My week in pictures :)

It all started last summer when I received a couple flight vouchers for being a soccer season ticket holder.  Yep, I finally used the tickets!  Three of my good friends and I packed up and headed to Long Beach. We rented a car and stayed in Mission Veijo (we weren't sure if we were headed north or south... so stay in the middle!)  There's me, Rach, Jane and Maryanne. 

 We arrived and headed straight up the Pacific Coast Highway.  Drove through Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Corona Del Mar... ended up on Balboa Island.  We took the ferry across and walked through the miniature town.  It was quaint and wreaked of wealth haha

The next two days were spent at Disneyland.  Rach had some trouble with her foot and a coffee table Saturday night- the day before we left.  So she "took one for the team" and came anyway.  Her boot was convenient, I hate to say, as it got us a "special" (and I mean that in the most special of ways) pass.  The pass allowed us to bypass most of the lines for rides and enter through the exits.  I think the longest we waited was for Splash Mountain and that was about 30 minutes.  The main line was over 90... haha!

 Here's Mars and I on The Little Mermaid.  I was hesitant at first because I always think- wow, kids rides are for kids! But I fell in love with everything from the first moment you sat in your clam shell and went under the sea.  Not to mention the air conditioning wasn't bad either!

 Jane really wanted to go to The Haunted Mansion.  Once I found the secret pass entry, we skipped the unshaded line and walked right in.  However, we got stuck on it for about 10 minutes lol The ride kept stopping and something wasn't working so what else do you do but use flash photography in a ride where they ask you not to?!

 And finally... finally!  My favorite ride of all time, The Tower of Terror!  We were able to get on this one six times haha If time had allowed, I'd sit and ride that thing all day long!  For those who have never been on it, you walk into this hotel lobby and they escort you as a group into a large living area.  They show you a creepy video about how the hotel was hit by lightening and now strange things are happening and you've entered... "The Twilight Zone." You proceed to sit in a cargo elevator with only a lap strap.  Then, for the next few minutes, you are pushed up anywhere from 5-13 stories in the air and dropped, free falling until it pushes you back up haha!  On the 13th floor, the doors open and you can see all of California Adventure and Disneyland for about 5 seconds before the car starts to shake and you drop again! LOL There comes a point where you can't tell if you're headed up or down because you're literally in zero gravity if you don't do your lap strap tight enough. I LOVE THIS RIDE!

After the first 2 or 3 times, you get pretty good at making faces for the camera.  So if you look closely on the second row, you can see Jane, Mars, me and Rach- hammin' it up for the cameras.

Such a good way to end July!

What Shoes Say... and more importantly, what they DON'T say.

By now, if you're a reader, you know I love me some good shoes.  I have numerous pairs, but I refuse to count how many simply because it really doesn't matter to me.  Some people would call it frivolous!  A waste of money!  An indulgence!  Why, yes, yes, it is all of those things.  However, once you know what my shoes say to me and what they keep to themselves, you might indulge a little yourself.
Let's start with that my shoes say.  A good red solid heel will indicate you're feeling a little sassy, this particular pair might mean more business than play, but still sassy.  In fact, ANY heel will say sass, color will just indicate mood. Size and shape of the heel will indicate business or play. Shoes say "Hey, I paid enough attention to make sure even my ugly feet look good!"  Shoes say "Your ensemble is now complete.  You may leave the house."  Shoes, especially those on yellow clearance at DSW, will SCREAM "BUY ME!  I'm 80% off!"  Shoes will quietly say, "I'm sorry you've had a long day.  Let me surround you in warmth and comfort."  Shoes say "I look expensive, but I've never paid full price for Franco."  Shoes can communicate your playful side with a flowery pair of slip ons or a bleached white pair of Keds.  Shoes say "Wow, your ankles are now ankles, instead of cankles!"  They will also say "Wear that great open toed number to show off your sexy pedicure!"  Yep- they say all of that and more.
As I mentioned, there are some things my shoes never say, and for that, I owe them my allegiance and promise to never D.I. them.  First and foremost, shoes will never tell you how much weight you've gained. They'll never remind you how sallow your skin tone looks when you put them on.  Shoes will never say "Wow, looks like someone needs to invest in Proactive for a minute and look into an appointment with a laser."  Shoes will never say "That is too short!  Cover it up sweetheart!"  Shoes will never tell you "Hey, I'm sagging to your waist now... time for a better fit!."  Shoes will never, ever show your roots.  Nor will they reveal your age (unless you choose some random Softfit Danskin thing with black soles...and really that will just reveal your bad taste!)  Shoes will never say "You look gross today.  Go back to bed."  or "Hmm- jeans and an oversized tee?  That's the best you could do?" 
I dunno- call me crazy, but they talk to me.  All 7835 pairs of them.  And I like it.

Wish I enjoyed "carn" this much!

Double fisted, slathering down my chin, two pieces for dinner enjoying my carn!  Go Natalie!

And this is why I plant fake flowers...

I planted four tomato plants to begin with, one of which was an heirloom (tempermental buggers). I also spent some money buying some lovely purple and white flowering plants.  I've lost three tomato plants, including the heirloom, and all the flowers.  I bought two NEW tomato plants, hybrids, and they might make it.  I'm still holding out for tomato plant #4. I've NEVER had my yard/garden do this badly and it makes me SAD!

Happy 4th of July :)

Thank you :)  And may you all come home as quickly as possible.