- Let's Go, Cards! -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

You know you're having [a little too much] fun when you don't get a chance to look up to the scoreboard until the bottom of the 8th. 

...But we were winning! And we won. Yeah! Go Cards! 

No big deal, it's just super duper easy to get carried away chatting and laughing with these ladies. We had a great night at the ballpark! 

Other week highlights: 

-- We're jumpin' a plane to San Diego! Stay tuned! 

- Pat's Birthday -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

Woke up one morning to this little event invite from Laura...

*****

Shhhh!!!!  My Mother is turning 60 on July 21st!!! She is always doing something kind for me and my family so wanted to help return the favor and help celebrate her 60th birthday uniquely!!!

Mom has prescription Reading glasses but seems like she sooo often uses the phrases.....
-Where are my Glasses?
-I Cant See, I need my Glasses
-I Can't tell what that is, I need my Glasses on
-I don't remember where I laid my glasses
-Laura, I left my glasses at your house (or at her own house)

Now she isn't forgetful all the time...but her glasses are usually a conversation piece at some point in a visit

When my nephew Kyle was about 2yrs old he pretended he was my mom and said "I can't see, I need my glasses!" So you know she says it often if a kiddo picks up on it!!!!

So Where is this all going.......

Let's SHOWER PAT WITH READING GLASSES!!!!

I've seen them before at the $1 bin at Target, I'm sure they're at the Dollar Tree, Deals....places for Cheap!

Let's see if we can get her a nice supply....and just a funny/fun way to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY (now put on your glasses!)

Pat turns 60 Sunday, July 21.....Let's Shower her with the Love of Vision!!!

*****

So what to do? Shower Pat with the love of vision, obvi. :) 

Happy happy birthday, Auntie Pat! Hope you had a wonderful day! We love you! :)

Other week highlights: 

-- Brian traveled to Green Bay for work...

-- ...and then came home and left the next day for Boston...

-- ...and came home to get clean laundry from his awesome wife and re-pack for San Diego! 

-- I was a single mouse just having the time of my life with the cat out of town! ;) Enjoyed an entire day with Alicia, had lunch with my Grandma and Grandpa, spent half of another day internet stalking and blogging at Starbucks, met up with Kevin, emceed the Miss Litchfield pageant, the list goes on and on. Ah! A day in the life...

- Alicia -

There are lots of kinds of friends.

Friends you grew up with, went to school with, worked with, share a zip code with, go to church with.

There are the kind of friends who share your same passions and interests and are the best.people.ever. to hang out with because they want to do all the same things you do.

Then the kind who is older and wiser; the one who teaches you good habits and self-discipline and the one your mom wants you to hang out with.

Sometimes there are the kinds that you laugh with and cry with and share all your life hopes and dreams and deepest darkest secrets with.

There are "friends" who you think are "friends" and then find out they were never even real "friends" in the first place.

And then, really really rarely, there are the friends who are truest true friends you've ever had, and you know no matter what they'll be one of your best friends for life.

^^That friend? 

That's this girl. :) 

Alicia. She's one of the most beautiful, genuine, and completely wonderful girls I've ever known. 

We met in July 2010 on the Christian County fair queen pageant stage. Holy moly, who knew what the next three years would bring?! A summer full of county fair lovin', a lot of slumber parties at U of I, and eventually her walking down the aisle and standing beside me as I said, "I do..."  And although we don't get to see each other nearly often enough, everything picks up right where it left off when we're together.

This weekend we were lucky enough to spend a WHOLE Friday together. Pizza, pedicures, and pageants... Seriously, who could ask for anything more?! We had an amazing time and I am so excited to see her again soon! :)

Love you, Lishy! Thanks for being that friend!

- Thirty-One [Delivered] -

Five days after clicking "submit" online, the Thirty-One shipment appeared on my doorstep!  [That HAS to be record timing for the FASTEST turn-around ever; we couldn't believe it!]  I was so excited to rip open the boxes and see my bags + look at everyone else's. Love them sooo much and can't wait to distribute them to all my friends! 

Two lucky winners are getting their bags delivered today! Woohoo! :) 

- Summer Salad -

Meet my very favorite summer salad: 

3 benefits: quick, healthy, and suuuper yummy!

[My mom actually introduced me to this recipe several years ago when she was trying to make me a skinny b*tch helping me lose my college weight, but we won't get into that...] 


All you need: 

• spinach leaves
• strawberries
• blueberries
• mandarin oranges -- [although not in the pictured salad]
• feta cheese
• pecans -- [or walnuts, or any kind of nuts, or no nuts if you don't like nuts]
• chicken -- [if desired?] 
• Girard's Raspberry dressing

Mmm! I could eat this for every single meal! 

Enjoy!! :) 

- Thirty-One -

What's better than hanging out with a great group of girls? 

...Hanging out with a great group of girls AND drinking wine AND buying purses!

My wonderful cousin is a brand new Thirty-One consultant, so I thought having a party for a bunch of my work girls would be a great way to 1) give her some business and 2) show off our new house!  Besides, what girl doesn't need a new lunch box or diaper bag or cute tote?!

Party prep included watching my crazy mother power wash the front of the house, throwing together some snacks, and helping Laura set up her bag display.  Before we knew it, the guests were arriving! 

She is such a superstar consultant! 

Lots of fun was had by all! And yes, we might all maaaaybe have a teeny tiny Thirty-One obsession!! ;) 

Thanks to all who attended and/or ordered and/or made my party a success! :)

- Cookies -

Our [across-the-street] neighbor brought over two plates of cookies tonight!  

Bring me chocolate and we're instant friends! 

Good move, lady... 

So excited to be a part of this sweet neighborhood! :) 

Mmmmmmmm yummy!

- Landscaping [Part I] -

...And the long-awaited landscaping project commences... 

Brian had hoped to start the project weeks and weeks ago, but our yard was a constant muddy marsh after days on end of thunderstorms.

Then one day...

...What is that noise? 

Oh, sh*t. 

We woke up last Saturday morning to a bulldozer digging in outside our bedroom window.  [We really aren't early risers at ALL if you haven't caught on by now.....]  Brian's dad sure knows how to keep us on our toes! 

Good morning, sunshines! ;) 

A WHOLE TREE cut down in the back yard?!? Whattttt? The hubby caught a little grief for this one. Goodbye privacy? There will [officially] be no more lying on the deck in my swimsuit... Cannot be scaring off the neighbors before we even meet them. Boo. :( 

The yard is a hot mess, but soon we will be planting some small bushes and landscaping trees and pretty flowers! Yay! :)

[Continue entertaining yourself with Part II here!]

- Goodbye, Nikki [Part II] -

The love of my life is leaving me for day shift...........

Wahhhhhhh! :( 

We lost her to the operating room fellowship last January. And then she came back to L&D nights. And now she's going to L&D days.  I'm totally crossing my fingers that it won't take her long to realize day shift is for the birds! 

What's that cake you see? Well, we're making her a "day shift problem." ;) 

Goodbye, Nurse Nikki! We'll welcome you back to the dark side anytime! 

- RCIA or NFP? -

I'm prettttty sure the two little visiting Mormon missionaries knocked on the wrong door last week...

But after a long, open-door chat letting at least 30 minutes of A/C out of my house, I'm also pretty sure they are Catholic wannabes. ;) 

By the end of our conversation, I had gained a Book of Mormon AND a DVD about "Finding Faith in Christ."  Hallelujah, amen! [Intrigued also by Catholicism,] they pulled out their planners and wanted to schedule a time to come back and chat more.  Of course there was only one appropriate response: "Absolutely! And what would you like to chat about next time??? NFP or RCIA?!"

Boom.

#AMDG

#catholicsforthewin

#happydoorknocking

#seeyoubabesintwoweeks

Now, for some popcorn and a movie night!!!

- Happy 4th! -

Sum-It-Up Sunday

My husband is an undiagnosed pyromaniac.

He loves to set things on fire and blow stuff up.

It's kind of crazy and highly unsafe.

But it does make for one hell of a July 4th.

Happy 4th of July!  Happy birthday, America!!!

If you didn't sit under any good firework displays this year, mark your calendars to come rock it with us in 2014! 

Other week highlights: 

-- Happy birthday, Nikki!

-- Happy birthday, Ellybean!