I have a passion for houses!!  Big or small, cottage or mansion I like them all!!  I am truly fascinated by the color, landscaping, design style, architecture etc.  I find such joy in taking a drive on a lovely 80+ degree day on Ocean Blvd. I could spend a day just perusing this neighborhood.  Seriously!!!  That could lead to my arrest but, worth it.... kinda!  

I snapped this picture of Rod Stewart's house.  But, really?????  I googled him and it said he lives in LA and Italy.  Whatever.... taxi drivers don't lie - do they??  What do they have to gain except a bigger tip!   I have always loved Rod Stewart.  At the risk of dating myself I loved to listen to his hits at the"disco" a.k.a skating rink.

But, ya'all.......my life is currently hanging by a thread until I watch the saga of Bachelor Brad.  I can't really get a good nights rest until I see which girl "proves their love to him" on the overnight dates.  If those were MY daughters...........

While I was laying by the pool enjoying my halcyon state...in a jet-lagged coma this was being written in the sky.  Is this not the most awesome message.....WRITTEN IN THE SKY??!!!
(OK, hubs has challenged me to use "word of the day" in a sentence!!)  How's that!!!  I barely speak the English language well enough for ANYone to understand.... let alone adding "word of the day vocabulary" to the mix.
On a more serious note....
I would like to be a travel/resort critic.....starting NOW!!!

The Price of Beauty

At what point in a womans life does she say enough is enough???!!! Why do we continue to do the things we do to our bodies?  You know I have a point to this question...
Two days ago, after enjoying lunchtime conversation over mexican food with the hubs, I went for a chemical peel at my local medical spa.  I have been getting these treatments since the beginning of time.  They keep my skin clear and get rid of all the ugly brown age spots.  I was a month overdue for this treatment but, felt the urgency with the vacay approaching.
I was escorted into the treatment room...made myself all comfy in a cozy robe...and stretched out on the table for a relaxing facial and peel.  No sooner had the aesthethician applied the glycolic ACID than I immediately started to feel like she lit my face on fire with a match!!!  She politely gave me a FAN to "help with the heat".  Within seconds of treatment application my face and lips started to swell.  UMMMM, H-E-L-P!!!
"Excuse me Miss, would you kindly get the ACID off of my face before I start firing off the string of bad words that are floating around in my head at this very moment!!!!!   NOW!!!"  (I tried to be as kind as possible considering my circumstances......... that my face was on F-I-R-E)
To my dismay, the medical "professionals" were called in to administer loads of benadryl, ibuprofen, ice etc.  I couldn't drive home so my hubs had to pick me up.  Oh, JOY!  Upon his first glimpse of my overly large lips and ginormous face his sweet reply was "WOW, what happened to YOU?"  (Awww, makes my heart pitter-patter).
Well, fast forward two days and I am on the road to recovery.  I am waaaay too vain to post pictures, though I did take them.
As we head to the airport, in our search for sand, warmth and sun, I am very aware of the freakish sight I must be.  However, I feel confident in knowing that no one will know me.  I am an hour into my flight and have ran into 6, mind you, SIX people I know!!!!  WHAT!!!???  One being a fellow church member and....and... my Pastor!!!  (I didn't know he was allowed out of his office)  I felt the need to explain my plight to each of them.  Which they, in reply, said "Oh, it really doesn't look THAT bad."  "It's barely noticeable.....blah, blah, blah...."
As my flight comes to an end I am reminded of the last words my aesthetician told me before leaving the office.  "Now you shouldn't be in any sun, whatsoever"   OH.... PERFECT!!!!!!

Just Another Manic Monday

I hit a home run with my valentines gift to the hubs.  How so?  He is an avid Cardinal fan so.... I gave him tickets to their spring training.  Score one for me, as well, because it happens to be a beautiful, balmy 76 degrees where that is taking place and I get a vacation out of the whole deal!!  That sounded great a month ago....and as it draws near, YIKES!!!!  I have a little sense of panic that it is the dead of winter and I have to sport a swimsuit!!!!!  My skin is showing every sign that it hasn't seen sunlight for 5 months!  I'm not sure the world is ready for that sight.  (Or at least, south Florida)
A friend of mine is an aesthetician.  She recently gave me a tip for an "at home" face peel.  Take a tomato, slice in half, rub on face and leave for 10 min. The acid from the tomato removes the dead skin.  Of course I tried this!!  My expectations were such that I anticipated my skin looking like a 25 year old instead of an old leather shoe.  Ummm, the jury is still out on this home remedy.
But, for now, friends...........truly a matter of life and death is who Bachelor Brad gives a rose to tonight.  I feel like I should alert the prayer chain or somethin'.  Priorities people!

Thats What I Like About Sundays...

I am crushin' on this version of this song by Owl City.  Baby boy says it's a stoner band but that doesn't make me like it any less.

What a beautiful day I enjoyed.  Lunch after church with Hubs, Baby Boy, Baby Girl and the boyfriend (hers, not mine).  It brings me such joy to see our kids becoming mature, for the most part, adults.  I have loved every "stage" our kids have gone through.  Some, more than others!!  This "stage"... 22 and 19 seems to be my favorite.  (I say that every year)  I have no idea where they get their shining personalities and witty humor!!??  Baby Boy has the ability to make us laugh so hard we snort... ok, maybe that's just ME that snorts!  Baby Girl and the BF bring the joy of young love.  BG has finished school and received her degree.  She is now an RN.  She brings a lot of stories to the table during Sunday lunches.  Most of which cause me and Baby Boy to immediately push back from the table and declare that we no longer have an appetite.  BF is also a nurse.. or soon to be in two more semesters.  So, we are bombarded with medical talk and gross stories at any given moment.
Hubs and Baby Girl will be going on mission trips this fall.  Hubs will be traveling back to China and Baby Girl will be participating in her first trip which will be to Haiti.  They are very excited to see where God leads them and what He has for them as they explore different cultures.
As I wind down the afternoon I have a little heart to heart with Jackie Warner.  She and I are tight... she more than me, of course!  I do believe her shoulders and biceps are more defined than any man I personally know!!!  That's not the look I'm going for, no worries.
Ahhhhh... .... That's what I like about Sundays!!

Ahhh!  You know those few precious moments of bliss...  when the floors are freshly mopped, furniture dusted, carpets vacuumed and laundry put away??  Poof, its gone!!!!
WHEN  ....................
Hubs decides to tear out some drywall in a closet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Messy, Messy!!!

8 hours later and 13 trips to Menards and I think he may have accomplished what he set out to do.........which was to relocate some audio equipment to the man cave family room.
Me:  Do I need to go down and cleanup your mess?
Hubs:  Why, do we have people coming over?
***************LOL*******************
Oh, well!!  What did we really have going today??? So little!  It seems that many of our friends are traveling or away for the weekend.  Baseball season has yet to begin. So, a little home maintenance was in order.
Much to my surprise, Baby Boy, came home from college for a little unexpected visit.  He is gearing up for his baseball season which starts next week.  Woot, Woot!!!  His team will be traveling to Alabama to play during their spring break.  Baby Girl also stopped by with dog and boyfriend in tote.  Which made it a partay!
There is nothing like gathering around to share 2 greasy pizzas with the only ones in this world you would lay down your life for.  Again............Ahhhh!!!  Life is good!!!

Fridays and Firsts...

Hello Blogging World.... this is my first blog post ever!!
Since Friday is my hubs day off...I can't tell you how excited I am for a beautiful 52 degree day to spend with him.
Our day sorta took on a western theme, which we carried on into the evening.  I like to shop my closet with a little more thought than usual on days I will be spending with the hubs.  (My uniform usually consists of some sort of very "giving" material such as a t-shirt and yoga pants).  But, today is FRIDAY!!  For the second day in a row I was feelin' a little like rockin' the cowboy boots.  Old Navy had the cutest western-style-spring-colored button downs (actually snaps) on clearance for $7.97.  So cute!  A pair of jeans tucked in my cowboy boots, the lavender shirt, topped with a cord jacket and I was feelin' a little John Wayne'ish.
There is something about wearing cowboy boots that make you feel a little like "I could  kick some butt".  But, hey, I'm a whole 5ft nothin' and pretty sure thats a fantasy I'm living.
A few errands, car washes, dog duties, household chores followed by a shopping trip to Pier One to purchase a chair I have had my eye on and...........we end "western day" by watching the original True Grit starring John Wayne.  As a disclaimer I must add:  I am a chick-flick-romance-drama watchin' gal.  Viewing True Grit is my "gift" to hubs.  YeeeHaw, ya'all!!!!