Give Me Five, Up High!

Happy freakin' Friday!

This felt like a really packed week, but I think it's because my home routine has completely changed since we started working out on a schedule again.  It feels good to get back into the swing of it, but after a few daily chores, working out, showering, cooking dinner, and preparing for the next work day, we don't sit down and rest until 8:30pm.  Which is why I've been blogging late at night.  And then making egregious grammatical errors.  And then editing my published post the next day.

I need sleep, and I'm getting some this weekend.  Mmmhmm!

Here are five highlights from my week:

Back East Blonde // The Life of the Wife

Skirt // Sandals

No matter what you have planned for the weekend, I hope you enjoy it!

(Linking up with Lauren for High Five For Friday)

A Knightley Aversion

I should preface this post by saying that people can be irrational, and I am no exception.

I used to really dislike Keira Knightley.  I never saw Bend It Like Beckham, so I missed the initial fanfare of her "making it big" arrival in Hollywood.  I had only seen her thin frame in ads and on the red carpet.  I saw Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl in theatres, and I liked it.  Time passed.  She became really famous, and she was everywhere.

For a reason unknown at the time, I decided I really didn't like Keira Knightley. Why is she everyone's spokesmodel?  Why does there need to be a picture of her in every damn magazine?  Why does every magazine keep talking about how thin she is and whether or not she has an eating disorder?  And then someone asked me why I thought she was so annoying.  And just like any mature adult, I said, "Because she annoys me."  (Don't hire me as your attorney.)

And then I saw...

Source

I had seen a few scenes on TV before, and I was excited to finally watch it in its entirety when I started dating my husband.  And then I figured it out.  I hate  despise  loathe  want to rip one of Keira Knightley's scenes right out of the film.  Do you know which one I'm talking about?

Knightley plays the lovely Juliet who discovers that her husband's best friend is in love with her.  As one would expect, this brings about discomfort, shock, and embarrassment.  Juliet's husband never finds out, and eventually, she and the best friend resolve to move past it.  He has his way of getting closure, and then she... Well, just watch.

How on this great earth is it reasonable for a woman to kiss her new husband's best friend?!  People have tried to tell me it was a sweet gesture, but I beg to differ.  I wouldn't call that "letting him down easy".  And I wouldn't call it "closure" either.  I don't think it's sweet.  I don't think it's fair to him.  I don't think it would make him think, Oh, okay.  Now I can move on.  I get so up in arms and sad every time I see that scene.  My husband told me that hearing my unsolicited opinion about the matter was one of the things he liked about me.

However, Keira Knightley is not that person in real life, so I offer her this letter she'll never read:

Dear Keira Knightley,

I am sorry that I held a grudge against you all that time, all because of a character you played.  You were so true to the part that I believed you were Juliet.  It's twisted compliment, really!  You are a superb actress.  I love your work in Pride and Prejudice and Domino.  You carry yourself well, and quite honestly, I love your accent.  So what do you say?  Let's be friends? 

Sincerely, 

Lindsay

Love Actually is a great film!  One of my favorites.  (The men in this movie were cast so freakin' perfectly.)  I may still curse that kiss, but at least I've dissected my Knightley aversion and moved past it.  And that's the tale of my completely irrational decision about a celebrity.  Lucky for me, she has no idea who I am, she wouldn't have known I didn't like her, and this apology doesn't really matter.  

Why am I still typing?  

Okay, goodbye.  :-)

It's Kind of Like Speed Dating

Time really is flying by, because I feel like I just did a vlog, but alas, it's been a month, and it's time for The Girl Behind The Blog with Ashley at 5ohWifey and this month's co-host Nicole at Our Crazy Beautiful!

I learned a few things while filming this vlog:

1. I'm feeling more comfortable recording vlogs.
2. But it's still awkward, and I still hide away in a different room and close the door.
3. I shouldn't record vlogs after 9:00pm on a work night, because I lose my pep.
4. I need new scenery, because a white wall and artificial lighting are BORING.
5. It's hard to answer four questions in 2-3 minutes.  And I'm sorry I went 15 seconds over, although I'm sure there is another blogger whose vlog is 4+ minutes long.
6. I won't record another vlog with my laptop while wearing glasses.  Sorry for the screen reflection.

Anyway, on with the show!

** CORRECTION: Measure from thumb to pinky and multiply by 9.  I said 7, because my hand measurement is 7.5.  Oops!


Be honest.  Did you measure your hands to see if they're proportionate?  ;-)  I hope you guys link up so I can learn a little more about you through your own voice!

* * * * * * * * * *

Also, the winner of the Shabby Apple gift card giveaway is... *drum roll, please* ...

Michelle at Mish Lovin' Life!

Congrats, girl!  I can't wait to meet you during my next trip to San Diego!  

I Smell Like a Baked Good

It's Monday already?  Blink of an eye, I tell you!  It was a full weekend.  I was up bright and early to meet the board president of the Tomball Farmers Market.  I'm officially the new Facebook page moderator!  (The former is moving to Peru.  How cool is that?)  I've been on Facebook since it was The Facebook and it was only available to universities and colleges.  I'd say I'm well-versed in Facebook and how much I despise the timeline.  More than anything, I'm looking forward to getting to know the board members and vendors and learning as much as possible about local farming and seasonal produce.

After that, the ball of productivity began its roll -- new sandals, new dresser, lunch outing, completed our vehicle inspections, embarked on a Sunday morning cleaning frenzy, and prepared for another work week (musical theatre indulgence of watching "Into the Woods" included).

I got a lot of comments about the bug repellent tip I shared on Friday!  It seems I'm not the only one trying to fight off mosquitoes.  Applying vanilla extract directly to my skin has worked, but it might be more potent than necessary, so I made some homemade bug repellent!  If you have "sweet blood" like me, I suggest you give this a try.

Homemade Natural Bug Repellent

Fill 1/2 of an 8 oz. spray bottle with distilled or boiled water.

Add 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.  (Insects dislike the scent of vanilla.)

Fill the rest of the bottle with witch hazel.  (Witch hazel acts as the "carrier" of the vanilla scent.)

Optional: 10-20 drops of essential oils that deter insects like eucalyptus, peppermint, lemongrass, citronella, or lavender.  (I skipped this, but I'll add eucalyptus or peppermint if I need to increase the strength.  Until then, I'll continue to smell like a baked good.  Yum!)

Do keep in mind that what works for one person may not work for another.  Play around with the recipe, or try another one altogether.  There are so many on the internet.  Most importantly, this bug repellent does not contain DEET which is toxic to animals and can cause rashes and blisters.  (Gross.)

ADDED: Emily asked about a strong bug repellent for camping.  If you're looking for something hardcore, try Wellness Mama's Vinegar of the Four Thieves!

So while you're smelling like a delicious baked good, pat yourself on the back for being kind to the environment too!

Surprise!

It's been a really great week!  Here are five highlights from the last seven days:

Clockwise from top left:

1.) I now use my Peter Pan (circa 1994) mug at work, and it brightens my day.  Big girl office, big girl suit, Peter Pan mug.  I'm forever a Disney kid (even though my adult brain disagrees with some of the ideals those movies teach, but that's neither here nor there right now).

2.) Mr. TBS surprised me when he stole a kiss in the hallway at work!  (We work in the same building but for different companies.)  I got butterflies!

3.) I've realized that I must be allergic to mosquitoes.  When I get bitten (which is often here in Texas), I get golf ball-sized welts.  That is not fun, or attractive.  However, I looked up natural bug repellent recipes, and although I didn't have all of the ingredients, I did have one.  Vanilla extract.  I read that bugs dislike the scent of vanilla.  I dabbed some straight onto my arms, and guess what?  I never got bitten over the weekend.  Thank, Buddha!  I now love the scent of vanilla even more!

4.) I had wonderful phone dates with my friends Erin and Caitlin and with my dad!  It was so great to hear their voices and catch up.

* * * * * * * * * *

Surprise! 

My last highlight is actually for YOU, my lovely readers!  

It's a giveaway day, y'all!  Now is your chance to win a...

$75 SHABBY APPLE GIFT CARD!

Shabby Apple is an online boutique specializing in gorgeous women's clothing and fun accessories.  I love their dresses!  But let's be honest, I usually leave their site wanting 20 things.  Here are a few things I've had my eye on:

Puca Pucara Dress // Eager Oxford Shoe

Sterling Silver Green Earrings // Malt Shop Dress

Classical Ballet Flat // Forbidden City Dress

So what are you waiting for?  

Enter the giveaway and snag the gift card all for your beautiful self!

And in the spirit of spreading the love,
use promo code TRIALBYSAPPHIRE10OFF until 7/20/2012 
for a 10% discount.  How kind of them!

RULES:

You must enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.

You must have a U.S. shipping address to enter this giveaway (per Shabby Apple's request).

The giveaway will close next Wednesday, 6/27/2012, at 12:01am CST.
All entries will be verified.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

GOOD LUCK, and happy weekend!

As always, I'm linking up with Lauren for High Five For Friday!

This post is sponsored by Shabby Apple.

Welcome to San Diego!

Guess what? I want to take you on a virtual vacation to San Diego with me! What do you think? Of course, travelling with a stranger is dangerous, so hopefully you already feel like you know me. No? Well, I give you my unofficial P.R. welcome over HERE, but here are a few more tidbits about me:

I was completely in love with Pacey Witter (Joshua Jackson) from "Dawson's Creek" in high school.

My dream job would be Broadway musical theatre actress.

I am left-handed when I write, throw a ball, and catch a ball.
(For obvious reasons, I can never play baseball.)

When I was a kid, I reviewed movies and shows for the San Diego Union Tribune.

(Yay for free tickets!)

I have a mostly photographic memory.

If I see something printed (name, date, directions), it is highly likely that I will remember it long after.

I have sung the national anthem for some pretty large crowds (read: 60,000),

and I would still get nervous about messing up the words if I had to sing it today.

My sister and I collected snails, rolly pollies, and other bugs when we were little.

Sometimes, they went missing... in the house.

I had a speech impediment until I was 6.

My dad started teaching me to drive when I was 12.

I'm ophidiophobic.

After my first date with my now-husband, I fell hard. Completely, utterly, and undeniably enamored with him. So much so that I committed to a long-distance (San Diego to NYC) relationship with him after ten days of dating. (Talk about having faith in something!)

I grew up in San Diego, California.

How lucky am I that I will forever be able to refer to San Diego as my home? It's a great place to be able to to "go home" to!

Today I'm sharing some of my favorite things to do back home over at Paper Notes! Take a virtual vacation with me to San Diego. Join me at Allie's blog! Please show her some blog love!

Oh, would you look at that? I've already packed.

So Much to Celebrate!

Happy Monday! I’m one day late, but I blame it on the lack of internet at home! (Still no internet at home. Can you believe it? What is this madness?

Happy Father’s Day tomy wonderful dad who proves that being a voice of reason and a bona fide goofball are not mutually exclusive!

(For a precious father-daughter moment, click HERE. You don’t want to miss it!)

Dear Dad,

You are simply the best. Growing up as your daughter was so fun! You magically made me “fly” around the family room, you taught me how to drive the summer before eighth grade, you raised the roof to 50 Cent’s “In Da Club” on your birthday, we got buzzed together while wine tasting (oops!), and you find the possibilities in every new venture. Thank you for all the late-night talks about school, theatre, jobs, being dumped, moving away, and family. And thank you for being my blog’s #1 fan! I love you so much!

And just as it was 22 years ago, my little brother’s birthday was yesterday too! Surely, he is the best Father’s Day present my dad will ever receive!

Dear Gary Mike,

This is your year, and I’m so proud of everything you’ve accomplished! I still think you were the cutest little boy there ever was, so it’s no surprise that you’ve turned into the sweetest, most sentimental cool guy (with ridiculous muscles). Gone are the days of Tinker Toys and Disney movie marathons, but there is so much more ahead of us. I love you, Little Brud!

Cheers to you both! I LOVE YOU GUYS!

High Five For Friday!

Guess what?  I still don't have internet at home.  I feel like I've been transported back to 1999, except the world didn't exist on the world wide web back then, so I wasn't missing out on anything.  Now I am.  News, e-mail, online bill pay, restaurant information, and driving directions are not nearly as convenient or easy to read on my phone.

Please excuse my on-going absence from 2012.  I'm doing my best to keep up during lunch and breaks at work.  I haven't taken the plunge to hit up Starbucks yet, but I might be approaching that point.  I've not seen a full-size Starbucks in my part of town yet, and I really don't want to drive far to hit up free Wi-Fi.

Despite this problem (and our power outage on Wednesday), it has been a good week, surprisingly!  (It's all in how you view the situation, right?)

Here are five highlights from my week!

{ONE}

I went to the latest blogger meet-up at Pinot's Palette over the weekend!  It was the largest meet-up to date, and I can't wait for the next one!  It was great to see familiar and new faces!  I also found out I'm not too shabby at painting.  Both of the instructors complimented me!

{TWO}

I finally met Whitney (pictured above) and Michelle!  Whitney stumbled across my blog a few months ago, and we were excited to find a fellow Houston blogger.  She's a total delight, and she's moving close to my part of town.  Hooray!  Michelle was my very first sponsor back in February, and she is even sweeter in person than I expected.  I arrived a little late but was happy to see the empty seat next to her!  (Michelle, whenever you find the cable for your camera, I want that picture of us!)

Favorite line from the night:

"You're so small and tiny!  When you walked in, I was like, 'Oh, she's not 5'10".'  You look so much taller on your blog."

-- Whitney

Well... I'm not.  Eeek!  I can't imagine what she would have thought if I wasn't wearing heels.  ;-)

{THREE}

I've never owned a high-quality hair appliance... until now!  I got a "just because you're awesome" gift from Whitney, and I'm totally in love with my new Chi!  How great is she?!

{FOUR}

During our brief power outage on Wednesday, I used our new candle stick holder that we bought at the farmers' market over the weekend.  I love that thing!  It reminds me of Pinocchio!  

(Source of movie screen shot HERE)

{FIVE}

The work-out journey continues!  I'm navigating this whole "working out at home" concept.  I would rather be in a studio with an instructor to push me, but I also don't have a studio here, and I don't want to become a hungry hippo (remember that game?) rolly polly.  Home work-outs for the win!

Cheers to the weekend!  Enjoy it!  Please send me some good internet-having vibes!

As always, I'm linking up with Lauren from From My Grey Desk!

From Blog Life to Real Life

Once upon a time, my readers consisted of 13 friends and family members.  That has definitely changed since February, and I'm positive that most of my regular readers are other bloggers.  Today, I'm joining my friends Jessica and Britt for some blogger Q&A for "From Blog Life to Real Life"!

1. Do you have any real life blog friends? 

I have met some fellow bloggers in real life a time or two!  I happened to meet Meg from Sweetly Complicated at the spur of the moment in April.  Also, I met other bloggers at the H-town Blogger March meet-up and then again this past Sunday for a really fun meet-up at Pinot's Palette.  

Although I haven't seen her in eons, I grew up in theatre with Anna from Rambly Blog.  (This girl can cook and craft, and she has such a pure and good heart!)  At one of my best friends' weddings, I also met Jayme from Wedding Voices and Lindsay from The Delicious Domestic!

2. Which blogger are you just dying to meet?

It goes without saying that, one day, I will meet Emily from Emmy June {Born in May} and Jessica from Lovely Little Things.

I'd also love to meet Kim from The Kim Challenge, Jess from Makeunder My Life, and Alicia from The Kind Life (total long shot, I know).

3. Which blogger's closet do you want to raid? 

Too easy.  I want the wardrobe (accessories and all) of Lauren from From My Grey Desk.  It may be different from my style, but the more I fall in love with her clothes, the more I'm beginning to think that I've never known what my actual style is!

4. You are stuck on an island. Which blogger would you want with you to help you survive? 

I would want it to be Caitlin from Healthy Tipping Point!  This woman is fit and adventurous, and I am always really impressed by how thorough her personal research is, whether out of interest or necessity.  I've always wanted to do The Amazing Race with either my friend Caitlin (a different Caitlin) or my husband.  They're competitive, athletic, rational, respectful, and fun solution-thinkers.  Blogger Caitlin seems to be the same way.

5. The first blogger you remember "meeting" and connecting with? 

I e-mailed Jessica (listed above) back in February when I made my blog public.  I started reading her blog months earlier when she started, and I liked where her blog was headed and loved seeing it grow.  She was so gracious with her e-mail responses to me, and now, we're crazy close.

6. Any blogger that you admire and look up to? 

I really admire Jenni from Story of My Life.  She is a brilliant writer!  She works hard to build her readership through fresh content and stunning photos.  She gains genuine readers, not just "followers" pictured in a box on her sidebar.  She's authentic, and I always leave her blog wanting to be her new best friend!

7. Who is the craziest/funniest blogger? 

I share a love of wit and sarcasm with Bobbi from Today, I'm Bobbi and Michelle from Shell Bell.  I wouldn't call them crazy, unless they hide it really well on their blogs (!), but they're funny.  I love their understated writing styles!  A balls-out crazy crowd favorite is Erin at Living In Yellow.  She's a fireball!  

8. There's a reality television show for bloggers, who would you want to be casted with you? 

Everyone linked in this post (and then about 20 other of my favorite bloggers).  I don't know that we'd be a very dramatic bunch, but it sure would be fun!

9. Some bloggers have really cool jobs.  Anybody you'd like to swap careers with? 

I love everything about the sisters from The Letter 4!  They are talented, and they have used their blog for so much good!  Their blog landed them on The Martha Stewart Show to share their crafty projects.  They co-founded The Letter 4 + 1.  And now, Jamie and Janae have started bop & bod.  I wouldn't want to swap careers with them because I'm not as creative as them, but I'd love to be the operational arm of their team!  They're oozing with creativity!  

10. Favorite blog design? 

I can't lie.  I'm still pretty obsessed with my own!  (Thank you, Bobbi!)

I probably shouldn't ask this since I already read a gazillion blogs, but...

what are you favorite blogs?

An Evening at Pinot's Palette

I went to the H-town Bloggers meet-up this past Sunday, and it was so... much... fun!  We veered far off the coffee-house path, and had a private party at Pinot's Palette (Galleria)!  Meg was a genius for planning this event!  With around 25 bloggers in attendance, it was the largest meet-up to date!

If you have a Pinot's Palette near you, I highly recommend checking it out!  You can bring your own wine and food, and for a flat fee, they provide the art class, all supplies (including the canvas you take home), and kitchenware!  You can attend public classes (see their schedule), host a party at their studio, or they can even bring the party to you.  It really doesn't get much easier than that.

This place was the perfect spot to do something fun and spend quality time with these wonderful gals!

Here is my "masterpiece"!  What do you think?

Our instructor, Erin, was very patient with our group of chatterboxes, and as a non-painter, I really appreciate that she broke down each step and gave us time to complete it.  Her wonderful assistant, Preetika, walked around picking up supplies and giving tips  They made a great team!  Even if you think you lack all artistic abilities, you will have fun and leave the class with a cool painting!  I promise!

Another thing I like about Pinot's Palette is their involvement in the community.  Every fall, they host the Art Tasting charity event at their studios where guests come and enjoy an open house. This year the Art Tasting will be the weekend of September 14, and they have studios throughout the country participating.  They will be splitting the proceeds between a national charity and local charities. Pinot's Palette is asking fans to select their favorite charity. All they have to do is go to the Pinot's Palette Facebook page. The contest runs throughout the month of June and we will announce the winner in July.

Why not try something fun and different for your next party or your next weekend outing?  Check out Pinot's Palette (website, Facebook, Twitter)!

Photos by Meg, Darby, and me

Check out the event posts by my fellow Houston bloggers!

The Laws of Attraction

Good morning, sweet people!  

How was your weekend?  It was a mighty productive one in the TBS household, although our internet is still out.  The earliest we'll get it back is Wednesday which means it will have been a week without home WiFi!  #bloggerproblems  It's a double-edged sword, because I can't go online, but I have had time to do other things like clean the bathrooms, vacuum, read, and paint at a really fun blogger meet-up (more on that later)!    

Our lack of internet has also made me more present at home.  For all you bloggers, I know most of you have run into this problem at some point.  Blogging takes a lot of time!  Brainstorming, reading your favorites, writing and scheduling posts in advance, and social media -- it's a lot of stuff to do.  So it's been nice to set aside all e-mails, blogging, and mindless internet surfing to spend more time with my love!

Speaking of love, I'm so excited to have my new friend Elisabeth here to share some things about love!  On her blog, La Vita e Bella, she writes about her personal life and her marriage, and she really has such a sweet heart.  It also doesn't hurt that she's gorgeous!  Read what she has to share about laws of attraction below and then be sure to check out her blog.  Be sure to tell her that I sent you!

* * * * * * * * * *

I’m Elisabeth from La Vita e Bella. :)  Over there I blog about love and life, which to me are pretty much one and the same. Today, I’m so excited to be taking over for Lindsay today and sharing some interesting research on a favorite subject of mine, attraction! 

My husband Ben and I last summer, the day before our wedding, in Kennebunkport, ME. 

The 3 Laws of Attraction:

Fact: While many individuals occasionally feel attracted to ‘opposites,’ attractions between opposites often do not develop into serious intimate relationships. When they do, these relationships often end prematurely.

What this Means: Find someone who has similarities to you. The important ones are values and priorities. This doesn’t mean your boyfriend has to like all the same movies or listen to the same music, but if you value the same things, you’re more likely to have a long lasting relationship. This also means if you want a short fling, opposites are totally fine :)

Fact: Individuals who take the time to get to know each other’s personalities before they get romantically involved - in contrast to those who become romantically involved relatively quickly  end up with a partner with a more similar personality.

What this Means: Wait. It doesn’t mean you can’t kiss him till over the altar, but if you focus on getting to know your beau and taking all the wonderful physical stuff slowly, you’ll end up dating someone with a more similar personality, which will mean a longer lasting relationship. On the marriage prowl? Take it slow. 

Fact: People like their partners better if they know their partner also likes them. Consciously, you like people who like you.

What this means: If you like someone, TELL THEM! or at least give them a hint - they’ll like you more if they have some indication you might be interested.

P.S. These facts came form scientific studies I came across when writing a research paper on the chemistry of love. There are probably plenty of alternate theories and exceptions. If you’re interested in any of the citations, just shoot me an email at emearnshaw@gmail.com.  :)

What do you think? In your experience, do they hold true? Other ideas that explain attraction in your life? 

For another fact about attraction - check out my blog today! And even if you're not interested in more facts about attraction - I'd love for you to come visit. :) 

* * * * * * * * * *

That's good food for thought!  I agree that, ultimately, relationships based on the same values are made to last.  I know that Mr. TBS and I may have different taste in music, and he doesn't like musical theatre although I love it, but we aim to live our lives with the same gratitude, respect, energy, love, fun, and morals. What do you think?  Check out La Vita e Bella and show her some love!

Thank you so much for being my first guest blogger, Elisabeth!

Happy Monday!  Make today great!

The Importance of Laughing at Yourself

Sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself!  It's healthy, and it's a good reminder to loosen up and not take everything so seriously.  Just the other day, I looked up the Search Keywords in my Blogger stats and saw this:

Some bloggers look at their Search Keywords and think, What in the world?  How did someone find my blog by searching 'And a pile of bandaids, thank you'?  Some people get really absurd keywords that do not relate to any of their posts whatsoever.  This is not the case for me with the keywords above.

HERE are the Pinterest babies.
HERE is the photo clothes line from my wedding.
HERE is my mention of my beloved Starbs hot chocolate packets.

And I hate to say it, but I do have a post about walking into an automatic sliding door!  I posted it in January before my blog was public, and I laugh every time I think about it!  The culprit:

You can read the story HERE.  Yes, it is very important to be able to laugh at yourself!  I'm just so thrilled that others can stumble upon this blog for a variety of reasons.  ;-)  Oddly, this is how Meg realized how close our worlds are.  It's her neighborhood Hubbell & Hudson!

I hope you're having a marvelous weekend!  I'm looking forward to another Houston blogger meet-up tomorrow night.  It's going to be a really fun one!  I'll be sure to post about it next week (and hopefully, some nice friends will share pictures with me since I still haven't found my camera).

Until then, peace out, my homies.

Happy Friday!

Friends, I never know how this happens, but it’s Friday already?  I’ll take it!  

I’ve been without internet at home since Wednesday’s brief but strong storm, so writing posts in Word and transferring them to Blogger during a break at work has been my new process; hence, my late posts yesterday and today.  Keep your fingers crossed we get our internet back soon!  However, it’s been relaxing to be unplugged the last few nights!

Here are five highlights from my week!

{ONE}

It should be no surprise that every Monday through Friday, I look forward to getting home and changing out of a suit.  As sharp as a suit looks, PJs are more comfortable.  I know, shocker!  Now, add Andes mint chocolates, post formatting (that one is for you, Em!), and blog reading, and it’s a good night!

{TWO}

We’re got some beautiful stuff growing in the garden!  Parsley, basil, rosemary, squash, tomatoes, green beans, cucumber, and eggplant!  Now let’s hope that these babies can survive the encroaching summertime heat!

{THREE}

Speaking of summertime, the days may be in the 90s, but that means the pool is glorious in the evenings!  I couldn’t resist dipping my feet in!

{FOUR}

I got a very sweet card in the mail from the one and only blogging rock star Jessica!  I love the lost art form of handwritten letters and cards, and when she blogged about your new cards last week, I loved them.  Little did I know, one of those cards would be sent to me!

{FIVE}

We got a treadmill!  I haven’t worked out consistently since March.  (Shhh!)  I’m not a runner, but I’ve got to do something now that we moved far from my trusty studio with the toughest Pilates and yoga classes I’ve ever taken.  My first run pretty good, but I’ll amp it up soon enough.  Now that I have a consistent, healthy diet, working out again will get me to my best self! 

How was your week?

Linking up with Lauren for High Five For Friday!