Wedding Dresses & Football

Last weekend I was able to go wedding dress shopping with my friend, AJ.  She is marrying Mike next summer here in Arizona and I offered to go with her.  We started at the same boutique that I purchased my dress at.  It definitely brought back wedding memories when I walked through the doors.  It was different this time around as I found it to be a lot more fun.  This time I was not the bride and I was not stressed out.  This time I got to look through all the dresses and pull dresses I wanted to see AJ in.  It was so much fun playing dress up.  I even got to know her girlfriend a lot better as we sat together on the couch waiting for AJ to try on the million dresses we pulled for her.  I must say it's a ton more fun to be the person helping pull dresses than the actual bride trying on the dresses.  On Saturday AJ found a dress she really liked; however, she started to stress out pretty bad so I knew we had to stop for the day and come back on a different day.  I met AJ back at the same boutique on Sunday after she spent the night looking through dresses online and got a better idea of what she liked.  We then pulled a bunch of new dresses based on what she found online.  I think the bride had a better experience, but did not end up buying her dress.  I think the stress of committing to the dress got to her.  I can relate as I remember the stress I went through when it came to deciding the perfect wedding dress for me.  We left the boutique empty handed, but we have a couple more appointments lined up at different shops in a couple weekends.  I can't wait to have more fun dress shopping with AJ!

While I was out dress shopping on Sunday, football entered our home.  Yes, on Sunday Tom came over so him and Andy could strategize for their fantasy football leagues.  Ahhhh...it's that time of year!  Ahhhh...the year that I find completely annoying!  The time of year when Andy is completely oblivious to anything around him if it does not involve football.  Ahhhh! 

Andy and Tom in the kitchen strategizing!

Day Drinking

This pretty much sums up our last weekend.

Getting full use out of our amazing margarita machine.

Enjoying margaritas by the pool.

Andy enjoying his beer in the pool.

 I am not much of a day drinker, but something got into me on Saturday that I felt the need to get a little crazy with the margarita machine.  This craziness led to a rough Saturday night and therefore reminded me of why I am not much of a day drinker.  Between the heat and alcohol it always hits me like a freight train and I ended up living through a rough hang over at 8pm.  I had a ton of fun with Andy on Saturday; however, it was a friendly reminder of why I don't care to day drink when it is 110 degrees outside as it's a bit rough on the body.

Another Haboob

Last weekend was the first weekend in quite some time where we had nothing planned and nothing to do.  It was fabulous!  There was no reason to get up early, no reason to even take a shower if we didn't want to.  Of course we did though!  Basically, you get the point.  We were back to our usual Friday night of drinking wine and watching our Netflix of the week.  Sometimes this could get old, but last weekend we really needed it.  Besides all the relaxing and being lazy we were able to watch another haboob roll into town.  These are seriously pretty cool from our back yard.  This one wasn't as crazy as they usually are, but I will still share the photo I did take since it was the only exciting thing that happened last weekend.

Gotta love the haboob!

Slightly Annoying

I received the following picture text from Andy as I was at the nail salon paying for the services I received.

You can imagine how UNHAPPY I was to receive that picture.  I initially thought it had to be a joke.  Who would break their wedding band?  Plus, how could that have happened?  Seriously, I was not thrilled with this joke.  Good think the nail salon is a short 3 minutes from the house so I could get home quickly and find out what was going on. 

I got home to find out it was not a joke.  The day before Andy's ring went flying onto the tile floor and when he picked it up there was a chip in it.  He figured he would take it to the jeweler to fix it when he had time.  Apparently the next day it just "shattered."  Weird!  I didn't know Tungston rings could do that.  We bought this particular metal because it is supposed to be very strong.  He was afraid of my reaction so while I was at the nail salon with Laura he drove down to the jeweler, all the way in Chandler, to have it fixed.  Good thing it is under warranty and they had to order him a new ring.  He drove all the way back home by the time I got home from the nail salon.  I am happy that he was proactive and got right on it instead of acting like it was no big deal even though I am sure he was proactive because he was afraid of me getting mad.  With that said I am still not thrilled that this happened.  Now his ring is not the same ring I place on his finger on that hot day in Mexico.  It's not the same ring I personally had engraved.  The new ring will have the same engraved message inside the band.  Ugh, it's just not the same.

The jeweler told him that Tungston is very strong and does not scratch at all, but if dropped on tile it can shatter very easily.  Great!  Would have liked to know that when purchasing the ring, especially since the durability was the whole reason why we selected this type of metal.

I have come to terms with the ring issue and I am over it, even though it's not the same ring.  It will be two weeks before Andy's new ring comes in and so he is walking around saying "I am single and ready to mingle" all while flashing his naked finger.  Not funny!

More WI Visitors!

We had a busy past few weeks.  Following my mother's visit and the "cabin" up north we had another visitor come and stay with us for a week: my mother-in-law, Laura.  She got to town the day after we got back from our weekend up north.  Laura was helping her friend move into her new house here so she drove out with her from WI, spent time at our house while also spending time with her friend.  What a good friend to travel across country and help her move the last of her items to AZ.  We have done that drive many times (and hopefully don't plan on every doing it again) so I know what it's like...very LONG and exhausting! 

While Laura was here we relaxed as we watched the Olympics, did plenty of eating and sharing some laughs with each other and our friends the Seifert's.  We also went and got mani pedi's together at my nail place.  That was very relaxing in itself.  The doggie's of course loved the visit from their grandma.  Now that she is gone I don't think they know what to do with themselves. 

Now that Laura flew back to WI we have no scheduled visitors until Thanksgiving.  Whew!  I don't know anybody who has as many visitors as we do.  It's nice and of course the animals love it! 

Escaping the Heat

Two weekends ago we escaped the heat with some friends for Josh's 40th birthday celebration.  We rented a "cabin" up in Show Low with two other couples, a new born and two toddlers.  First the "cabin" was not so much a cabin.  It was more like a mansion on the 18th hole at a country club.  Jackpot!  My type of northern adventure.  This house was seriously amazing.  It had 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms.  It was perfect for 6 adults, baby and two kids.  Unfortunately I did not take any pictures of the house, but trust me, it was a BEAUTIFUL home. 

We left town on a Friday morning to take the three hour drive up north.  It was a long drive, but definitely worth it to escape the 112 degree temperatures to enjoy 75 degree temperatures.  It definitely does remind me of northern WI in northern AZ.  We spent the weekend with our friends laughing, joking and just having a great time.  The boys played plenty of beer pong and the ladies had plenty of girl time.  We all played the Newlywed Game (like a board game based off the hit television show) and I must brag that Andy and I won both rounds.  That was a ton of fun!  I am not much of a game player, but when you get the right people (plus booze) it ends up being quite the riot.   

So, I spent the weekend with a new baby and two toddlers and I survived.  One thing I learned is that toddlers are a lot of work and need a lot of attention.  They play hard and want you to play with them.  I was exhausted!  I guess when you are not used to being around toddlers it wipes you out.  Boy, was I wiped!  Their cute little faces made everything worth it.

I must say that it was definitely my kind of "camping" as I told Andy that I might be spoiled now and don't know if I can ever go back to tenting it in northern Arizona.  I must say that I would like to make that our annual summer event with our friends as it was so much fun.

Shopping, Sushi and Pink Jeeps

A couple weeks ago my mother and cousin, Makalya, came to visit.  The trip was Makalya's graduation gift from her parents and my mother decided to join Makalya on her trip to visit Andy and I.  I was excited to show Makalya Arizona and life outside of SP.  I believe she enjoyed her stay, the heat and what Phoenix has to offer.  She will definitely have to come back in the winter to really see why we live here and the beauty of AZ.  While they were here they went to see the Phoenix zoo and did some crap shopping in downtown Scottsdale while I was at work.  I did take a couple days off to spend with them and we did some shopping as well as pool time.

My mom and Makalya in our pool!

I also re-introduced them to sushi.  My mother had sushi in the past, but was not a huge fan.  We took them to Stingray and didn't order anything crazy.  We kept it in the newbie category as to not scare them.  Makalya and my mother really enjoyed the experience.

Enjoying the sushi experience.

One very tourist thing we did was head to Sedona and do the Pink Jeep Tour.  Uhmmm...not so much a fan of this.  It is definitely a tourist thing to do and is definitely for people who do not live here.  Andy and I do not need a tour and information on the various cacti in the desert.  Also, the day after my back was all jacked up.  I definitely needed to see my chiropractor after the trip.  Not really my thing.  It was nice to show Makalya another side of Arizona.  She got to see the beauty of Sedona and the drive through the mountains to get there. 

Andy and I as we stopped for a photo opportunity!

Makalya, me and my mom.

All of us on the tour!  Andy is slightly taller than the ladies!

Us featured with the jeep that wrecked my back.

Cousins!

The scenery in Sedona.

Following the pink jeep tour we ate lunch at a cute place in Sedona before we headed back to Phoenix to prepare for dinner with guests.  We had the Seifert's and Mike and AJ (along with their new puppy) over for a Mexica Fiesta.  The Fiesta was supposed to be outside, but it ended up inside due to the haboob that swept through Phoenix that night.  My mom and Makalya were pretty excited to see a haboob and snap pictures of it.  From our back yard it's a pretty cool sight to see as the haboob roles into north Phoenix.  Other than that it is just a dust storm.

It was a fun visit and I am glad I got to show Makalya why Andy and I moved to Arizona.  Hopefully she can make it out again...preferably in the winter so we can do more outdoor activities.