Summer Fun

After a slightly more intense post earlier this week, I thought would post something light. That is, my new favorite pair of pumps. Purchased from TJ Maxx a few weeks ago. I love them. They are a little more yellow than this picture shows. But they are very summery and fun. I am trying to avoid wearing them to EVERY event that I go to this summer.

Girls Night Out

For those who don't know, I work at Milliaire Winery between 3 and 5 days a week. The other two girls that work in the Tasting Room and I decided to go for a girls night out the other day. We had a lot of customers come in and say how good the Full Monty was that was playing at the playhouse in Sonora, so we decided to make an evening of it, first a little dinner and then the play to follow.

Jana, myself and Terri.

We were very excited to see they had Friday Night Wine Down going on before the play, so we got to enjoy some tasty Newsome Harlow wines and the have a glass while waiting for the play to begin.

The play was awesome! We laughed pretty much the whole way through. It was thoroughly appropriate for a girls night out too.

Pirates.

I am re-committed to finding joy in the little things. I always try to, but every now and then need to be reminded of this.

This is my nephew Brayden just before his pirate birthday got going, with the most awesome pinata of all time. Only slightly more awesome than this was when he was fighting the pirate just before this. The pictures did not do it justice though.

Something New

So, a few months ago I started swimming, just for something new to do. I figured it is always good to stretch our boundaries and try new things.

Swimming was VERY outside of my comfort zone. Slowly, but surely I started getting more comfortable in the water though.

Yesterday, I swam a mile for the first time. 1650 yards. 66 laps. I did it in 36:16. Not to bad for my first time, I think.

I considered for a moment putting a picture of myself in my swimsuit up, but shortly after realized, there is no way that I want that on the internet...

TWIST Tea

I am part of a non-profit group called TWIST (The Women's Improvement Society of Tuolumne). The main fundraiser for the year is a tea where everyone decorates a table. I did a little league table. There were a lot of really fancy tables, but I actually wanted my table to represent something in the community...

My favorite part is the sunflower seeds that are scattered around the astro-turf running down the center of the table... I also really like the jerseys on the back of the chairs (thank you salvation army and various other thrift stores in town...).

This is from the preview the night before. For the actual day we had no power, which also meant to heat... As the universe works, the power came back on as we were cleaning up, about 1/2 hour after the event ended. Se la vi.

My Lady

My lady was in town a few weeks ago. So we did something new and different for us,

we went wine tasting.

Let me clarify, we both love wine and wine tasting, but for some reason

we have never done it together.

It was simply marvelous.

The husband even offered to come pick us up after it all, but that is another story...

Brook, attempting to find her prince charming.

Unfortunately, this frog was not it.



A little later that night with Zac-Bob in the background,
and moving on to margaritas and vodka tonics.

We also went back to the "good old days" and slept in the same bed that night.

The Husband was only mildly offended.

Brook, next time you must stay up for the whole three day weekend, in my opinion.

Twinkle Toes

I have become much more mellow than I used to be. I used to wear a lot of bright colors (now it is mostly white, black and gray), bright eyeshadow, and anything else fun and exciting that I could think of. Some think my earrings are a bit crazy, but, they aren't that crazy.

I say all of this to point out, that my toes are the only place that I really go for bright and crazy colors anymore. Most frequently on my toes you will see deep purples, pinks, greens and blues. Light pastel colors are rare on my toes.

So, when I went with a girlfriend to get a pedicure this last week, my first one since being in 'The Indiana,' I knew I wanted a bright and fun color. I was hoping for something that I did not have at home, and here is what I found-

I love the bright orange. I told the husband I did it in honor of him so he would go on a fire. I don't think he considered this sincere. Kind of surprising since so many firefighters are very superstitious.

Might not go the best with high heels and dress pants, but I still love them.

I would also like to point out that normally at this point in the summer my flip-flop tan lines cannot be ignored. However, I have been wearing a variety of shoes this summer, not just my standard flip-flops, and my nearly lack of flip-flop tan lines are showing for it.

Backyard Hamburger Throwdown

Some of you may know, we had a Hamburger Throwdown over 4th of July.

We have been planning this for the last month, well, really since Super Bowl when Steve and Rebecca had a stuffed mushroom throwdown that Steve won.

All of the entries, Phil, Steve (aka The Husband) and Rebecca.


Phil smoking he and Rebecca's hamburgers.

Fierce Competition.

The Winner!

* They decided before that whoever lost would drive to and from the A's game we are planning on going to later this month. The Husband has kindly nominated me to drive in hopes that he will be on a fire. I am politely declining since it was his competition, not mine.

A good night

You ever have those moments where you feel old? Well, I do. One of the main reasons is because the husband and I are love Food Network. I kid you not, a fabulous night for us would be sitting and watching Diners, Drive-In's and Dives or Good Eats. However, by far our favorite is...

Sunday nights, therefore, might be one of our favorite nights of the week. Football all day long and Iron Chef America that night. We are also into the Next Iron Chef, but it is not even close to our love for Iron Chef America.

Though we love it so much, it does make me feel old. We seriously spend the evening with our feet kicked up in our love seat/ recliners and watch food network all night long. If this is making me old, I embrace it whole heatedly.

Smokey Bear

Not Smokey the Bear, as I have been informed by people who know... Anyways, here are the pictures of the husband dressed up as Smokey and throwing the first pitch for the Stockton Ports baseball game a few months ago...

The infamous first pitch

Smokey & Wife

Smokey with the sisters

Remember, "Only you can prevent forest fires."

A Fabulous Day

The husband and I finally had a day off together. It was truly the first time in probably two months.

What did we do on our day of fun...

Well, I borrowed a convertible from my padre and we drove up Sonora Pass. We packed a wonderful picnic and just kind of hung out all day. On the way home we stopped at a restaurant in Strawberry and had a cocktail and a few appetizers for dinner.

We read, we wandered, we ate, we cruised... It was wonderful, and I am very thankful that we got a chance to do it before fire season came with all of its chaos.

April Fools Day

I am not a fan.

I have never been a fan of April Fools Jokes or really any practical joke.

So, I told the husband this morning that it is the first day of

celebrating my birthday month.

He told me it was all in my head.

I told him that I know, but my goal is to get it into his head too.

I'll let you know how it goes.