http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/08/open-house-for-all-studentsand.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-7938313334549847877Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:07:00 +00002010-08-26T20:13:48.453-05:00Health My dentist told me last week that I need to floss more consistently. Yeah, don't we all. I sort of floss, sometimes. And I'm quite sure no one close to me would accuse me of poor personal hygiene--my peeps are pretty honest. But my challenge is that a good, thorough flossing for me takes at least 15 minutes. My mouth is full of permanent retainers and bridge work that I have to floss in, under http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/08/grin-and-bear-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-547482626416658418Mon, 23 Aug 2010 20:19:00 +00002010-08-23T15:41:12.736-05:00TravelI love amusing and random travel stories. I've heard quite a few since I work in the travel industry, and over the years I've collected a few unexpected anecdotes of my own.Most of my travel has been to major cities, but it seems there is often something uniquely funny when you travel to a more remote area. I still get a kick out of the baggage claim I found when I arrived at my honeymoon http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/08/only-in-wichita.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-4305667771397434790Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:51:00 +00002010-08-17T19:56:22.644-05:00WorkLast week, a co-worker asked me to create a logo for something she was working on. I had to explain (for the 99th time) that we have ONE logo. It's our company logo. Each separate little project or initiative you do doesn't get its own logo. I'm trying to uphold the brand here people. The problem is, when I say "no," my clients often seem to hear "why don’t you go create your own 'logo' using http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/08/art-i-think-not.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-5279061224672956684Thu, 12 Aug 2010 17:26:00 +00002010-08-12T14:30:35.701-05:00SummerI’ve had a busy, fun summer, but I admit that my wimpiness when it comes to the heat has dampened a few of my outdoor activities over the last month. I’m just thankful I’m only six months pregnant and not nearing my due date quite yet.If you live in a year-round warm climate, I know you don’t have any sympathy for our 100 degree heat index day after day lately. However, we Minnesotans don’t http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/08/sizzlin-summer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-2829325011071646988Mon, 09 Aug 2010 13:35:00 +00002010-08-09T08:42:43.585-05:00 Have you noticed how TV shows always do something special for the 100th episode? Phoebe gave birth to triplets on Friends, Alex and Izzie got married on Grey's Anatomy and Barney led a fabulous musical number on HIMYM. It's a big milestone, especially in these days when 10 episodes suddenly make an entire season.So I want to do something special for this—the 100th blog post on Off-Key Duets. I http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/08/100th.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-3754056677832191624Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:56:00 +00002010-08-05T09:59:31.725-05:00SummerThroughout the summer, I’ve seen friends posting photos on Facebook of their summer vacations. Between road trips, mission trips, and other vacations, it seems the people I know have collectively canvassed the globe this summer. Personally, I’ll be throwing my hat into the travel ring again this weekend, and I know you’ll all be jealous when you hear where I’m going.Fargo, ND…here I come! Yup…http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/08/my-exotic-summer-vacation.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Jenny)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4157996696653076359.post-7778405614699962592Sat, 31 Jul 2010 19:34:00 +00002010-07-31T14:52:40.074-05:00FaithTV A couple nights ago while watching the So You Think You Can Dance results show, I sent Jen the following text message: I'm going to become a Mormon. Not my typical deep thought during SYTYCD. But Jen didn't even have to ask me what I was talking about. She instantly knew that the Mormon's new ad campaign had won me over.If you've watched even a single commercial break in the Twin Cities this http://offkeyduets.blogspot.com/2010/07/say-it-proud.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Heather)0