Wordless Wednesday - Haters Gonna Hate

On the As Seen on TV cat toy.

Celebrating 60

 This weekend we celebrated my father-in-law's 60th.

I truly, truly hit the jackpot when it comes to in-laws. I don't think anyone would argue with me that they are some of the nicest people you will ever meet. Thankful I get to call them family.

We were excited to celebrate the birthday with food, drinks and dancing. And of course cake. Always cake.

The Searson's are not afraid to be the first one's on the dance floor. Even in 5 inch stilletto heels.

Cheers to Mental Health

Last week we decided a day off would do the soul good. I was hoping for a day reading by the pool, but
1.  The forecast was rainy
2.  Appparently our pool doesn't open until Memorial Day weekend.

I'm still nursing my hurt about both of these. We made the best of it.

MS was tasked with bringing home a treat Thursday night to kick off the long weekend. He did good.

 Naturally, since I could sleep as late as I wanted Friday, I woke up at 6:30 and couldnt go back to sleep. Sigh.

I always wonder who the people are drinking at lunch on a weekday.

Friday it was us! It was a nice lunch in the sun with my boo. Who is looking super skinny these days.

Pizza was much deserved after this 5 miler from the day before. Who is this person?

After being dragged to buy makeup and maxi dresses, we went to one of his favorite places. Also much deserved.

It's amazing what some good beer and retail therapy will do for the spirit. I almost don't mind it's Monday.

PSA

I usually employ this space to talk about products I love. But I feel its my due diligence to warn others.

I found these at Target a few weeks ago. Specifally, the tan pair. My tan wedges are slowly falling apart, and hey! These were super cute and $30! I rung them up and went on my merry way.

And then I wore them and the merriment ended.

Insert tears and me dragging around what felt like bloody stumps of feet the majority of the evening. Bloody stumps is an exxageration. Blood is not. That cute little 'leather' backing literally cut tears in the back of my achiles tendon. Which got reopened on every run. I probably shed a tear or two as I waddled down 20th street.

Which brings me to these. They are heavenly, if this happens to you. Which hopefully, this PSA will prevent.

Despite being worn, I had no shame in taking these back to Target. I even was willing to show them my bloody feet, if it came to that. Fortunately, we didn't have to stoop to that level.
ETA: I've bought lots of wedges from Target with no problems whatsoever. So I don't think this is a get what you pay for lesson. I don't know that there's any lesson here except pain. And the importance of keeping your receipts.

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.