April 20-30th, 2012 - Ten days of pictures, memories, and tasty treats.

4/28/2012

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Well, I have returned from vacation (dead porcupines, snow in the desert and ghost towns just to name a few of the fun things we experienced) and am already planning our next trip! I know I've been gone for a while and instead of bombarding you with ten separate posts to sift through, I'll do a quick recap of the last week and get us caught up on the next few days! Apologies and enjoy!
April 20 - Look Alike Day, Volunteer Recognition Day

For Look Alike Day, I would like to share Irina Werning's BACK TO THE FUTURE (1 & 2) series as well as something I only found today - Dear Photograph. If you've seen it before, you know what I'm talking about when I say "Holy tear jerker!" Here are a few pictures I was thinking of trying to duplicate.
April 21 - Kindergarten Day / April 22 - Girl Scout Leader Day, National Jelly Bean Day

Now, I know what you're thinking - "Enough with the old pictures!" But it's Kindergarten Day!! And Girl Scout Leader Day!! Just one more. . . or maybe two.
I LOVE OLD PICTURES!!
I think this was right around Kindergarten age -
I can't seem to find my school pictures from this
year though!
My mom's girl scout troop!
Heather Falker, Amber Foster, me, Danielle Rubis, Danielle Brandenburg, Angela Falker
and Jessica Shega-Fox.
Oh, and our apple turkeys for Thanksgiving!
April 23 - Lover's Day, National Zucchini Bread Day, Take a Chance Day, World Laboratory Day

What could possibly be better than a big hunk of zucchini bread for breakfast? Did someone say Zucchini CAKE?? Yes! That could possibly be better. Thanks to Elise on Simply Recipes for her grandmother's zucchini cake recipe!

On a semi unrelated subject - In honor of Take a Chance Day, I'm thinking about jumping on the "I'm going to do a triathlon" train. For the past month I have been taking swim lessons to learn to lap swim and I CAN DO IT! This was always the leg that was the most intimidating, but now I really think I could handle a sprint triathlon. I'm not going crazy and signing up for a full length or even an Iron Man just yet, but baby steps are still pretty exciting! My research starts today!! 
Starting April 24, we went away on a mini-vacation to southern Colorado. While it wasn't exactly a dream every step of the way, it was the perfect Pig in a Blanket Day celebration!

Day 1: Dropped Odie off at his favorite buddy's house (THANKS KATE AND SARAH AND LITTLE MAN!) then started the drive to South Fork, Colorado. Justin bought me a voucher for a two-night stay in a jacuzzi suite at the Spruce Lodge for my birthday and it was time to redeem that baby! We had the Rio Grande suite (most of the pictures in the video on the website show our room!), ate at The Shaft right next door for dinner and soaked it up in the hot tub (or luke warm tub, but who's counting?).

Day 2: Hiked to Treasure Falls, tried hiking to Opal Lake but the road was closed. Enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Tequila's in Pagosa Springs. After our morning was enjoyed, the weather turned nasty and we headed back to "home".

Day 3: Off to Great Sand Dunes National Park! Tried hiking to the top of High Dune, but a monster of a thunderstorm squashed that idea. So we watched bad-ass lightning over the dunes from our stellar campsite with a view! Then it rained all night. We slept in the car and awoke to SNOW in the DESERT! Crazy, stressful, testing vacation, but I know who I want to be with during the next thousand crazy, stressful and testing vacations to come.


April 25 - Administrative Professionals' Day

April 26 - Hug an Australian Day, National Pretzel Day, Richter Scale Day, Take Your Daughter to Work Day

PLEASE try these for National Pretzel Day!! Please!
For Take Your Daughter to Work Day, I would like to showcase my dad. My dad is the best mechanic in the whole world. He has been the best mechanic in the world for over thirty years but, last year, he got hurt. His back no longer wants to put up with lifting humvee tires, giant engine blocks or any other plethora of heavy machinery. A few days ago, he got a new job! No lifting, twisting, crunching or grunting necessary. I am SO proud of my padre. He has worked so hard and deserves every ounce of good that comes his way.
My progress so far - I feel that my pictures tell a better story than my words ever could.

April 27 - Babe Ruth Day, National Prime Rib Day, Tell a Story Day
April 28 - Great Poetry Reading Day, Kiss Your Mate Day
Justin and I have way too many kissing pictures. WAY too many.
April 29 - Greenery Day, National Shrimp Scampi Day

I hate shrimp. Like LOATHE shrimp. So, I'm celebrating Greenery Day
with all things wonderful, tasty, beautiful and GREEN!
Avocado Pesto Pasta by A Cozy Kitchen
and
Sweet Life Kitchen's delicious green smoothies . . . try one or all four!
Pistachio Cake by The Sugar Turntable (she has tons of other adorable
cake recipes and ideas!)
and
Faroe Islands waterfall
thanks to Something Beautiful . . .
wish I had a tiny cabin directly behind where the photographer was standing.
April 30 - Hairstyle Appreciation Day, National Honesty Day

I will be leaving you with some wonderful hairstyles to appreciate for Hairstyle Appreciation Day. First, A Beautiful Mess.
Then, a perfect side braid from Bride to Be.
Kate from the Small Things Blog's braided back!
Last, but not least, Great Length's funky and fabulous PURPLE underneath!
Happy bombarding!
XO
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February 1-11, 2012 - Clusterf*ck of goodness!

2/11/2012

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Let me begin by apologizing (profusely) for the lack of anything the last week or so. I have been SO overwhelmed trying to fix this (godforsaken) blog that I haven't been able to have much fun with it. I had yet another catastrophe on my side of the blogging universe and it all goes back to the fact that I've never done this before and just DO NOT UNDERSTAND these things. Anyway, I'm trying my best to fire up again but in order to do this, I have to bunch a few days together. Otherwise, my tiny blog will die and that would be so sad.
Please forgive me!

Here's the breakdown since we talked last:

February 1: Freedom Day, G.I. Joe Day, Hula in the Coola Day
February 2: Crepe Day, Groundhog Day, Marmot Day, Sled Dog Day
February 3: The Day the Music Died, Give Kids a Smile Day, Wear Red Day
February 4: World Cancer Day, Ice Cream for Breakfast Day, Thank a Mailman Day
February 5: World Nutella Day
February 6: National Weatherman's Day
February 7: Lame Duck Day, Ballet Day, Wave All Your Fingers at Your Neighbors Day
February 8: Send a Card to a Friend Day, Opera Day
February 9: Kite Flying Day, National Stop Bullying Day, Read in the Bathtub Day
February 10: Toothache Day
February 11: Umbrella Day, Be Electrific Day, White T-Shirt Day
The University of Detroit Mercy (my alma mater) hosts a Give Kids a Smile day (February 3) every year in which hundreds of children are given dental treatment at no cost. (Although, I don't think they do it anymore, Boo.) Here my classmates and I are posing with Detroit's interim Mayor (at the time), Ken Cockrel, Jr. in 2009 where over 200 children had their teeth cleaned or fixed. What an amazing day, I miss these volunteer events and as my 2012 new year's resolution, I aim to participate in at least one by 2013. There are so many opportunities out there and I cannot wait to use my skills to help again!



Since I have a slight red-tinge to my hair, I don't ever have to worry about forgetting to wear red on February 3. Here is a gorgeously wearable red for those who are gingerly-challenged. I want this exact skirt that Aarean from Color issue sported in her Christmas cards!

Also, here's a HOW-TO for Maxi skirts!! Yes!!
For World Cancer Day, February 4, I would like to honor my mom's best friend, Irene Rel, who passed away three years ago this year. Above: My mom is on the left, Irene on the right. She was the sassy best friend everyone wants, but never really gets. She was an open book and would never think to hide her feelings. She was full of love and life and passion for her family until the very end. She is missed every day, but I am so proud to have had her in my life. She left me with a new appreciation for family and friends and she also taught me how to make breakfast burritos. :)  Thank you, Irene! Love and miss you always!
February 9th was Read in the Bathtub Day.
These book text posters from Spineless Classics would make reading
in the bathtub a little easier, and a lot less soggy.
Finally, for White T-Shirt Day (today!) let's make this watermark t-shirt. All you need is some dye, Elmer's Gel Glue a cute quote or design and a white shirt.

Thanks to Katy from Sweet Verbena for this excellent DIY
that I might actually get a chance to DIM (Do-It-Myself)!
Happy electrifying!
XO
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