Olympics #1: Team USA Attire

Who's excited for the SUMMER OLYMPICS?!?!  This crazy proud USA lady is!  And by default, my entire household is STOKED!  The summer Olympics are so much fun to watch!  The swimming, gymnastics, diving, track and field...oh baby, I'm excited! 

So a little Olympic fashion update:

According to an MSNBC.com article,

"As the official outfitter of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams, Ralph Lauren designed both the opening and closing ceremony parade outfits as well as a collection of village wear apparel and accessories. This is the third consecutive time the company has designed the official outfits for Team USA.

Modeling the official gear — berets and all — on TODAY were Team USA soccer player Heather Mitts and fencer Tim Morehouse.

They were joined by David Lauren, Ralph Lauren's Executive Vice President. In designing the outfits, the company was "very inspired by the 1948 Games, which is the last time that American competed in England," he said of the "updated take on old-world elegance."

I'm totally diggin' the outfits.  Major props to Ralph Lauren for keeping it classy and traditional.  The berets add a little military representation which makes me proud and represents the freedom the United States has gained from the great sacrifices of our men and women that serve and have served in the military.  The only articles of clothing that I am a bit uncertain of are the socks...they are kind of bad ass and certainly fit they style of the late 40's early 50's, but I just don't know how I feel about them yet...

What are your thoughts?  Are you beyond excited? Any special plans or traditions for watching the Olympics? 

I fully intend on having the games on 24/7 while I am home and wearing a bit more red, white and blue during them! Heck, maybe I'll decorate my house, get a flag and go to town!  Creating memories for J-man is quite important to me!  If he is anything like me and my siblings when we were younger, watching the Olympics was a BIG deal and SUPER exciting.  My dreams and aspirations would go wild!  The US team is inspirational!

GO USA!

Much love.

I Wish I Was...

Not sitting at a desk all day. But I do.

Writing creatively…about woodland fairies that enchant forests and dance among leaves that act as shelter from storms and predators.  I blog to fulfill a bit of my writing passion.  I need to be more confident in my ideas and abilities.  Writing is something that has always been part of my life...thank you notes, apology notes, reports, journals, pen pals, etc.  It helps me to put my feelings down on paper.  We all have our thing.  I just need to embrace mine a bit better. 

Crafting.  Oh the things I would make if money and time were endless.  And if I didn’t constantly think for every hole I put in the wall, I will have to spackle and paint it in a few months…  Oh how I loathe renting. 

Hiking the Blue Ridge Mountains, camping in the wilderness, swimming in fresh streams and rushing waterfalls…enjoying nature and all its wonders.  This is a must for this fall.  J-man and Ryan better brace themselves for some sweet camping trips planned by yours truly!  It will be fun.  Lots. Of. Fun. Yippy!

Taking B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. photographs.  This is something that lots of research and practice will help.  I just need to find the right books and make time to really work on my photography skills.  I am constantly amazed by some of my friends who have become great photographers and have such busy lives. 

 

TOTALLY RANDOM... I want to be a mama again. I have baby fever badly.  It literally came out of nowhere.  I have been so content on not having a baby for a long time, but over the past week, holy cow, baby fever hit me and hit me hard.  **This does not mean that we will try to have a baby now.  It’s just a fact.  I have baby fever. Period.**

 

Surrounded by family and friends.  They are my world.  They get me, make me laugh, love my quirks, accept me for me, support me and challenge me, and are emotional saps that are passionate about living full and amazing lives.  I love my family! 

Turning up the music, slapping on an apron, and hitting the kitchen dancing and baking with a little J-man!  Time to make hubby chubby!!  Muhahaha!

Rock on!  Have a wonderful week!

Much love.

My Little Garden

There is no doubt that my parents passed on their love for gardening to me. Being out in the yard is so relaxing and gives me a sense of accomplishment.  This year I planted a few tomato plants, a jalapeno pepper plant, a bell pepper plant and some herbs.  The tomatoes are growing fast and producing a lot of fruit.  The peppers are a bit slower.  This is my first time growing bell peppers, so only time will tell if I succeeded or not.

Check out this Big Boy!    

I'm looking forward to enjoying tomatoes in the coming weeks...this plant is making me proud!

These little guys never make it inside.  I just pop cherry tomatoes in my mouth while I'm outside doing yard work.

I don't have much space to work with, but I am trying to make the most of it.  Being a renter significantly hinders the amount of yard I can dig up.  These plants are monsters though.  Jared is going to be shocked when he sees them!  I think they might be taller than he is! 

My one and only jalapeno pepper!  This plant is for Ryan. It will make some great salsa with those tomatoes!

Another angle.

Much love.

Dancing the Night Away

Friday night was date night for husband and I!  We started off with a private dance lesson that covered all the dances we have learned since January...Rumba, Foxtrot, Hustle, East Coast Swing, Cha-Cha, Salsa, and West Coast Swing.  Husband did wonderful!  I was impressed.  During our lesson, we were informed it was our last private lesson of the first 20 sessions.  It was sad and exciting at the same time... but fear not, we aren't done.  We decided to give our instructor the go ahead to push us to the next level!  Insert happy dance for me! 

After our private lesson, we learned how to shag in group class! Get your mind out of the gutter, it's a dance!  A very simple dance... right (forward), left(together), right (back)... (in place)left, right, left...rock step (back)...repeat.  It was fun as always! 

But...the topping of the night was dancing freestyle with my baby!  We had a blast!  Everything just seemed to click.  We were smiling, dancing, kissing, and just relaxed!  Loved it!

Here are some pictures of the wonderful Arthur Murray family dancing the night away! They aren't the best pictures because...

a) I am still learning.

b) It's a darker studio with bright windows, so the lighting was throwing me off.

c) I was torn between capturing memories and dancing.

d) The urge to dance was stronger so photography took a back burner.

You know you want to dance!  Just do it!

Much love.

4th of July

 **The fonts are messed up...pictures were giving me issues...this post is a mess.  I apologize in advance.  Don't tell me you weren't warned!**

I slept in until 9am then lounged in bed with my puppy and read a book…it was a glorious way to start my day!  While I was in relaxation euphoria, Ryan was doing his favorite thing…playing golf.  It was a win-win situation Wednesday morning.  By the time Lira and I drug our booties out of bed, the sun was high and the heat and humidity were here to stay.  While I suffered through a brutally hot walk, Lira took a dip in the lake to cool off.  She was a happy puppy after that. 

My creative bones started twitching, so to the thrift store I headed.  And boy oh boy did that thrift store deliver!  A spoon rack, a cute mug and a 60’s style glass for $0.99…yes, please!  We have a tiny, really tiny, bathroom and I have makeup and toothbrushes and a need for color and originality, so when I saw Kelle Hampton turn a spoon rack into a decorative piece, I knew I need to do something similar for my bathroom.  It was the perfect solution to having a clear counter, a pop of color and some eye candy!  Kelle’s such a creative gal! 

My creative juices weren’t quite satisfied…so to the kitchen I went!  What happens when you have a watermelon, a bottle of dry white wine, some limes, oranges and apples…Watermelon Sangria’s what happens!  And sure enough, it delivered as well!  Watermelon alone is refreshing and satisfying, but with some citrus and a bottle of wine it was the perfect adult summer beverage!  I tried it without the wine too and it was delish! 

Recipe:

Half a medium watermelon

Bottle of dry white wine – I used a Dry Riesling

Two limes diced

Two oranges diced

One Apple diced

Blend the watermelon and pour through colander

Add wine (optional), lime, orange, and apple.

Chill for two hours.  Serve over ice. With mint optional. Enjoy!

Once the kitchen was cleaned, I showered and added some American Independence pride to my body. 

Oh and who can forget Lira!  She knows how to rock it!

Sweet headband, eh?!

The 4^th of July isn’t complete without good food, great conversations, some card games and good friends, so off to Julia & Ryan’s we went!  Ryan just got home from deployment...Yay!  Miss Julia’s heart is happy again!  These two know how to deliver on the food front…shrimp with lime and cilantro, cheesy-pepper-garlic bread, avocado-tomato-feta-corn-lime salad, fruit salad, potato salad with bacon, and ribs!  All of that with the watermelon sangria made for one happy and content group of friends! 

She's a cutie!!  Love her!

All the festivities tired Hawkeye out...Oh wait, he just loves to sleep.  :P 

We played a card game…totally blanking on the name…that was similar to Apples-to-Apples, but was for dirty minds. Oh Lordy! Some were totally inappropriate, others were just hilarious. It was entertaining to say the least. 

Once 9 o’clock rolled around, we headed to the golf course to see when fireworks were lighting up the sky.  I love fireworks!  They delivered in true fashion!  Happy Independence Day!  I hope you had a lovely day surrounded by your friends and family.  Never forget those who fought and lost their lives for our freedom. 

Much love.

Moonstruck

My Fourth of July started the evening of July 3rd on the beach with friends, some ladder golf, rolling waves, a soft breeze and a breathtaking moon rise.  The sky always amazes me.  Whether it's a beautiful sunset that blends hues of orange, pink, purple into a magnificent mirage, puffy white clouds that make you imagination go wild, or lightening dancing across the night sky, the sky awes me.  This Tuesday evening, the moon put on a show and I enjoyed it.  Thank you, Mr. Moon!  I saw your face loud and proud smiling down on me.

It's on the rise...

I see the moon.

The Moon sees me.

God Bless the Moon.

And God Bless Me.

That is the first prayer I have memory of learning and it holds a special place in my heart.  I have vivid memories of kneeling on the wooden floor next to my bed, that was covered in white linens, with my parents by my side, looking out the window at the moon and reciting that prayer.  I love those memories.  I also love the ones that follow...mom or dad and sometimes both climbing into bed with me and my brother Tom to tell us stories.  Not stories from a book...stories from their imagination...life experiences with some flare.  The fairy stories were my favorite...and still are.  My parents captivated every ounce of my attention and imagination in those stories.  I still love a great story and a wild imagination!  Thanks Mom and Dad, you did good! 

And because I'm a girl whom is NOT afraid of bugs, look what I found on my morning walk with Lira...a Cicada!! 

It's was dead when I found it.  It now resides in my house.  I will do something creative with it...

More posts to come soon.  I am back into this blogging thing!

Much love.

Salsa Spotlight

I had my first Spotlight performance on Friday and it was a blast!  A spotlight is a short routine that you perform in front of the other members of the studio to showcase what you've been working on...and to gain some performance confidence. 

Eric, one of the instructors with Arthur Murray, was nice enough to teach me 5 or 6 salsa patterns.  He isn't my normal teacher, but he was an absolute joy to work with! 

**Eric, Thank you so much for taking me on as a student!  I enjoyed every second...even the frustrating ones!** 

We trained only three times in preparation for the performance due to a last minute decision to have me showcase a dance.  I was a ball of nerves before the performance and ball of excitement and gratitude afterwards.  You can see me relax throughout the dance.  I didn’t mess up…aside from the ending…my back was too arched. 

I just feel alive when I dance!  Here is my minute and a half performance!  Enjoy!

Side note: I think I have a booty!  It's been a long time in the making.  :P
I borrowed the skirt and am on the hunt for a slightly shorted, lower waisted skirt that is similar to this one. 

Let me know what you think!


Much love.