Whirlwind

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of events and the next couple weeks will be the same....don't you just love summer!

We started off with my stepdaughters graduation open house.  It was such a good time and worth the many weeks of prep leading up to the big day.  Although, in typical Michigan fashion, it decided to rain about an hour into the party, which caused about 30+ people to gather under 2 small canopies, our gazebo, and the garage.

The day after this party, I couldn't even get out of bed!  I prepped for about 3 weeks and put in well over 100 hours getting our backyard ready.

This past weekend my sister and I drove from Michigan to West Virginia to attend the Fiestaware Tent Sale.  It was so much fun, but exhausting all at the same time.  I awoke Friday morning about 3am and was on the road by 4:30am.  By the time we arrive back home I was whooped!  Not to mention a wee-bit sunburned :)

We normally stay in a hotel the night before, and then get in line about 6am to get our tickets.  But this year we decided to try something different.  We arrived about 10:45am and only had to wait in line about 2+ hours before entering the tent.



Patiently waiting

 

We rounded the corner and could finally see the tent

 

 If you've never had the chance to experience this.....It is an amazing site!

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Bin after bin after bin of colorful, fiestaware.  I am drooling all over again just thinking about it.



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I was hoping for a few more pieces than what I got, but that just means we will have to go back again next year!

I was able to catch up on some much needed quality time with the hubby and the pets yesterday.  It was a gorgeous summer day here in West Michigan and we enjoyed every minute of it.

Stewie

Lainey

It's so hard to get my tongue all the way into this cow hoof

Tucker

This upcoming weekend I have a bridal shower for a good friend of mine and then the following weekend is the July 4th holiday/wedding. If I can just get through the next 12 days or so, I think I will be able to relax.

Every Game Counts

I don't watch many sports on tv except for University of Michigan football.....GO BLUE!!  I love college football over any other sport.  in addition to college football, my husband likes to watch the Detroit Lions and the Detroit Tigers, but I generally find myself doing something else when it is on.

That is until the Detroit Tigers made it into the playoffs.  I'm really into it and find myself cheering loudly while my husband looks at me strange.

The only thing I don't like about playoffs are the late night games.  Last week there were 2 games that went past 1:00 a.m. ON A WEEKDAY!!!  Thankfully, work has been a little slow, but I am dying!  Staying up to watch these games is really taking a toll on me.  I normally start my bedtime routine about 9 p.m. and nowadays, they are only in the first few innings by 9:00.

Last night I finally fell asleep around 11 p.m., but woke up around 3 a.m. and had to immediately check facebook to see who won.

Game 4 against the Yankees is on tonight at 8:07pm EST, but I have made a promise to myself that no matter what is happening in the game, I have to be sleeping no later than 10:00 p.m.

What team/sport do you tend to follow?

 

I Need A 12-Step Program

I always knew I had a problem with watching too much television, but it wasn't until last night when I started setting my DVR to record some of the new fall shows, that I realized how bad my problem really is.

Here is the list of the shows I currently record during the fall:

• 2 Broke Girls
• The Big Bang Theory
• Cougar Town
• Don't Trust the B in Apartment 23
• Grey's Anatomy
• How I Met your Mother
• Jersey Shore
• The Middle
• Modern Family
• New Girl
• Private Practice
• Two and Half Men
• Up all Night
• The Voice
• Whitney
• Ghost Adventures
• All the "Real Housewives"

And here is the list of shows I have added:

• Ben and Kate
• Go On
• The Mindy Project
• The New Normal
• Revolution

How in the world am I going to have time to watch all of these?  I seriously need a 12-step program for my DVR addiction.

Any new shows you plan on watching this season? 

Anniversary #2

Tuesday, July 10 was my 2nd wedding anniversary.  I was more than happy to celebrate, seeing that our 2nd year of being married, was so much better than our first. We are truly falling into our husband/wife roles and life is so good!

I did a lot of reminiscing about our wedding day....and 2 years later I still smile ear to ear with the memories of the love I felt that day.  I can honestly say that my wedding day was one of the BEST days of my life so far.

I can remember being on cloud nine...all day....all night!  I've never smiled so hard in one day in all of my life.  I couldn't help it!  Love oozed out of every corner of that tent and I never expected to feel that.

I'm so glad everybody came...I'm so glad my DIY projects were a success...I'm so glad we composed our own ceremony...I'm so glad we didn't elope...But, most of all, I'm so glad ALL of my siblings were able to surround me with their love and support.

There are 2 sisters missing from this photo
(note:  I lost my brother Chris last year...he's the tall one on the left...so I will always cherish my wedding
as being the last "family" event for us all to celebrate together as ONE)

The night was spent laughing, catching up with old friends, screaming with joy, cheering and dancing.  I felt gorgeous and was making a life-altering promise to the man I love and nothing else mattered.

And....did I mention dancing?  Oh boy, did we ever dance!

I will always cherish these memories and I look forward to reminiscing about our wedding day for many, many more years to come!

Balloon Fest 2012

Every year in July, our town hosts the Field of Flight Air Show & Balloon Fest.  By far my favorite part of the festival is the United States Air Force Thunderbirds.

I am lucky enough to have them fly over my house, so there is no need to pay for entrance into the air show.  The sound of them alone gives me goosebumps!  Not to mention the jaw dropping precision of the flight team.

Another one of my favorite events is the Balloon Illume.  About 20+ hot air balloons light up the night in a magical way.  It sure does make you feel like a kid again as the crowd yells "Light 'em up!" and on cue, the dark night becomes filled with every color of the rainbow.

Many times throughout the week they launch the hot air balloons.  This is another event that I am lucky enough to watch from the comfort of my own front steps.  There is just something about hot air balloons that make me smile.

This year my husband and I did something new.  After the balloons launched, we decided to get in the car and follow the Post Sugar Bear balloon.  It was so much fun!  I felt like an excited little kid as we (and about 20+ other vehicles) did our best to keep the balloon in our sights at all times.  The anticipation of what road we should take next, in what direction was the wind blowing, should we stay behind or try to get ahead.....almost as much fun as the anticipation of Christmas morning.

Luckily....it was all worth it.  We managed to find the Sugar Bear truck and followed it into a field where we could watch the balloon land.  It was such a cool experience. 

What exciting things did you do over the weekend?

New Adventures

After passing the AKC Canine Good Citizen test, I haven't done much in terms of "training" with Lainey. I think we both needed a break.

Instead, we have been hiking with a friend and her dog on Saturday mornings. It allows me to put all of Lainey's skills to use, and gives us both some much needed exercise at the same time.

Last weekend we went to the local military base.  It has a State Recreational Park and has trails for hiking or biking, camping, 3 lakes for fishing and/or swimming, etc.  It was my first time there and it was beautiful.

It's also beautiful to see the bonding that is taking place between these two dogs.  They have become the best of friends...I even joke that they are boyfriend/girlfriend!!

Lainey & Kappy....Best Friends Forever

I'm looking forward to this Saturday.  There have been a few people who have asked to join us with their dogs.  I've been wanting to join and/or create a local dog walking group and it looks like this could very well turn into that.

Salon Effects

I'm always amazed at all the fancy nail art pictures on Pinterest.  I can oooh and ahhhh over them all I want, but I don't have the patience or creativity to do it on my own.

And then I came across Sally Hansen Salon Effects while shopping in Target.

Each kit contains 16 nail polish strips, cuticle stick and mini file/buffer.

I am currently wearing 310 Wild Child

Application instructions are included with each package and are very easy to understand. You select the correct size strip for each nail, peel off the protective film, detach the polish strip from the backing, press on to the nail and file off the excess. What’s great about these strips is that each end has a different shape, one rounded the other squared, so you can find a good fit for your cuticle line.

Application tips:

• Warm the strips with your hands to make them more pliable.
• Bend the strip over your free edge and use the file to remove the excess rather than tearing it off. Tearing can result in an uneven edge.
• Between sizes? Size up and use the enclosed cuticle stick to remove the excess off your skin.

I definitely need some practice applying them, but I look forward to using them again in the future. I just can't decide what style to choose next

Good Day Sunshine

Today has been the best day I've had in weeks. 

I broke out one of my spring(ish) dresses for work, curled my hair and even applied a little bit of makeup.  I think when you look good, you tend to feel good!

Not to mention, the sun is shining and it is a warm, humid 73 degrees today in West Michigan.

I also think that the much needed sleep I got last night, combined with the fact that I have a vacation day tomorrow is helping to brighten my mood.

There is a possibility that I may make a trip to Ikea tomorrow with my sister in law.  I'm beyond excited.  There is no other store that makes me feel all tingly inside, quite the way Ikea does.

And Saturday (St. Patricks Day) is the surprise party for my husband.  I really hope he doesn't know anything about it.  I have slipped a couple times, but I think I covered up pretty well.

Here's to a great 3-day weekend!!

 

The Circus is in Town

On Tuesday evening my husband and I, along with my in-laws, went to the Shrine Circus.  I was so excited.  I went to the circus once when I was younger and loved it, and since I'm totally a kid at heart, I just assumed it would be just as fun and exciting! 

I was so, so wrong!

The doors opened early and we raced inside.  We just had to be the first in line for the elephant ride.  I wasn't in the building a mere 3 minutes when I started feeling an anxiety attack coming on.  The site of that poor elephant was all I could concentrate on.  It was as if the only people in the entire arena were myself, that elephant and the elephants trainer. My mind was racing with horrible images of the life that poor animal must lead.  I read an article years ago about the treatment of circus animals and until that exact moment I had forgotten all about it.

The longer I stood there watching that poor elephant make his way around the circle carrying loads of people on his back, the more my anxiety started to take over.

My mind kept racing back to that article and the images of circus elephants that were beaten, hit, poked, prodded and jabbed with sharp hooks.  It was ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT!

I can sometimes over-analyze things and that is exactly what my husband told me I was doing.  I finally decided it was in my best interest to exit the arena and I spent most of the pre-show in the hallway.

The lights finally dimmed and we took our seats anxiously waiting for the show to start.

The first act was the lions and tigers.  I immediately felt my anxiety level lesson because I have a serious love for tigers.  I actually felt my excitement starting to return.  Sadly though, it was short lived.  As the animals entered the cage and got into position, I happen to notice a woman standing in the darkness on the outside of the cage.  She was hard to see because the spotlights in the cage area were so bright, but we were seated on the ground level right in front and had a perfect view of her. Throughout the act, she continuously kept prodding one of the lions with some sort of long device.  The lion was very unhappy about this and you could tell by his demeanor that he was getting more and more angry.  Throughout the act, this particular animal refused to "do his part".  He did not participate in jumping the hurdles, he did not jump through the ring of fire, and he did not like the trainer being anywhere near him.  Every time the trainer would be within an arms length, this particular lion would reach out and claw at him.  As a result, he would be prodded from behind and whipped by the trainer.

To put it nicely, I was about to lose my shit!!!  I turned to my husband and told him I was leaving....NOW!   I tried to explain to my husband that tigers don't just jump through rings of fire.  They don't just do these tricks because they want to.  They do them because they're afraid of what will happen if they don't.  And as he watched that lion being prodded through most of the act, he began to understand what was making me feel this way.  He did his best to reassure me that those animals would be okay, but this animal loving woman just wasn't having it.

I decided to stay for the remainder of the show, but it wasn't easy.  The entire show I had images swirling around in my head of these animals being confined to cramped and filthy cages.  The  amount of time spent traveling and being continuously chained up.  Having to travel in cages that barely provide room for the animal to turn around.  Those images from that article years ago of the bloody elephants that were jabbed with sharp hooks. The bears that are whacked and prodded with long poles to get them to ride bicycles, balance on balls, and get their picture taken with overly excited children.

I know I probably over-reacted and I know my mind does crazy things when I am in the middle of an anxiety episode, so I apologize.  I can say that other than my anxiety over the mistreatment of the animals, I had a good time.  The trapeze artists, the jugglers, the clowns and acrobats were very enjoyable.

And to be honest...by the last act (which coincidentally, was elephants) I was much more calm, my breathing was more regular and my heart was no longer beating out of my chest.  I found that if I concentrated more on taking pictures and only watching the show through the lens of my iPhone, that my anxiety level seemed to remain at an acceptable level.  Maybe this was my way of tricking my brain into believing I was merely watching something on television.  That it was more fictional than reality.  Who knows...the mind is a crazy, crazy thing.

* I apologize if this post offends anyone.  My feelings are MY OWN and I would never want to influence the thoughts of anyone else. 

** I do not have any "facts" to support the mistreatment of circus animals. My feelings are simply a result of an over-active mind and an article I read years ago

*** All pictures are my own...taken with my iPhone

Baby Sister got Hitched

My baby sister got married on New Years Eve.  It was by far the most beautiful, most formal wedding I have ever been to.

But, best of all....they had a photo booth!  I'm venturing to guess that my siblings and I probably used it the most. 

Here are some of the pics we took:

Of course, hubby and I got in on the action too.....

Here are a few other family pics. 
(my sister, the bride, is not in any of these pics because she is on her honeymoon and none are being posted until she returns and gives the ok)

Hubby and I

Dad, Me, Sister Rachel, Grandma, Brother Chad

And here we are in "birth order"...it's a family joke!

Some of the cousins....good genes sure do run in the family!

Sister and I

And, before I forget.....I have to give credit to my sister Rachel for all of these pics.  I forgot my camera as we were rushing out the door. (typical Amy style)