Weekend Update

This won't be as funny as the real weekend update. Heck, it's probably not funny at all. Because we had a very adult weekend.

Moving on...

In preparation for the TORRENTIAL DOWNPOURS that were certainly coming Saturday, I laced up my running shoes for my long (read: 5 mile) run after work on Friday. Not to be dramatic, but never in the history of my running life have I run on Friday after work. It's simply not done. But, I'm 30 now, and this is my definintion of mixing it up. Youth: consider yourself warned.

My efforts were rewarded with this jam session on the way home. 80s on 8 for the win.

This was about as excited as Namath got for the weekend. Which is about three levels more excited than he's been all week. (Read: He's been going in the guest bathroom and closing the door behind him and sitting alone in the dark. He's a joy.)

 I'll confess - 85% of my reason for a Friday run was to sleep in (read: 8 a.m.) Saturday and then lounge around with a cup of coffee while MS played early morning basketball. My plains were foiled when there was no creamer in the house. Not even milk. The humanity!

 In the midst of making a milk run in my PJs, I noticed everyone's yard looked so nice. Ours did not.

So, we exchanged the lazy Saturday for a trip to Home Depot for materials. Nothing makes me feel less smart than the gardening department at Home Depot. Basically, we followed people around that looked like they knew what they were doing and tried to eavesdrop. Well, I did anyways.

We ended up with two knockout rose bushes, salvia for the front pots and 13 bags of mulch.

It's an improvement. Now it can rain. Since it didn't Saturday.

We ended the weekend with Mad Men. Nothing takes the sting out of a Sunday night like an Old Fashioned and Don Draper in a tux.

Don't try this remedy for a Monday morning. Unless you're unemployed, or want to be.
Happy Monday:)

Bulldogs, Beer and BBQ

 While the humans lounged around the house with coffee and Matt Lauer Saturday morning, the four legged spent some time with Mother Nature. Note to self : Buy Frontline.

We went for a run - seriously cannot beat this weather. In my old age (30), I've begun running sans-iPod. So, I made MS talk to me the whole time. He was thrilled. The last time we talked the whole run, he proposed at the end. This time, I just got Saw's macaroni and cheese. Close enough.

We cleaned up and headed to a friends Spring Break Party. Last year, we got burned and were literally the only ones to show up in "spring break attire", while everyone else was in their cute new Spring break clothes. I SWEAR the invitation said it. Fool me once...you know the rest.

                                  circa 2012

We did meet this Frenchie - Groucho. Had I brought a bigger purse he might be living at our house.

Fortunately for Groucho, we left him to his own devices and took the party downtown to the Baron's game.

This year was a different kind of outfit fail. I think I matched about 23 girls that night. Luckily, I knew this one, so a picture wasn't creepy.

We had good seats.

And good seats inside when it got cold. I bet Babe Ruff wasn't cold in that mascot suit.

All that was missing was some pool time...coming soon.

Bring on the Bacon

It's been a tough week all around - I'm not sure anyone would disagree with that statement.

Sometimes a little comfort food is necessary - with loads of butter and cheese. Last weekend I decided to try a recipe we had at a birthday party the weekend before. I don't know that it gets much easier than this.

Even if your helpers sit on the porch with a cigar and a cold one, or staring off into nothing, you can totally do this solo.

Three ingredients. Not counting the Windex.

Club crackers, parmesan cheese (the gourmet in the can variety. The recipe calls for it, and I certainly am not one to argue with the experts.)

Pioneer Woman has a much more detailed version and less grainy pictures that don't include pictures of cleaning products, so I'll divert you there. But here is the finished product:

Bacon Heaven. Bring it on. It just about melts in your mouth.

Wishing you a weekend that recharges your soul. With some comfort food in the mix.

Namath goes to a Brewery

Wouldn't that be a great name for a children's book? I guess if you want to read to your kids before DHR takes them away. I digress.

We decided it was time for Namath to take a field trip, like we do every few months. We have to strike while the iron is tepid - if it's too hot he'll melt into a puddle of wrinkled fur right in front of your eyes.

We decided Avondale Brewery would be a great place to spend a little time on Saturday and Namath could come along for the ride.

We started in the open grassy areas at the picnic tables. Namath likes to sit on furniture, and his big caboose wouldn't fit on a bench. So, we moved to a table.

Once he got settled, he was in hog heaven. Making hog snorting sounds.

He cooled off on the pavement, while we cooled off with some beers.

When he had enough fun, we headed to our own porch, so he could finally relax.

By Sunday, he was worn slap out.

Field trip success.

Friday Favorites

A few little beauty treats I'm loving this week as we're welcoming the spring season.

My cuticles have been extra dry from the long, hard winter. Couple that with the scalding hot showers I prefer, (seriously, I like to be a nice shade of pink when I come out), I was fighting a losing battle. No lotion was up for the task.

I really wanted a pure vitamin e oil rather than the Sally brand -  but was a victim of the CVS inventory. Proof I don't always know best. This stuff has worked wonders. It is what it says - oil. So, I find the best time to put it on is before bed, and then wear a pair of gloves for a little while - at least until it sinks in and won't rub all over your sheets. This is not a sexy look. But neither are snaggly nails. So as in all things, find some balance.

Since Sally proved herself once, I put her up to the task again. Girlfriend works hard for the money.

Sally Hansen Instant Cuticle Remover Gel

Get's the job done painlessly. Love to multitask with this one as well. Put it on right before the shower and get rid of those cuticles while you're enjoying the scalding hot water. You have to rinse it off with warm soapy water anyways, and there is an abundance of that in the shower. Who said this blog wasn't green?

I recently had to buy some apple cider vinegar for a recipe, and thought, "Hey...you've read something about this." It was not hard to find loads of beauty tips revolving around apple cider vinegar. I liked this page.

I've only tried the hair rinse, so it's all I can vouch for. A couple of tips:
1. Don't use a bottle of water you pulled directly from the fridge. See shower temperature preference above.
2. Expectations. It does not smell like apples. Or cider. It does smell like vinegar. You will have to buck up for 4-5 minutes.

I do think it did a great job of removing a lot of product buildup that was in my hair. It was much lighter, bouncier and just generally fancy free after the rinse. I'm a little concerned about the effect it will have on color, so I probably won't do it more than once a week.

Finally, some oldies but goodies. You have to welcome spring with a hint of color. These two do the trick.

All my favorites for making coming out of winter hibernation a little prettier. Happy Friday!

How to Enjoy Spring

 Slooowly wake up to watch the sun rise.

Perk up and survey the backyard. Legs crossed, preferrably.

Do some spring shoe shopping. Avoid asking if these are too high for your age. Sigh.

Rehydrate outdoors.

Try to stay awake for the two hour season premiere of Mad Men.

Repeat this cycle as needed.

Friday Favorites - Sort of.

The weeks continue to get away from me.

The views from the top of Red Mountain were beautiful last Thursday. Just in time for a beautiful Good Friday. 

After a productive afternoon preparing for Easter, Namath and I headed to the back porch to unwind. Doesn't he look relaxed?

Pottery Barn, Southern Living, nail maintenance, cheese, olives and wine.

 MS came home and joined us. Namath does not like to be cuddled. It wasn't his lucky day.

 As a reward for all my productivity, I picked myself up a little treat. I decided to make the jump from naked eyelids to Urban Decay's version of Naked - some nice earth tones.

 Venus, Foxy, Walk of Shame, Naked 2, Faint and Crave. There are about a million YouTube videos of tutorial of how to use this pallet, if creating different eyeshadow looks isn't your specialty. If it is, I've probably watched your YouTube tutorial.

 I'm nothing if not true to a theme.

 Saturday I headed out for fresh flowers to create this Pinterest inspired centerpiece for Sunday's Easter lunch. As a side note - do you know Starburst jelly beans now have a "Fave Reds" option? I bet you could get them for 75% off about now - even though they are worth full price.

 Good Friday service provided some new inspiration for the chalkboard. I won't tell you how many times I rewrote this. I need to brush up on some alternate fonts.

 By Monday morning, this blonde was needing a Venti Blonde to get the week started right.

I hope you and yours had a wonderful week. Beautiful weather for the weekend ahead. I dare say - Spring has sprung!