California State Fair

The fair started just a couple weeks ago. What the fair means to me is...

1. Being woken up every night to the sound of fireworks.

2. HOT WEATHER (why is there always a heat wave during the fair?!)

3. Bad traffic on the freeway.

4. Constant news coverage about various fried items.

Oh, don't you love the fair?

Dangerous I know.....

I decided that I want to get a little bit tan. I'm one that tends to burn easy so I wanted to get a little tan going before I go to Mexico. Plus, I'm not one for laying out so I'm starting to look the similar color of wall paper paste. I first tried the fake tan rubs, which I do like, but they only last about a minute. Then I tried the spray on which I didn't like at all. So...I've resorted to putting myself in a slow cooker. Yes, I am laying in a tanning bed. I know it's bad for me, but there is something very relaxing about it. So far so good though as I haven't burned myself yet but am starting to get a little color. I only plan on doing this for a couple months, I have no need for being tan year round! I figure if I stick with it for a while I'll look as good as the girl in the photo!!

Locks of Love

I have really wanted to have long hair for a couple years now. This has been an impossible task because as soon as my hair would come close to my shoulders I would chop it off. I've probably gotten to this point at least 4 times in the past couple years. I was finally motivated by the wedding. I really wanted to have some more options for my hair so I thought this would be the perfect time to do it. My hair now hasn't been cut in WEEKS! It's growing quite well and has completely cleared my shoulders.

I knew I was going to need something to keep me motivated to grow it. So, I've decided that I'm going to keep it going until I have 10 inches to cut off so I can donate to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a progam that provides wigs to children that have lost their hair. There is no better reason!!! This will mean that I won't be cutting my hair off (I'll still get trims) until it is past mid back. It will be the longest that I have had my hair since childhood. I'm actually looking forward to it!

Who Knew?!

On Saturday we started to notice something weird about Louie. He kept going in the backyard and was continuously trying to pee, but nothing was coming out. I called the vet and was told to feel around on his stomach and then monitor him. If he didn't pee at all and had any masses in his stomach then I was to bring him into emergency immediately. A bit later he did pee...in the house! This is something that Louie NEVER does so we knew something was wrong. I called Emergency again and they said that he should be ok until Monday and should be taken to his regular vet. Thanks to Aunt Wendy, Louie went to the vet today and it turns out he has a bladder infection! This is rare in male dogs, but leave it to Louie to figure out a way!! Now I have to try and cram pills in him each day for 10 days...I can't wait.

Dear Mr. Spider

Hello old friend! Every year you come to our yard and build one of your amazing webs and FREAK ME OUT! I am scared of you, and I am facinated by you. I am most disturbed that you decided to build your web right outside my bedroom window. Can't you stick to the backyard in a neutral corner? Now I just have images when I go to bed at night that you are peering in at me with all your little eyes!!

Wedding attire for the dog.

As most of you know, Louie is going to make an appearance in the wedding. I knew immediately that I wanted him to walk down the aisle with me. My Dad had a special request that Louie wear a red bow tie. Even though the wedding colors are brown and blue, I went with it. I also got him a great new leash to go with his red bow tie. I can't wait to see how dapper her looks!

Fantastic Jewelry!

I've been trying to find jewelry for the wedding for some time now. I really wanted to wear something with a horseshoe on it, but something that wasn't too dressy. This was actually quite a challenge.

I started browsing on Etsy and found a couple pieces that I liked, of which I ordered two. One arrived and although very pretty I just wasn't in love. Then arrived the second piece! All I can say is GORGEOUS and exactly what I was looking for. Paige at Curvy Broad makes wonderful vintage inspired pieces that are very unique. Not only does she make great jewelry but she seems like a great person to boot! I highly recommend all you jewelry lovers out there check out her stuff!!

http://www.curvybroad.etsy.com/

www.myspace.com/curvybroad

Riteaid is fun!

Typically when I go to Rite Aid I immediately get what I need and get out. It's not a place where I wander the aisles. About a week ago I had an opportunity to do just that. It's kind of fun to do cause Rite Aid definitely has the most RANDOM things. I actually had to buy something and bring it home for Bill. Unfortunately as universal as it says it is, it will not work on the cable box so we are using it in the bedroom. Hilarious!!

Happy Two Year Anniversary Frances!!!

Silly boys....

While I was in New Mexico Bill had some buddies in town. I never really know what I'm going to find when the guys have been in the house. Weird things have been known to show up in random places. It took me a while to notice, but apparently they got creative with my lawn figurines and a cactus....

Everything's better homemade!

I was looking for jewelry for the wedding and ran back across a website called Etsy. Etsy is where anyone that hand makes items can sell them. I'm actually looking into putting my rings on there soon, so hopefully there will be some of my own home-made items!!


http://www.etsy.com/

Gulp?!

It's now less than two months till the wedding. I'm getting really excited, but also have started feeling more stressed. I think it's really the party planner in me. I always want to make sure that everyone is having a good time and want the same for the wedding. I'm sure everything will be in place and am really sooo glad that it's casual. That really cuts alot of stress out. The invitations will go out in about a week!

P.S. If you come and don't have fun, just lie to me and tell me it was the best you've ever been to!!

Puzzle Dust!!!

I have allergies, and some have claimed that it's the worst allergies they've ever seen. When I get them, they hit me with a ton of bricks and won't let up. Most of the time I get lucky and allergy medicine works. Again, that is "most" of the time. When it doesn't work I pretty much have to drug myself into a slumber and try and sleep it off. That is the pickle I have been in since coming home from New Mexico. I think perhaps coming back to Sac was a shock to my system and no matter what I do they won't go away. It's making for a really miserable weekend!

For those of you wondering what "puzzle dust" means, I went to a cabin in Donner Lake once and had a major allergy attack. What was it caused by? You guessed it, dust from a newly opened puzzle!

Supernanny...we need you!

Yesterday I had an interesting experience on my way home from New Mexico. While sitting in the airport, waiting a board, a family came into the waiting area. You spotted them right away because they had two boys who were out of control and the parents seemed oblivious to it all. The youngest boy was two and a half, I know cause they sat right next to me and I asked. The boy had a DIRTY face, DIRTY shirt and diaper on. No shoes, no pants. He was pretty cute though cause he had the BIGGEST cheeks of any kid I've ever seen. I started trying to talk to him, but he was in the process of cramming some croissant into his mouth, thus explaining the chubby cheeks.

Finally, when he was empty mouthed, I asked him what his name was. He looked directly at me and responded, "Stupid asshole." I actually asked him again because I couldn't believe what I was hearing, but he said it again plain as day. The father just sort of chuckled it off and blamed the older brother. I personally have my own opinion! The kid proceeded to punch me and call me an asshole a couple more times. Pretty crazy!

We had another experience with him on the plane. Carol went to the back of the plane where the family was and the kid had a crayon and was drawing all over the back of the tray table. The mother was completely aware and obviously didn't care a bit.

Where is the Supernanny when you need her?

Home Sweet Home

The BEST thing about a long week in New Mexico....is coming home!!

Sacramento food sucks!

I am now realizing after four days in New Mexico that there is nothing like food in New Mexico! Every single little thing I have had from Cracker Barrel to Joe's Cafe to my new favorite Pappadeaux has been absolutely delicious. Most places have even be chains and they still have incredibly delicious food. I hope to go again to enjoy the food, but first need to lose the weight I gained!!!

Down Home

My third favorite thing in Albuquerque so far is CRACKER BARREL! I know, I know...they are all over the place but unfortunately there are none in Sacramento or near by towns. The food here is absolutely delicious! Biscuits and apple butter that can't be beat. I know it's a chain, but if you ever have a chance you MUST drop in for a bite to eat.

Meep Meep

My second favorite thing that I have seen in Albuquerque is a Road Runner! They are the coolest looking bird!! They actually move like the Road Runner in the cartoons and have these great mohawks on their heads. I was super excited when I saw one because honestly, I didn't even know they existed! You know exactly what it is the minute you see it. I hope I see another one, and boy would it top it off if it was being chased by a coyote..

New Mexico or Bust!

I'm in New Mexico for work right now and will be here for the rest of the week. I've never been to New Mexico before, so although it will be for work I'm hoping to see some cool sites, some cool art and eat some good food. We drove to Taos today, which was absolutely gorgeous! There was rain and lightning in the sky and the scenery is beautiful and hard to describe. One of my favorite things was Camel Rock, which is just a big rock formation that looks like a camel. Super cute!

Final kitchen recommendation...

Ok, so before you get bored with all my kitchen recommendations I must give you just one more. The Mario Batali measuring prep bowls! I purchased these at Whole Foods almost a year ago and they sat sadly in my cabinet never getting used. For some reason I broke them out recently and now I use them EVERY time I cook. They are awesome for baking because you can prep alot of your ingredients. Basically, there are 5 bowls and each bowl has two measurement options with the largest being two cups and the smallest an 1/8th of a cup. Check them out, you can find them all over online and I'm seeing them in most kitchen stores these days. Oh, lots of fun colors too!

Scandalous!

I'm currently reading a book called "The Other Boleyn Girl." It was recommended to me by Becki because I liked the show "The Tudors" so much. I have to say that I LOVE THIS BOOK! It's a cross between a historical account and fictional account of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a good book to read. There is apparently going to be a movie coming out this year with Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman which I can't wait to check out. I'm guessing that Natalie is playing Anne and Scarlett is playing Mary (Anne's sister.) If so, I'm sure that Natalie is going to do a brilliant job playing a raving mad not so nice lady!!

Another kitchen post!

Too keep with the trend, I figured it wouldn't hurt to post about something else in my kitchen. Placerville has this great kitchen store called Tony Matthews Fine Goods. I like it because unlike most kitchen stores it isn't a complete cluttered mess! Plus, they always have cool gadgets. Most recently I have fallen in love with "The Grid" potholders. I've always struggled with potholders because I usually burn the fabric ones and the silicone ones are stiff and slippery. These potholders are also made with silicone but are super flexible and rubbery feeling. They can be used as potholders, jar openers or to get your cutting board to stick to the counter. I now have 5 of them! I'm so afraid that I will never find them again that I get a new color each time I go to Placerville. You can get yours at Amazon if you don't live in the area!

http://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Zone-1003009-SiliconeZone-Potholder/dp/B000NO3ZQO

Bulldogs!

I've been collecting salt and pepper shakers for years now and amazingly enough....have no real bulldogs! When I first decided that I was going to collect salt and pepper shakers it was because I saw a cute pair of bulldogs in an antique store. I never bought them and always regretted it. I found some at an antique store this week and was soo excited! They make an excellent addition to my ever growing collection.

Zucchini Rocks!

Today is "Sneak Some Zucchini on Your Neighbor's Porch Day." What does that mean??? I had to sneak some zucchini on my neighbor's porch. Even though I have lived in my house for 6 years, I don't have really close neighbor relationships so it felt kind of funny. I wrapped up a zuch from the Davis garden in some tissue and left it on immediate neighbors houses. They will probably freak out and throw it away, but I thought it was funny none the less. I didn't leave a name or anything on it cause I really felt like it wasn't sneaking then!

More kitchen gadgets

Since it seems to be my week to talk about the kitchen and food, I thought I would mention some little gadgets that I got for my wedding shower. Wendy and her mom Susan got me these groovy measuring cups. They have a plastic frame, but the cup itself is made of a silicone. This gives them the ability to smash down so they are flat and don't take up storage room and when you need them you just pop them out. Genius!!

Sweeties

Occassionally, I just don't feel like making dinner. When Bill and I first moved into our house there weren't many options for "take out" food. That has all changed now. One of our regular places to get food is Opa Opa which has freshly made Greek food. Delicious! Making it even better is the shop next door called Sweeties. Sweeties has all these great desserts, most in little serving to take home and share with your sweetie! I picked up the New York Cheesecake and Chocolate Peanut Crunch. Don't you wish you could lick the screen and taste the deliciousness?

Mangos

I love mangos. They are probably my favorite fruit. The only thing I've always hated about mangos is slicing them. I always seem to get some of the pit when I slice. I found this mango slicer by Oxo and it works like a charm. I've been using it for quite some time now and only once did it not work. Highly recommended to those of you out there that like your mangos!

Louie loves to camp!

Louie is definitely a fan of camping. He likes to smell all the smells, get cozy on his sleeping bag by the fire, tromp around in the water and get dusty like pigpen! He was especially fond of the handouts this trip. He dined on salami, cheese, sourdough bread and bacon. He was so excited for the bacon that he made himself right at home at the picnic table and waited for his plate.

Camping!!!

For the first time this summer we finally are going camping! We'll be up at Silverfork for the weekend relaxing, drinking and eating. We usually try to go a couple times a year and sadly haven't been up once yet. Hopefully we will squeeze a couple more trips in before the summer is up!

Mystery Bread

Lucky for me, Becki won a gift card to Macaroni Grill at work so Kristin, Ellen, Becki and I went out for a bite to eat. The food was delicious! When you sit down they bring you this delicious foccacia bread to nibble on. Apparently the table next to ours wasn't as impressed with their bread and just left it sitting there lonely on the table. Funny how a simple loaf of bread can look so mysterious when it is just sitting there out of place!!! You can decide who took the better picture of the mystery bread.

Ellen:

Or Becki:

You sneaky thief!!!

I came home last week to find a mysterious Fed Ex package on my porch that had been ripped open. When I looked inside it was empty of course! The name on the outside was for someone that lived down the street so I gave her a call and told her that someone stole her goods and put the empty box on my porch. This really perplexed me though cause I couldn't imagine why someone would walk all the way up to my porch just to ditch a box?

The mystery was solved! The same day, I apparently had a box on my porch waiting for me. It appears that the said thief stole box of the porch of the neighbor and while driving by my house noticed a box so walked up and swapped. I got the empty box and the thief now has a bathing suit (from the neighbor) and a pair of shoes! Luckily Amazon is VERY cool and credited the whole transaction for the shoes. I will shop there more because of this.

As for theives....they are really sneaky bastards!