It all started with these two deciding to get hitched,
Robyn + Shane
{bridal shower invite, made by my sister, Krista}
{robyn, shane}
{invitations, hand designed by Robyn}
So on August 18th, Mr. Klis and I stepped off the plane into what can really only be called an oven. It was unreal. I think I literally melted, melted, in that Arizona summer. It really is a desert down there. The sun surrounds you with its heat, dusty, dry, practically treeless scenery engulfs you, but in its own way, its kinda beautiful. Mr. and I were particularly intrigued by the abundant cacti. I wanted to kick one but decided against it.
{Jeff Jeff, Me, cacti}
My parents rented a convertible for the weekend which was fun, but maybe not as "cool" as it could have been (get it..."cool"...because it was so awful hot, even when driving with the top down...got it yet? Well, I thought it was clever).
The wedding, the whole purpose of this trip to Arizona, was lovely.
We started the day bright and early, and while Krista and I helped and helped Robyn get ready, Mr. was also very helpful:
Luckily, we didn't really need much help.
{Robyn's mom made the cake}
{Krista made the love bird cake toppers}
{Together the love birds cut the cake}
I know, I know, I didn't get a lot of pictures of the happy couple. I promise I tried! But most of all them were the eyes half-closed, open mouthed expressions no one likes to see posted anywhere, so I have kept them to myself. Trust me though, Robyn and Shane both looked so wonderful and so happy, photos simply would not do the day justice.
I think I said a very long, long time ago that once I got my new love nest all to my liking I'd share some pictures. I've recently come to the conclusion that it will take a long time to get everything to my liking, in fact it may never even happen at all! But I do love all three rooms of our love nest that were mine to decorate ("Jeffrey's Room" is lost, lost, lost cause).
So, at the prompting from my good friend, ehem L.B., I'll start with the bedroom. Mostly because of this:
Another one of my Refabulous projects that due to my blogging delinquency I never got around to telling you about. L.B. and I found this at one of the cutest antique stores, Planted Earth. It was a super steal. I mean, really, if I told you what I paid for it, you'd think I really had stolen it and was just pulling a fictitious number out the air to throw you off my trail.
Especially after a fresh coat of delicious, eggplant-hued paint.
{I love that color, eggplant. Yummy.}
It complements my reading nook quite nicely:
And notice the corner of my fabulous purple dresser, see more of it here.
The rest of the bedroom goes something like this:
{that mirror is an antique too. every bedroom needs a great mirror, that one is mine}
Jeffrey and I have been wanting to do triathlons for a long time. We started training back in November, but then that whole cancer thing happened, so Jeff competed in his first triathlon this past Saturday while my SIL Robyn and I cheered enthusiastically.
My claim to fame in the whole affair: I'd like to say I helped train him. I was the timer/whip cracker. I also helped pushed him because he knows cancer or not, I still come close to whoopin' his butt. .................(don't tell him I said that!!)
Baby's first tri was the Bountiful Reverse Triathlon, in Bountiful, Utah. It was a triathlon sprint, and in reverse order, so he first ran 3 miles, then biked 10 miles, then swam 350 yds.
Baby did it all in 1 hour and eleven minutes. He was 5th in his age group. His performance wasn't bad for an old football, basketball, track sprinter type (I really loved seeing him do something in the endurance category).
It's a challenge to get Jeffrey to join in the mania with me, but its a challenge I'm more than willing to take on, and as in this instance, WIN!
Things got a little messy. We had stained hands for like three days, even though we exfoliated till it hurt. And Jeffrey complained a little. But I rather enjoyed myself. Every. Colorful. Minute.
I especially love my tie-dye sports bra.
{This one for all my cross girls who ever wanted to do this with me. Think of you every time I tie-dye!!}
Many people ask me these days how I keep myself busy since I'm, you know, recovering and all. I'll admit when you're not taking classes or working, you have a lot of time on your hands. Enter crafts and cleaning. These two activities (plus maybe a little shopping here and there) have been my main events for the past 7 months. This organizer combines both crafting and cleaning into one glorious afternoon, and one chic piece of functional decor.
What you'll need: Dry erase board or cork board, in a frame Fabric- 1/2 yd-1 yd depending of size of your board Pins Glue Gun
First, accordion the fabric twice so that you have two pockets. Check the depth of the pockets to be sure they are deep enough for papers, notes, and envelopes.
{mmmm....yummy carpet}
Fold edges of fabric back so they are the proper width for your board and pin in place. This is the point at which it would be nice to sew-simply run a straight line stitch up both sides of the fabric. It would be nice to do. In fact, I recommend it. But I didn't do it :) I just glued the pieces to the backside.
Arrange your fabric on your board. Glue in place, being sure to glue all edges down securely, especially the top.
Someday I will stay up-to-date on my blog. Maybe someday starts today...maybe. Since I skipped out on all of last month, here's how we Klises spent a jolly July:
The Glorious 4th!
We enjoyed celebrating the 4th of July while eating strawberry shortcake and watching fireworks from the "Stadium of Fire" out on our front steps.
Heart Attack!
Robyn and Shane surprised me with a heart-attacked door to help get me through the last few days of my radiation.
Last day of Treatment!!!!!!
On my last day of treatment, the radiation technicians gave me a "Certificate of Completion" and some sparkling cider. Jeffrey and I went out to celebrate at the Cheesecake Factory. The next day, Robyn and Shane came over for a party and we reveled in funfetti cupcakes and sparklers.
Spa Day with the Girls!
We'd been wanting to do this for awhile, and it was well worth the wait! Rach, Bre, and I had such a girly time eating mini sandwiches and strawberry tartlets, painting our nails and tow nails, all while sipping cucumber lime coolers. I sent them home with little goodie bags that had facial masks, a new bottle of nail polish, and a cute file.
Today marks the day that I am officially half way done with radiation....only two more weeks (nine more treatments) to go. Then I will show you all what it was like.
But for now, we're celebrating! And Jeff, my brother Shane, and his fiance (fancy as they like to say) Robyn and I are going out to Pizza Hut and getting DQ Blizzards-just like children would. It was a toss up between Pizza Hut and Chuckie Cheese, but Pizza Hut won out due to less sanitation hazards.
You can celebrate too by making this delish salsa. These days I only have like 4 good dinners or recipes in me per week, so here's one you can treasure for the next little bit while I try to catch up to my usual self.
And it is a treasure, if I may say so myself.
Mango Salsa
This is lovely on top of fish or with grilled shrimp, but also quite delicious with tortilla chips. Oh and we also ate it with pulled beef tacos and, well, that was scrumptious too. The jicama gives the salsa a satisfying crunch and adds texture, but you could use a seedless English cucumber instead.
Ingredients:
2 mangoes, peeled and seed removed
½ small pineapple, skin removed and cored
½ small jicama, peeled
2 roma tomatoes
2 green onions
1 large orange
1 small jalapeno
1 avocado
¼ tsp garlic salt
¼ cup chopped cilantro
½ lime
Dice the mangoes, pineapple, jicama, and finely dice the green onions and put in medium bowl.
Cut roma tomatoes in half, remove the seeds and juicy stuff, then finely dice those as well and add them to the bowl.
Remove the peel and pith of the orange by cutting it away with a knife (cut off the top and bottom of the orange, then, starting at the top and working towards the bottom, cut away slices of the peel making sure to remove all white stuff (the pith)). Section out the orange, cut each section in half and put in bowl.Squeeze the section-less orange for about 1-2 Tbsp of juice.
Next, seed the jalapeno, and if you’re a wimp like me, remove the membrane as well. Very finely dice the jalapeno and depending on how much heat you like, use one half to the whole thing (I only used half).
Add the cilantro the bowl.
In a small bowl, mash the avocado and season it with ¼ tsp garlic salt, then add to the salsa and mix all of the ingredients until well distributed.
Jefferson and I live really close to a most beautiful park, complete with a giant swing set, two water fountains, and a little fish pond. Last Saturday after a sushi date (have I ever mentioned that we LOVE sushi?) we decided to continue on with the fish theme and try our luck at the fish pond.
Jeffrey, of course, caught the first fish. I waited patiently. And patience pays off.Then Jeff jeff caught another two...one of which was HUGE (for a sunfish anyway). Then I caught the last fish of the night after Jeffrey finally taught me how to set a hook, because apparently these fish creatures don't just hook themselves.
{bridal shower invite, made by my sister, Krista}
{robyn, shane}
{invitations, hand designed by Robyn}
{Jeff Jeff, Me, cacti}
{Robyn's mom made the cake}
{Krista made the love bird cake toppers}
{Together the love birds cut the cake}
