Breezy's Graduation

My baby sister graduated from high school this year. Being the middle of nine children, it's such an odd feeling now that everyone is all grown up.

Joseph and I took Breezy and her BFF Lili out for a photoshoot for their senior graduation pics.

I think it turned out well. It really helps when your subjects are drop-dead gorgeous.

Things I have Learned from Zumba

1. It's all about the instructor. To experience the full joy of Zumba, you must have a fun, energetic, slightly crazy lady. (But not crazy to the extent that she makes up moves that involve you rubbing your tush. Dano and I didn't care for that instructor.)
2. No one cares that I don't know what I'm doing (they don't know what they're doing either!), so I may as well have some fun and jump around and make up my own steps.
3. Note to self: Never, EVER wear gray or yellow pants. Sweat shows on gray and the dark underwear underneath yellow just isn't pretty.
4. The old ladies are freaking awesome and I hope I am that spry when I have white hair.
5. I really respect the overweight ladies (and gentlemen) because they are trying.
6. If the instructor tells you to do something, you'd better do it. She may be tiny but she looks like she could do some damage.
7. Joseph is willing to give me money to go to class. I asked him if it was because he knows I have fun or if it was because he doesn't want me to get fat. He paused, then said, "Can it be both?"
8. The four to six people in the front are groupies and know all of the steps to all of the songs. If I can't see the instructor, I can follow one of them. Or watch them as I continue to make up my own steps.
9. It is important to wear the proper underwear. Dancing for a full hour with a wedgie is unpleasant. Doing this while standing behind the woman in the yellow pants and dark underwear is really unpleasant. Watching the woman in the yellow pants pick her wedgie and experiencing jealousy is extremely unpleasant.
10. After work when I change into my workout clothes, it's really important to remember my second application of deodorant.
11. It hurts less when I smile.
12. I can gauge how hard I worked by licking my upper lip and testing the sweat content.

Adirondack Chairs

I love the beach, and the ultimate beach chair is an Adirondack. I fell in love the first time Joseph and I were in Belize, and have wanted some ever since. They sell some gorgeous ones at World Market, but they're over $100 for just one chair. Joseph and I have been looking around for years, but we could not find one for an affordable price.

Until we went to Home Depot, and ran across this:

It's unfinished, but it was $29.99. Joseph and I really hate painting, but we weren't willing to spend an extra $70+ (per chair!) just to get out of painting.

We picked up two boxes, picked out colors, and went to work.

Just in time for summer.

Another Headboard

I had foam left over from making my own headboard. Awhile back I told my sister Danielle she could have it if she wanted a headboard of her own. We finally got together and made her one.

My mom came to the rescue with a thimble...the only thing I forgot...and non-cotton thread. Don't use cotton thread for your buttons, it's not strong enough.

I didn't do a step-by-step this time - if you want that you can check out the old blog.

I taught her how to use my staple gun. My heart swells with pride.

We did a different design with the buttons and I think it looks better than mine. I might be a little jealous.
Her dog Rosco Biggs has to be near her. Who wouldn't want to be...isn't she gorgeous?

Shoes

I've developed a love for shoes. I didn't always like shoes. I'm pretty sure I made it through my undergrad in the same pair of Vans... Things changed when I graduated and got my first "real" job. It's a running joke that in order to be hired into my department, you have to be attractive. I work with very beautiful ladies, and they know how to shop!

Here are some of my favorite shoes...and the ones that get me the most compliments.

Normally I am not a fan of toe cleavage, but I couldn't resist these.

I call these my Deni shoes. They are not anything I would have looked at twice in the box, but she tried them on first and they are FABULOUS. Lucky for me they didn't fit her well, so I snagged them. She reminds me of my sister Kristi. Kristi will go shopping and notice people following her, picking up things she picks up. I have to shop with people who have good taste and a good eye, because I don't seem to see the full potential. The last time I wore these shoes I got three compliments in one day.

These are getting old and a little scuffed, but they are sooo comfy.

Ditto with these shoes. I like to wear these with an all black outfit .

The heel on these is perfect for my too-long pants. I am too cheap to get them hemmed.

I really love shoes that can go with skirts or jeans.

I had to throw these in here. My Zumba shoes. Light and airy and perfect for dancing.

And all of these shoes were either already a bargain or on clearance!

Surprise Present

One of my good friends at work is named Deni. Denisa (Den-ees-uh) is her real name, but to those who love her, Deni or Den-Den. She has the sweetest personality. She irritates me because she thinks she's selfish. I asked her to give me an example and she couldn't think of one. But that did not convince her.

She's also freaking gorgeous. I don't know why, but I'm noticing the people I choose to surround myself with are usually very attractive.

I think I'm shallow.

But this is a story about Deni (pictured here with hubby Sean).

See I told you she was gorgeous

She was going to be off work for a couple days, a Friday and a Monday. I asked her what in the world I was supposed to do without her, and gave her a bit of a hard time about it (teasingly).

Friday morning, I found this on my desk.

Those are Joseph's dirty fingernails holding the paper down, not mine. And now that I've noticed them, he is going to go clean them right now.

How freaking cute is that. It made my day.

Weekend Blur

This weekend is almost over. They always go by so fast. And they're my favorite part of the week! It was pretty non-stop. Here's what we did:

Yogurt with Deni and Sean

Happy Hour with coworkers from work to celebrate promotions

World Market to buy the syrup for Italian Sodas

Target to buy a large crock pot

Oil change

BBB to buy Renee's wedding gift

Dodged a car turning left unsafely

Fry's for food

Laundry

Balanced checkbook

Lowe's for plants

Laser hair removal appointment

Renee's Wedding and Reception (pictures below)

Cleaning

Cleaning

Violin Practice (me)

Planting new vegetables and flowers (Joseph)

More cleaning

Food in crockpot (Joseph)

Made Scotcheroos (me)

Family over for Sunday night dinner

You don't even want to know what I did Monday through Friday.

I was checking out a Groupon (so addicted) for a silver jewelry-making class and told Joseph I would totally sign up if it weren't in Gilbert. Joseph looked at me and said, "Would you have time for that between your Zumba, violin, and Rosetta Stone?" I gave him a squinty-eyed look to say that this girl would MAKE time.