SMP 7.18.13

Well, my pool-side experiment worked! Hooray! Hopefully that means I can blog more often like say, from the carpool line. I'm not ready to think about carpool lines yet though. We still have lots more fun to milk out of summer!

We had a nice family vacation last week. Our original plan (California) had to be amended because we needed to put some vacation funds toward our vehicle purchase so we settled upon Telluride, CO instead. We've lived in Colorado for nearly ten years and have never visited Telluride. I'm just sad it took us that long to discover this town. It was GORGEOUS.

I sort of laugh because it seems like every new place I visit in our beautiful state quickly becomes my favorite but honestly? Tellluride IS my favorite. Hands down.

Here are a few pics. I will write more about our time there tomorrow (fingers crossed!)

Remote blogging

The kids and I are at the pool today and since I forgot to bring my book I downloaded a Blogger app to try blogging from my phone. I know, I know...I'm late to the party! 

*Crossing my fingers that this will post!*

July Currents

Current Read: While we were on vacation last week I read Happy, Happy, Happy: My Life and Legacy as the Duck Commander by Phil Robertson. I'm a Duck Dynasty fan and I respect Mr. Robertson even more after reading this book. It's a fast and easy read, and I happen to think the man is brilliant! Next up is something by Kent Haruf. I have two of his books by my bed and can't decide which one to begin first. I'll probably choose The Tie that Binds, because it's due back from the library soon!

Current Playlist: Just a bunch of current pop songs that my kids have downloaded. With a bit of Josh Turner mixed in. :)

Current Color: I'm loving blues this summer. Blue has never been a "go-to" color for me, but I'm still stuck on turquoise, with navy blue running a close second. And then of course there is aqua blue (the color of the pool!) that just screams SUMMER! 

Current Drink: Anything cool and refreshing. I saw this recipe for a dairy-free/vegan strawberry milkshake yesterday and I can't wait to try it. I get excited when I find non-dairy substitutes for things I love. 

Current Food: I had an amazing spinach salad in Denver last weekend that had a lemon-herb vinaigrette dressing on it. I've been trying to replicate it ever since. This recipe is pretty close, but I still have some tweaking to do. Last night I made these veggie tacos and they were SO good. I've got dibs on the leftovers!  

Current Favorite Favorite: Zoya nail polish. I picked up a bottle of this at Ulta while shopping with Sarah. They had a promotion going on (buy 2 get 1 free) and she chose a couple of colors she wanted for her birthday so my bottle was actually free. Zoya is free of formaldehyde and several other chemicals that I know nothing about but that aren't really good for you. What impressed me was that I put one coat on (on my toes) and it was great coverage that lasted 10 days without chipping, despite some serious walking/hiking mileage and two days at the pool. Those two things that usually destroy my pedis lickety-split. It's slightly more expensive than normal polish but I'm sold. I chose the color Sooki--a true red.

Current Addiction: Sno cones. With lots and lots of homemade, sugary syrups. Cherry is my favorite. 

Current Wish List: I'd love to have a day with NOT ONE THING on my calendar. Hopefully soon...

Current Need: A haircut and a new planner. I've gotten in the habit of using a planner and mine expired in JUNE! I am not coping well. 

Current Triumph: Well, I've been to the grocery store and cooked two meals since we returned from vacation. That feels like a triumph because it is always SO SO SO hard for me to get back in that groove after a week of being served. Anyone else?

Current Annoyance: Duplicity. And also my lack of blogging. Hope to remedy the latter this week. 

Current Confession: Lately I've been watching old episodes of Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo. I can't explain it. I won't even try. That show is a train wreck and exploits that family, that child in so many ways but I can't tear myself away when it's on. It's awful and yet addicting. Ugh. Television at it's very worst. Seriously. 

Current Blessing: The ability to be at home with my kids in the summer. Even though they're bigger now and are pretty self-sufficient I still enjoy being home with them during the day. I don't plan as many outings and fun, entertaining things as I used to when they were smaller but I still try to make summer feel like a special time. 

Current Outfit: Running shorts, t-shirt...which will later change to capris, summer top, flip flops. 

Current Excitement: I have some fun hiking plans in the next couple of weeks and we also have a trip to Arkansas/Missouri coming up. Oh....and one BIG, EXCITING night with Sarah coming up. I'm gonna leave you hanging on that one. 

Current Project: Clean/organize our basement storage area. It's a disaster!

Current plans for the day: A little work, a little bit of cleaning/laundry (its SO daily!), and catching up with a friend later on. Hopefully a trip to Target too for the aforementioned planner + a birthday gift for a party Abbey is going to this week.

Peace out, peeps. Have a great Tuesday. 

Ketchup!

Can you believe it's July? This summer is flying by much too quickly!

How about some catch-up? Or "ketchup" as I like to call it.

Good news--my nest is full once again. All of my kiddos are home! Will worked HARD in Winter Park and had a really great experience. Sarah had a great week in Puerto Rico and came home with all kinds of fun stories. Abbey enjoyed her week as an only child but is glad to have her siblings home! Not as glad as her parents are though.

We stopped to eat breakfast the morning we picked him up at Carver's in Winter Park. The restroom signs made me laugh out loud. I had to take pictures. 

Sarah got in a few days after Will did, and I let everyone lay low most of last week. We hung out at home and went to the pool one day but that's about it. They needed that time to just rest up and relax. That's what summer is for, right?

One night last week our family went to the Josh Turner concert. John is working on a project with Mr. Turner (very cool!) so the rest of us finally got to meet him! It was a great show. He might turn me into a country music fan. I REALLY like him.

Yesterday John and I celebrated TWENTY THREE years of marriage. Twenty-three years of happy, hard, fun, and messy all bundled up into one beautiful, grace-filled life. I cannot imagine my life without John in it and I am beyond grateful for him. He loves me well. We celebrated by enjoying dinner on the patio of our favorite mexican place. It was perfect...very laid back and relaxing. 

My anniversary gift? A new vehicle! I am no longer a mini-van owner!!! I got a little misty-eyed when John drove away in Minnie-the-van for the last time; she was a good fit for our family for so long. It was time to retire her though and I'm very happy to have a little more room and a little more power on the road. We've been shopping for a new vehicle for a few weeks now and let me just say that is NOT easy on a marriage. At least it's not on our marriage. Wowza. I happily sent John off alone to handle the deal on Saturday and told him to just surprise me. I knew what model he would buy--just not what year, what color, the interior, extra features, etc. I was truly surprised when he pulled in the driveway Saturday afternoon.

Over the weekend I uploaded 2243 pictures from my phone to my computer. Can you say lazy? I ordered a new phone over the weekend (anyone else do the iPhone 5 deal from Best Buy?) and they told me they could transfer my photos if I didn't have too many. Ummmmmm, I don't know for sure but I think 2200+ might be too many. Anyway, here are a few to share...

 We took Sarah and her friend out to eat with us one night and I took this picture of the girls in the cut out thing they had on their patio...didn't realize the prominent, giant tequila bottle until I texted the pic to her friends' mom. Oops.

 Ice cream at the Rock House...a summer tradition! 

Anyone know what kind of flower this is? Mom? It's pretty!