Bless Your Heart

So I’ve been reading a lot of Real Simple magazine lately. My MIL the librarian brought over 3 back issues and I had purchased the June issue. That magazine is chock full of information. However it has made me realize that I either live in a world where time seriously flies, or I’m just not paying attention to rotating out my product.
Case in point: apparently I’m supposed to be replacing my scrubby from the shower- you know, the little puffy, poofy, loopy thing everyone uses that has a little rope- anyway, we’re supposed to be replacing that every 6 weeks! 6 weeks! I swear to you I’ve been using the same one since we moved in here almost 2 years ago! I usually just use them until they start to fall apart. I mean, I know they are only like $2 but it just doesn’t occur to me to switch it out.
And don’t get me started on the makeup drawer or fridge! I have soy sauce that’s lived in 3 different houses. According to Real Simple it should have lived in the trash can after 3 months! And I’ve heard about replacing your mascara every 3 months, but 3 months can fly, and it just doesn’t make sense to me to toss a tube of mascara if there’s still more in there!
I can’t be alone in this or otherwise Real Simple wouldn’t have put out this article.

Every Independence Day we would drive downtown along with a half million other people and sit in traffic to watch the public fireworks. Then we moved here, across the state line, and our lives changed. Fireworks are legal in my state. Our neighbors take this seriously. Last night we were treated to a show that lasted over an hour. At least 5 different households spent an insane amount of money at Big Daddy’s Fireworks Castle. It was amazing. We sat out on the back deck eating hamburgers and strawberry pie and watching the sky above the pond out back as our neighbors battled it out. It blew me away. I tried to take some pictures but it’s hard to time them. Click to enlarge the pics. And I was too busy being a kid again ooohing and aaahhhing. The kids next door would yell out “We like that one!” and “More sparkly ones!”. So cute. Each holiday it escalates. These people set off fireworks for New Years, Halloween, random Wednesdays, you name it. We can’t wait for next year!
Ike and Kea preferred it indoors- a/c and no loud noises for us thank you!

Ike & Kea got all dressed up for the occasion.
Click to enlarge.

Have you seen the show 30 Days on FX? It’s by Morgan Spurlock, the dude behind Super Size Me. Each week either Morgan or someone else tries something out for 30 days. It is very interesting. We just watched last week’s episode about a Christian living with Muslims for 30 days. Who knew? There’s so much that I learned about Islam. I may even read the Quran. I’ve always been interested in religions, and this episode just proves again that fear comes from ignorance.
One of the other episodes we really liked was when Morgan and his fiancee lived for 30 days on minimum wage. Holy smokes. I don’t see how people can do it. Amazing.
It makes me wonder…what could I do for 30 days? I’d love to live in another country, experience another culture. I’d like to try living in alternative housing- like a houseboat. I’d try being a missionary, or work with Greenpeace or something. I wonder if they’d let me try being rich and famous for 30 days. I bet that’s not all it’s cracked up to be!

What would you do for 30 days?

Last night I took Morgan to see Bewitched (cute enough, but you’re better off just putting it in your queue). After the movie we went to the restroom. While in the stall we heard a jet engine. Turns out it was a new hand dryer. The only hand dryer that’s ever worked where I didn’t have to wipe my hands on my pants afterward. It was so powerful though that it blew my hand skin all around in a freakish way. Look!

Of course I watch the Real World. Every season I say I won’t, then I get sucked in. I know I may lose cool points from the precious little I may have, but I can’t help it.
I’ve noticed something though. I’m old enough to now say things like “kids these days”. Because when I was 20 it wasn’t the cool, normal thing to do to get drunk then kiss other girls. Every season seems to start out with all the people in the hot tub and the girls kissing like it’s nothing. So I’ve never kissed a girl. When I was 20 you just had a few then kissed whatever cute boys were around. Kissing girls never even came up. We also didn’t have many group showers, but maybe that’s a regional thing? I need to know the rules on this. If you’re straight and have a boyfriend and then you kiss a girl, did you just cheat on him? I’m all confused by kids these days! And did I miss out on something big here? Should I line up a girl for some kissing?

I’m running behind on my jewelry making and package mailing. So if I owe you earrings or packages or cds, they are coming! I’m hoping to get all caught up this weekend.

And, I don’t think I’m going to put out a 4th of July card this year with the pugs. I can’t find a card template I like, and I don’t want to use the same one I used last year. I’ll keep looking, but I’m seriously running out of time. Ike and Kea do have cute little patriotic neck gear to wear, but they also have some cute summer hats. Maybe I’ll just do a happy summer card. hmmmm.

Also, happy 3rd anniversary to Marc & Sara, my sister and brother in law! xoxo

You would think Ike & Kea don’t love each other the way they fight. Every day they are wrestling, chasing, rolling around. It’s a miracle they haven’t lost an eye!

We spent yesterday afternoon at my Mom’s grilling ribs and hanging by the pool with the family. Joey is still too young to be in direct sunlight, and pugs don’t swim, so they didn’t make it into the pool. But Jake had a good time and so did we. Morgan and I fashioned little Jake’s hair into a mohawk- I think it suits him! More pictures can be found here.

1. Had an interview with a mortgage company Friday. Arrived on time (yay!). Sat for 30 minutes answering questions like “Are you sure it was today?” and “What was your name again?” until they found my file. Then I was told my interviewer had a family emergency and wasn’t there. Can you come back Monday? Oy.
2. Stopped by Old Navy to replace flip flops Kea ate. Found all flip flops were on sale so stocked up. 4 pairs of flip flops and a cool tote for $16. Sweet.
3. Searched the aisles of Target for almost an hour looking for suitable water bottle for husband. He’s not a fan of the sport top. *We’d been refilling Deer Park water bottles until my sister Sara told me she read the plastic breaks down and you’re drinking it. Ew. Finally found suitable water bottle. Bought 2 so we’d each have one for our night stands. Also bought myself a sport top water bottle with freezy insert. Jon gets home and complains that he doesn’t have a sport top freezy bottle. Jeesh.
4. Did a happy dance upon finding Target had restocked the Jergens Natural Glow lotion. One day I will have a passable fake tan. Bought 2 bottles.
5. Tried on trendy peasant skirt and realized my body is not made for trendy peasant skirts. Had to pull waist band up to boobs so I could see my feet. Booty sticks out too far so back hem is shorter than front and it looks like I’m smuggling children under skirt. Became jealous of tiny girls who look so cute in flip flops, tank tops and peasant skirts.
6. Saw picture of Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen on cover of magazine in Target and wonder why they are so sad all the time. They never smile in pictures.
7. Remembered 3 things I was supposed to buy at Target- on drive home.
8. Picked Shannon up for dinner. Met sweetest dog of her’s named Rascal.
9. Had great time at dinner at local Chinese restaurant I’d been wanting to try. Learned that some bartenders only know how to make one drink, even if they call it something different every time.
10. Went to Maggie Moos for dessert. Had fabulous chocolate cake batter ice cream. Whoever thought of mixing cake batter and ice cream is a genius.
11. Met up with friend Holly for linner (late lunch early dinner) today. Her daughter Asia joined us, as well as my Mom and Morgan. Holly, Asia and her husband are moving to Arizona (husband was transferred with job). Ate at Cheesecake Factory. Had fabulous time and laughed so much.
12. Just realized as I was typing #11 that I left Jon’s cheesecake in car. Yikes!