Muppet Nail Polish

Generally, I'm not into the sparkle nail polish. But with this last round of "sickies," well, I'm looking for something to cheer me up. That happened one night, when one of my Goddaughters, walked in with blue sparkles. And wanted me to paint her nails. Then my toesies, were sporting the same fun, sparkly nail polish.



Enter OPI's new collection. Based off the Muppets. The top 6 polishes speak more to me. But those bottom 6, well, I'm seriously falling for them. I could have so much fun. Sparkles on my toesies. So much fun! Yes, these bad boys are on my Wish List.

XOXO

♥D

Oh the Memories!

I must really like this topic. Because this is the 3rd time I type this up! Yes, thanks Blogger. For always making life a little tougher. But I'm not giving in. I'm fighting back! :)

Earlier this week, my friend and I start this 2 hour long convo. What about? All about Kool Aid! Yes, that sugary drink, that we all enjoyed as kids. :) In my family, it was all about the lime flavored Kool Aid. But I favored the more exotic flavors like black cherry, strawberry banana, and tropical punch. Yes, we were a Kool Aid family!

And this silly convo, lead to my friend and I, heading out to buy Kool Aid. Did I mention the ridiculous rainstorm? And how the streets were flooded. But we still went. And we returned with a HUGE supply of Kool Aid! It was delish! And even my friend's wife, she enjoyed the yummy sugary drink with us. We finished off 2 pitchers before dinner. :)



Do you remember these bad boys? Oh ya! My mom used to collect "Kool Aid points." She had a special jar,were she would put them. And we had 2 or 3 sets of these pitchers and cups. I might have also had a t-shirt, or 3! Yes, my mom still has some fun Kool Aid memorabilia. Too bad the Kool Aid company was sold to Kraft. A few years ago, all of these fun things, well, they went bye-bye!

I have so many fun memories that involved Kool Aid. Big Mason Jars filled to the top, on a hot summer day. Those ridiculous red 'stashes you'd get, after say, 2 glasses of Kool Aid. Making Kool Aid pops with my friends. All of these things, just make me smile!

But I do have a secret to share. When I was in 2nd or 3rd grade, it was the cool thing, to bring powdered Kool Aid to school. The pre-sweetened kind. We'd fill up a baggie, and sneak it to school. Yes, our entire grade! And at recess, we'd eat it. :) All you had to do, was cut a small hole in the corner of the bag. And suck. I probably ate 10 lbs of Kool Aid, that school year!

It's funny how one thing, brings back so many memories. I can still see the big cans (that my parents would buy at COSTCO) under our kitchen counters. In our house, we'd have Kool Aid 3 or 4 times a week. And honestly, since moving out of the house, I haven't really had Kool Aid. Like in years! So on this day, it was so nice, to enjoy a large glass, of my favorite sugary drink. :)

XOXO

♥D

A Fun Surprise

Do you see how cute and fun this pillow is? I found this picture on Pinterest. And instantly fell in love! One of those things, that made me save it on my computer. Then I showed it to D. And asked him how he liked it.

Usually, our tastes are slightly different. I like a little more frills, ruffles, and girly touches. D is more of a straight shooter. Likes clean lines. More masculine furniture. A bit more modern. But somewhere along the way, we've married the 2 styles. And our new house, reflects this. And better yet, it works incredibly well for us!

So when D liked this pillow, I got so excited! You see, we have a Sun Room. That is so fun. It's painted a deep gray color, with fluffy white couches, and a ton of green plants. An entire wall, is nothing but windows. I've found the funnest accessories for this room. Everything is hot pink or bright orange. It's a fun place to be. To sit and read. Or enjoy lunch. A place where I can sit and just be.

My plan, is to make some of these pillows. With striped pillows, just like these ones. And hot pink and bright orange flowers. The perfect match to our room. A fun accessory, to our fluffy white couch. And as D put it, "adding some fun, to our already funky room."

I find that it's always tough, to marry the things we love. But it can be done. Maybe the interior design is more masculine, but I can add feminine touches. Or the room is feminine, but done in a color scheme, that is more masculine. Yes, it can be done. And I'm glad that D likes some of my "more fun" ideas. :)

XOXO

♥D

When Love is Tough

I'm still feeling a little sad, and guilty, over leaving D. I know, logically, it's only for a few days. But I see my role, in our relationship, as the "supporter." I'm around to cheer him on, and to be there. To do the things for him, that he needs.

And when I'm not around, I feel insanely guilty! It might sound weird to some. But in our crazy, and very chaotic life, that's just the way it is. Plain and simple. He does so much for me, that I feel like I'm supposed to be there, doing for him as well.

I'm not joking when I say this, Sunday just broke my heart. All I wanted to do, was crawl back into bed. To be there for the man, that is always there for me. Talk about hard to do. How do you walk away from someone, that loves you that much? That does so much for you. And gives up so much, to just be with you. It was so hard! But of all the things that I've learned, in relationships, sometimes you just have to do things for you.

The look in his eyes, on Sunday morning, made me want to crawl back into bed. To cuddle with him. Right up until he had to go to work. There is nothing like feeling his arms, wrapped rightly around me. Knowing that he loves me so incredibly much. I wanted nothing more, than to crawl back into bed, get into my little "nook," and fall asleep to the beat of his heart.

But like I said, I've been in relationships were I've completely lost myself. Let the other person's life totally dictate mine. And it's tough. It's hard to not do that again. But it's the wrong way to go. So I held my ground. Put on my jacket, and battled the rain. I endured a morning of traveling. And guess what? It wasn't that bad.

I had an amazing time with my friends. We celebrate my Goddaughter. We caught up on each others' lives. We laughed. I enjoyed delish Mexican food again. Oh, how I've missed it! And when all that was done, smiles were permanently glued to our faces, and my heart overflowed with love...we headed to the park. To see my friends perform. It was an amazing concert!

As hard as it is, to be in this relationship, I wouldn't trade anything in the world for it. It's so hard, to be away from all of my family and friends. I miss them so terribly bad! And it's incredibly tough, to be away from everyone and everything, that I love so much. The culture, climate, food, shopping,and life in general. But I LOVE D. And I'm OK with being away from all of this. Just as long as I get to visit from time to time.

And I know, that these little trips are good for D and I as well. It's good that we spend a little time away from one another. It's good that our lives involve other people. And other things. That we have interests away from each other. Yes, it's good for us.

So I'm going to make the best of my week. I'm going indulge in all the yummy food, I'm going to love my Goddaughters even more, I'm going fix my home, visit my family, and enjoy life in the desert. Because sometimes, you just have to do that!

And next week, when I get to see D, I'm going to be over the moon! I'm going to enjoy our homecoming. And all that I've missed. I'm going to hug him a little harder. I'm going to enjoy the smell of his cologne. And the feel of his arms. Yes, I'm going to do all of that, and so much more!

Relationships are not easy. They require a lot of "push and pull," to make them successful. I'm so happy that I'm on this journey with D. A man that truly understands all of this. That loves me. And is willing to sacrifice a little, so that I can be happy too. Yes, this is a very good relationship. And D is an amazing man! I'm so lucky and blessed.

XOXO

♥D

The Help

Where to begin? I always have a tough time with these things. But let's just dig in. A while back, D's grandma gave me this book. Actually, she's so sweet! She bought a copy, for pretty much every female member of her family. Including D's mom and I. That was really generous of her!

Turns out, she read this book over 2 years ago! And she loved it. LOVED IT! So she was sharing it with all her family members. I was the last to receive the book. Not because she doesn't love me. But she had figured, being the bookworm that I am, that I had already read it. Wrong. And that night, before dinner was settled in our tummies, and dessert was on our plates, I had my very own copy.

I LOVED this book! In fact, I read 2 chapters on the way home. In the dark! D thought I was hilarious. And I stayed up, all night, to finish this book. It as that good. No lie! I as so into this book. So much of it, reminded me of my Auntie. Who I spent so much time with, growing up. And I miss so much, now that she's gone.



That was a couple of months ago. And I've read this book, 3 times since! Can you tell that I LOVE it? So when we heard about the movie, we planned a Girl's Day Out. Just to watch this movie. All of the females in the family.

This week, just happened to be when we watched it. And it was so good! Of course, it wasn't as good as the book. But it was still a very good movie. One I'd recommend. After reading the book, naturally. :)

And our day out was just amazing! We started with a yummy breakfast at grandma's house. Everyone pitched in. And we had a real Southern Delight! Then we went out for a little pampering. You know, hair, nails, and makeup. Then some shopping. Followed by a yummy lunch out. The amazing movie. And some dessert. We all headed to our house for a fun BBQ. The guys in the family, well they surprised us all! And they did all the cooking.

Yes, it was a very good day. With an amazing family! Something I'd never give back. I had so much fun. And I'd definitely recommend something like that, for anyone considering this movie. But remember, read the book first. You won't be disappointed!

XOXO

♥D

S'mores

It's summer. And all I can think of, is s'mores. Yes, to me, they can become a late evening meal. In the heat of the summer. We make all sorts of excuses, to make these bad boys. To light a fire, stick a marshmallow on a stick, and return to our childhoods. Yes, they are heaven!



And tonight, well, we're going to sit by the fire. And enjoy a few of our favorite summer treats. Any excuse to cuddle up by the fire, and enjoy some melted chocolate. Definitely a sign of summer. One that I welcome every summer! :)

XOXO

♥D

6 Days

It is almost time for our vacation. And I honestly cannot wait! So much so, that I packed today. I never pack early. Ever! I am usually the one that is packing minutes before we leave for the airport. Trying desperately to get everything into my suitcase. And trying to remember what exactly I need while I am gone.

But today, I packed our bags. And we are all set to go. Bags, clothes, some stuff to keep us entertained, anything that we might need, and all that good stuff. I just need to relax and wait until Sunday morning. It seems like a million days away...instead of just 6 short days. Maybe I am overly excited because I don't know where we are going.

D is in need of this vacation. Probably more than myself. He just needs some time away from this pressure cooker we call life. Away from his work and all of this. I on the other hand, need this vacay to just keep my sanity. But we are both looking forward to it. After we get back, we will be all work and business until the middle of November. But we are not thinking about that right now. We are 6 days away from the sun and sand. That is all that is on our minds!

XOXO

♥D

A Goddaughter on the Way

One of the most amazing things in life, are beautiful and healthy babies. I have the honor of having 3 Goddaughters. These are the most beautiful little girls that anyone could have the pleasure of knowing.

My friends asked me a while back to be their baby's Godmother. I was over the moon with excitement. Well, they found out recently that the baby is a girl. She is due in November and I am so excited that I can barely contain it!

They have also asked me to decorate the nursery for them. I did it for their 1st baby. I have been searching on-line for the perfect fabric. But cannot find it. I think I will have to wait to go to the fabric store. But at least I am working on a crochet blanket for the precious baby.

I also need to meet with the Godfather. We need to decide on the baby's middle name. I don't even know the Godfather. And we are literally 1000's of miles apart. Maybe we should try webcams or the phone. It could be easier. And maybe make this go a little quicker.

Nevertheless, I am so excited for November to come. A new baby has a way of putting life back into perspective for me. I can now get lost in ways to spoil the baby that I am already in love with.

XOXO

♥D

Wedding on the Brain

I am in the air. On my way home to be in my friends' wedding. I am really excited! But also really stressed out. Last night, I should have gotten more stuff accomplished. But I didn't. Oh, well. I can't cry about it now. Life just got in the way. But I have my long list in hand.

I am praying that my dress fits when I pick it up. I am pretty sure that the shoes will fit. Come on. My foot has not grown. But the dress. I am a little worried. Because some of my clothes have been fitting a little loose lately. It's a good thing C is going to be around later. She already said if there needs to be adjustments made, we can do that tonight.

As soon as I land, I have so much to do. I have to pick up my dress and shoes. Then drive over an hour home. I'm hoping the traffic isn't too bad. Once in my town, I need to pick up flowers, go to Hobby Lobby, then the grocery store, Sally Beauty Supply, and Target. Oh, and I am supposed to have dinner at the G Family's house. Woo hoo! I get to see the precious girls! And all my friends. I am really excited to see my goddaughters! :O)

But I kind of feel bad about leaving this week. D has been a little mopey. He is trying to hide it. But hasn't done too good. It has just been a weird week around here. And our friends are going a little crazy. We have been stuck in the middle of all their nonsense. Poor D has to deal with them. At least he is leaving later today for work. It should get a little easier on him.

Maybe the guys and him will have some good "Guy Time" while I'm gone. I know that I am looking forward to some much needed "Girl Time" with my friends. I am sure D is in need of the same, good quality time with his friends. Here's to a good weekend! One that will make our hearts grow fonder!

XOXO

♥D

Not Ready at All!

At some point in my life, I need to learn how to say "NO!" I still haven't learned. That is probably why I am completely stressed out right now. D and I always have schedules that usually hold 48 hours worth of work, and we are supposed to do it in 12 hours. Can you imagine that we each have a schedule like that? But that never seems like enough for myself.

My close friends are getting married on Saturday. So I am heading home. These are friends that I was super close to a few years ago. I am a musician, and there was a group of us that worked pretty much Thursday afternoon through late Sunday night. Each and every week, plus rehearsals and teaching some local kids. We spent so much time together, usually seeing each other every day. And most importantly, we are like family. A group of young adults, on their own, who are like a family. Most of us were in college at the time. Just trying to survive. And really depending on each othere. But the guys were like my big brothers. The kind of guys that I could completely depend on.

When my friends asked me to be in the wedding, I was so thrilled! They have been dating over 10 years. And were engaged about a year and a half ago. I am very excited. I get to see so many of my friends. It has been a while. Most of them have moved away to pursue a career in music. That alone is exciting. And like a crazy person, I have to work until Thursday morning. Then I am leaving in the afternoon.

When I get back home, I still have a HUGE list of things to do. I have to pick up my dress and shoes. And I am hoping the dress shop will still be open when I get into town. If not, I am in so much trouble! Because on Friday, before the rehearsal and all of that, I am hosting a bridal luncheon/bridal shower/get-together/bridal tea/pre-wedding spa day. Yeah, I kinda wonder why I agreed. Not that I don't love my friend, but because I have no time to prepare for it!

I am working all week. And honestly, I have to wait until I get there to shop. I have my list ready. And I have made a bunch of calls to order things or put them on hold for me. But it still has me stressed out! I have a whole vision of what I want this day to be like, but I don't know if I have the time to get it done. And because my house is an hour away from the wedding location and the dress shop, things have to go exactly as planned. I need to pick up my dress and shoes on Thursday because I won't have any time to on Friday. And I have to keep everyone on track on Friday. Because we can't be late to the rehearsal.

So I am keeping my fingers crossed. My list is by my side and all the calls have been made. I am just anxious to be going home. And anxious to see all of my friends. I just hope I have enough time to get everything done and still enjoy the wedding. For now, I need to get back to figuring out the details of my plan.

XOXO

♥D

Girl Time

I spent a couple of hours with D's sister and nieces yesterday. It was so much fun! We ended up doing some really fun things. And it was like medicine for my soul. I am not joking!

First we went to this fun Antique/Thrift shop. We were actually on our way to go get ice cream. And I saw this cute little store front. I am a sucker when it comes to places like this. So I pulled up to the store. It was off of one of the smaller highways around here. Almost out of sight. And once inside, it was like a treasure box of things from our past!

The girls picked up some old Barbies, dolls, and cases for them. They were so thrilled about them! D's sister found a fun chair. It was so her! Cushy and soft. I found so much! I almost felt guilty about everything that I bought. ALMOST! I got 5 hats (from the 40s/50s), a 50s luggage set (train case, hat box, and suitcase), a handbag, a set of 50s turquoise mixing bowls (5 in the set) and 10 broaches. Yes, 10 broaches! I know. It seems like a lot. And it was A LOT! But I just couldn't help myself. To top it off, as I was paying for everything, we saw a stack of paper dolls and cookbooks. We couldn't resist and ended up taking all of them as well! In total, we only spent $71.35. That is including the chair! I almost felt like we were stealing all of these beautiful treasures!

Our fun didn't end there. No way! We headed to the ice cream shop. The girls got sundaes that were much bigger than themselves! Shh...don't tell their mom. She was at work! :O) D's sister settled for a chocolate milk shake. Let me tell you...it all looked so good. But I thought I shouldn't push it. And I settled for a popsicle. Not too bad.

We ended our adventures with a stop at the salon. Why? Because no Girls' Day is complete without some nail polish. The girls were just too excited to get their nails polished. They both picked the brightest pink at the salon. D's sister had the full manicure/pedicure special. Gorgeous French tips on her fingers and fun chunky pink glitter on her toes. I stuck with just polish...red on my toes and almost nude on my fingers.

It was a GREAT day! Something that I really needed. Actually, this could be one of my favorite days ever. Because it was about fun and family. I really do feel like I am part of D's family. They love me like I am their own daughter, granddaughter, sister, and auntie. Our day was not about how much money we spent, but about how much love we shared!

XOXO

♥D