Color Run

Have you ever participated in a Color Run? What did you think? Worth doing?

From the images on their website, it looks like an absolute blast. And, if you have to run a 5k, why not do it in crazy technicolor?! What a great way to exercise and hang with friends.

A Color Run event is coming to Louisville in late July, unfortunately we won't be here to participate. Darn it! Maybe I'll catch another down the road.



In other news:

• Hubby and some friends won a local barbecue contest and qualified for a larger competition in the midwest. Massive amounts of meat will be grilled in our household between now and then as they try to perfect their recipe.
  
  
• My alma mater produced 6 NBA recruits last night, including the TOP TWO picks, Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. Yeah, it was a good night for the Wildcats.
  
  
• It's been hotter than the depths of hell in these parts. They even cancelled the afternoon swim practice yesterday. Too hot to be in a pool. Yep, that's hot.
  
  
• We've been watching the Olympic Swim Trials each night. Now that the kids are on the swim team, they are really enjoying watching the swimmers compete. Mommy enjoys it, too. Although, for different reasons.

Ryan Lochte

You're welcome.

Images from thecolorun.com and Speedo

Farewell, Nora

“Don’t you love New York in the fall? It makes me wanna buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of newly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address.” 

-- Joe Fox, "You've Got Mail"

Nora Ephron
1941 - 2012

Thank you, Ms. Ephron, for your wonderful films. You will be missed.

Images from cinema-fanatic and hinterlandgasette.com

'Just Keep Swimming...'

Well, I experienced my first swim meet with my kids this weekend. And, I've concluded that the temperature at a swim meet is likely akin to the surface of the sun.

Go Typhoons!

It was certainly a long, hot day, but it was great to see our kids compete. At first, they wanted no part of it, especially when we arrived and they saw the controlled chaos that is a swim meet in progress.

I thought they would be psyched to run out the doors of the snack bar when the team was introduced. But, between the cheering and the loud siren-like noise (similar to when the home team is announced at a basketball game), that sounded when the team came out, our kids were a bit overwhelmed. Our son ran to us in tears and our daughter crossed her arms, shaking her head.

But, once it came time for them to swim, they were troopers. Our son finished second out of five swimmers in his heat. Our daughter swam against one other girl, and while Miss E. didn't win, she gave it 110%. The timer pulled her out of the water and gave her a ribbon. It may have been for just making it to the end without drowning, but she was proud of herself nonetheless, as were we.

Our Typhoons gave it their all, but in the end, we lost to the Gators. Although, the Gators are the best team in the league, so I don't feel too bad. At the end of the meet, the coaches from the two teams competed against each other for fun, which the swimmers LOVED since they adore their coaches, and it's always a treat to see collegiate swimmers in action.

The Olympic trials are next week in Omaha, so I'm hoping to catch some of the action on TV. We'll definitely be watching a number of swimming and diving competitions during the London Olympics.

So, are/were your kids swimmers and have you experienced the God-awful heat of a swim meet? Or are/were you a swimmer?

It's going to be in the 100s later this week, so you'll definitely find us in the pool after work. Stay cool, friends!

Images property of JMW A Place to Dwell Blog

'Simply Bags'



The kind folks at Simply Bags  sent me this personlized tote to try out for summer. I have to say, it passed the test! I'm not always kind to my bags, especially pool bags. They get tossed on the ground, stained with sunscreen, loaded down with wet towels, and generally roughed up throughout the season. So, I vowed that I would treat this bag with a little more care.

While we still lug our large Scout bag to the pool, this is a nice alternative for when I'm meeting the family there after work. The kids may have swim practice, so with the big bag already at the pool, I can fill this one with my iPhone, wallet, keys and a towel and hit the road. What's also great is that it has a zipper, an inside pocket and is very lightweight.

Simply Bags has a wide variety of bags, from totes to iPad cases to diaper bags, even sorority bags for your college-bound daughter.

Thanks again to Simply Bags for my nautical-themed bag - perfect for 4th of July at the pool!

It's Friday, friends. Can I have an "Amen?"

Image property of JMW A Place to Dwell blog 

Happy 30th!



Happy birthday, Prince William! Welcome to your 30s!

Image from Biography Channel UK

Happy Summer!

Happy First Day of Summer, friends!

Jump in the pool, sip some lemonade, wear a floppy sun hat or run through the sprinkler. It's officially summer time!

Hope you enjoy the summer months as much as my little guy (above). Yesterday he started jumping off the side of the pool for the first time. Meanwhile, big sis is swimming like a fish. Swim team and their coach, Sarah, have made a huge difference. Yay!!

What do you enjoy most about summer?

Image property of JMW A Place to Dwell blog

Return from the Beach...

We have returned to the real world after spending a week at the beach. It's amazing how quickly time passes. I feel like I cross the bridge to the island and before I know it, I'm crossing back toward the airport. Ugh.

The kids had a ball spending time with their aunts, uncle, cousins and grandmother (aka, "Gigi"). Wish I could download more photos, but for some reason, Blogger won't let me rotate a number of the images. If anyone knows of a solution to this, please share it.

Miss E. with Aunt A, also her godmother.

Hubby and I, off to celebrate our joint birthday at a restaurant in town. During our week-long stay, four of us celebrated birthdays. Can you imagine?

 

Our nephew who created an array of clay "critters" at the beach house.

I'll have to check in with my many blogger friends and see what you've been up to...it's hard to get back into the groove, but I'll make it. Just trying to hold on to the blessed glow of vacation as long as possible.

Images property of A Place to Dwell Blog

Unplug. Unwind.



Gone fishin', friends. Talk to you soon!

Image via Pinterest - source unknown

Organic Gifts

Ever heard of Kobo Pure Soy Candles? I learned about them through Style Blueprint Louisville. Not only do the candles have lovely scents, but seeds are embedded in the box. Plant the box and it will grow into the fragrance that you bought. How cool is that?? I think it would make for a great housewarming or hostess gift.

Another plant/flower-based  product I stumbled upon is Goe Oil.

I tried a sample of it a local boutique. A little goes a long way, but apparently it's the bomb when it comes to moisterizing the skin. Plus, it has a nice, subtle scent. It can be used for a variety of applications, from moisterizing dry skin to taming fly-away hair to removing eye makeup. Think about how many bottles of product you could get rid of by just using Goe? Okay, now I sound like an infommercial...

So, have you tried one of these products? If so, what do you think? Have you stumbled upon any other home goods or skin care products that you especially like?
Images from StyleBlueprint Louisville and Goe Oil products

God Save the Queen

First of all, I must apologize to the Queen for not sending my best wishers earlier, but congratulations are in order to Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen is celebrating 60 years on the throne. Amazing.

Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were part of the pageant flotilla on the Thames River in London the other day. Seriously, Kate, you look fabulous.

And here's quite a gathering. Queen Elizabeth chats with performers Elton John, Cliff Richard, Shirley Bassey, Tom Jones and Paul McCartney backstage at the concert celebrating her diamond jubilee. Love Tom Jones' expression. "Is that so, Liz?"

Look at this crowd on The Mall at Buckingham Palace during the Diamond Jubilee Concert. Say what they will about the monarchy; I venture to guess that the majority of Britains love their queen. And, yes, we Americans are enamored with her as well.

Cheers to you, Queen Elizabeth. Well done!
Images from Radar Online, Yousaf Karsh (1951), UK Mirror

Water Weekend

Great weekend - spent most of it near or in the water. Saturday we were treated to a river cruise with some friends. It was a beautiful day.

Then, we went back to the pool and hung out with the kids.

We finally found a way to get our son to agree to join the swim team. Her name is Sarah, she's the coach for ages 6 and under, and she's a tall and tan 18-year-old blond. That was the only motivation he needed. Oh, yeah, and the Skittles candy she hands out after practice. (I should get Sarah to serve him green vegetables while we're at it.)

How was your weekend?

Counting down the hours until vacay. Can. Not. Wait.

Images property of JMW A Place to Dwell