Birthday Weekend!

Someone...

...turned 30...

last weekend!

And I promise you will get all the details soon!

Calling All Readers...

So, I'm just curious.  Who out there is reading my blog?  Because while I mostly do this for me, my little scrapbook/journal to the world, I just wanted to know who you are.  I know my fabulous followers, some of my favorite chicks, almost all of whom have great blogs of their own.  But what about the rest of you?  I love hearing that people stop by to see the pictures or read my rants, so I'm challenging you to stop by the comments section and let me know just who you are!  It would make my day!

Oh, and coming soon, pictures of and stories from Crystal's fabulous 30th birthday celebration!  I know you are on the edge of your seats! 

We Are The Champions....

I have never been athletic.  I have always lacked the drive for that kind of thing, well, that and the coordination.  I was the girl who never could quite hit the wiffle ball in PE.  (Though I was pretty good at field hockey, because while I lacked in coordination, I had plenty of aggression!)  This hasn't stopped me from loving all kinds of sports, however.  If the weekend's here, I am just as likely to be watching NASCAR, The Dew Tour, or track and field finals as I am to be watching anything else.  I will pretty much watch anything, the fortnight of Wimbelton coverage, even golf if there's nothing else on, but I'm probably not watching for any of the reasons you think. 

I'm watching for that moment that comes right at the end of the race, match or game.  That split second when the winner realizes that they are actually going to get what they came for, what they have been working for and dreaming of all this time.  I love that moment of pure bliss, of celebration.  To be perfectly honest, it's been known to make me cry even if I don't know anything about the sport or the winner.  Because the thing of it is, how many moments do we really get in our lives like that?  How often do we get to go into the world, get what we earned and truly and wholly celebrate that?  It seems like competition allows us the freedom to celebrate ourselves in a way we probably wouldn't in some other area.  I mean, can you imagine doing a victory lap around the office when you get a promotion or high fiving everyone in the doctor's office after a good report?  It just doesn't translate! 

So, until then, I will be watching tennis...or track...or even golf...awaiting the celebration.

Does This Mean I'm An Adult?

There's so much going on over here that you can rest assured this post will be all over the place.  Of course, that wouldn't actually be that odd, so maybe I should just offer my apologies and move on.  Yesterday was a fantastic day.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous!  It's nice not to be outside and not wear the air, you know?  The weather was perfect because I had a photo shoot yesterday morning!  A while back, my third grade teacher, Mrs. Kraatz, let me know that her daughters were going to be here this summer and wanted to know if I would do their family pictures.  The first thing I reminded her of was that I am not a professional photographer.  (You know how I feel about people who claim talent beyond their own!)  But, I agreed to do it, and I'm really glad that I did!  It was fun, the kids were cute, and I was able to get some nice shots, even though trying to get kids to take good pictures is like trying to catch a greased pig.  (Maybe harder!)  Shannon, the daughter closest to my age and the one I remember wanting to be when I grew up, told me that she reads my blog!  And she likes it!  (And you know how happy I get when I find out anyone reads this blog!) 

After the shoot, I went home and started working on the pictures.  Since everyone is only going to be here until Monday, I wanted to get the pictures back to the family quickly.  I was pleased that I managed to get a few good ones and was able to get them finished and copied.  (In fact, I'm taking them over there when I finish this blog...oh, and shower!) 

Once that was done, I decided that I was bored.  And that I needed groceries.  So I called Crys and we went to town.  First we went shopping.  Who doesn't need new clothes?  (That fit, because that's totally my problem!)  We popped in Old Navy and promptly fell in love.  I bought this dress and these tanks in blue and black and the cutest little sweater, a navy ruffle tee and a gorgeous purple t-shirt!  I was blissed out happy and didn't really spend that much considering.  (And even if I did, who cares?)  Crystal got a gray dress and the cutest matching cardigan too, so I would consider it a success!  After stopping in at Barnes & Noble, we went to the grocery store.  Now I should say that I love grocery shopping with other people because I like to know why they buy what they buy.   But shopping with Crys was like a nutrition class!  I felt smarter and more informed by the time we were done, and I bought the yummiest organic chocolate graham cracker bunnies!  (Amy's brand in case you were curious!)  It was a great trip, and it's always good to spend a little time with my friend!

Today, I'm taking it easy maybe doing a craft project or two because this weekend is gonna be HUGE!  I seriously cannot wait!  Oh the pictures that are coming your way!

Ocho...Huit...Otto...Eight

My favorite Lumberjill over at The Lumberjack's Wife posted this and I couldn't help but take her up on it!  You all have to know how much I love a good survey!  (And beside, I need a brain break after working on photography stuff this afternoon!)

8 Things I’m Looking Forward to…
    1.  Sleeping in tomorrow
    2.  Going grocery shopping (it's got to happen so I might as well get happy about it!)
    3.  Girls' Day Out for Crystal's birthday on Saturday (it's her 30th, in case you haven't read)
    4.  My summer reading list
    5.  Family get-together for Crystal's birthday Sunday
    6.  Getting my bedroom redecorated
    7.  Shopping for couches
    8.  Antique shopping with Amber next week (possibly.  hopefully.)

8 Things I did Yesterday…
    1.  Rolled out of bed after a night filled with Benadryl and weird dreams
    2.  Taught my college class (which is going really well, I think)
    3.  Visited with Jerri, school secretary extraordinaire
    4.  Picked up the rest of my checks and took them to the bank
    5.  Cleaned the heck out of my "yellow room" (which is basically a porch)
    6.  Tried to convince Sheena's parents to buy my extra furniture
    7.  Wasted time on Facebook
    8.  Watched a couple of my favorite movies

8 Things I Wish I Could Do…
    1.  Lose weight and keep it off
    2.  Spend a month at the beach for free
    3.  Focus more on how to be a quality photographer
    4.  Meet a nice guy
    5.  Dance in a way that didn't look like I was seizing
    6.  Hire a painter instead of doing it myself
    7.  Have money to act on some of my "big ideas"
    8.  Sew with any profiency whatsoever
 
8 Shows I Enjoy…
   1.  The Big Bang Theory
   2.  Gilmore Girls
   3.  Antique Roadshow
   4.  Designing Women
   5.  Friday Night Lights
   6.  Glee
   7.  So You Think You Can Dance
   8.  Bones

**In the interest of full disclosure, I had to look up how to say "eight" in Italian.

Versatile Vocalists Open House

On Tuesday night, I headed to the Versatile Vocalists Open House!  It was a great night, letting people in to see what Sheena and her fam (and I, to a much lesser extent) have been working on.  It's been a long time since those first days in that building.  (If you don't remember, check it out here.)   Here's a look at a few of the fine details...

I love these lanterns that hang in the display windows!  They give the passers-by on the street something to talk about (especially kids!).

Every book on that shelf was catalogued by Sheena and me.  Don't tell me we don't know how to have a good time!

The beauty of a piano!  It's practically brand-new and Sheena got it for a steal.  It's sounds as good at it looks, too!

If you haven't noticed, Wicked is a bit of a theme.  Can't go wrong with black, white and green!

A gorgeous bouquet gifted to Sheena for the big event!

Take careful note of how this plant looks.  These plants are hard to kill, but we are taking bets on how long it will last with Sheena's notorious black thumb!  I'll try to help keep it alive while I'm answering the phone!

Summer Reading

In case you're new here, this is Delilah.  And she is having a problem with this summer.  You see, nine months out of the year, she is left alone here from 7:30-4:00.  This allows her to sleep uninterupted, maximizing her nocturnal behaviors that start as soon as I am ready for bed.  She would rather I read quietly during her "sleepy hours," and since I live to please my furry, psychotic roomie, I bring you what I've read so far this summer....

I have most of Jennifer Weiner's books, and I enjoy her writing style very much.  That said, I really loved this book.  It was a fast read, and there was really very little exposition up front, which is always a plus with me.  The book is a little bit mystery, a little bit love story, and a fairly good look at female friendship, be it now or then.  It's funny and sweet without being overwrought.  I totally recommend it if you are looking for a light read. (Which coincidentally is pretty much all I read, in case you were wondering.)

 

Speaking of, here's a memoir that will make you laugh until you cry!  I adore the pint-size Broadway dynamo, Kristin Chenoweth.  I actually read this book when it came out in hardcover, but I couldn't help picking it up in paperback with the new chapter!  Any girl who has ever dreamed of treading the boards will love this book about the girl from Broken Arrow, OK who made it big in NYC!  (And it's totally my book of the month at Versatile Vocalists!)

Kelly Corrigan had cancer.  Then, her father was diagnosed too.  This memoir of the ties that bind us and how we deal with being somewhere between childhood and adulthood made me laugh, cry, and want to be part of the Corrigan clan.  I loved how the chapters alternated between the present and memories from her past.  I was actually sad that the book was over at the last page.

This is the book I'm reading right now.  I'm not very far into it, but I've read Elin Hilderbrand's books before and I really like the way that she brings Nantucket to the page.  (Not that I've been to Nantucket, but all of her books are set there.)  Her books read like a mini-vacation and her characters are so wonderfully flawed and realistic that you find yourself wrapped up in their saga before you even realized it. 

I have a whole shelf full of other great books I hope to get through before school starts!  I promise to keep you updated!  (And I promise that I have received no compensation for my stellar reviews.  Purely a love of books at work here!)