4th of July Pics

Normally Seattle has two big firework shows - one at Gasworks Park and the other at Myrtle Edwards Park. This year we only had one. Can you imagine how insane the traffic was? Well not me. We went down to Bonney Lake to hang with my sister's family. The folks in Bonney Lake go crazy for fireworks. Linda's backyard overlooks a valley in Bonney Lake and you could see miles of fireworks in the sky. It was quite spectacular. I am not talking mediocre fireworks. I am talking fireworks that someone paid $60-$100 for just one firework. We were estimating the total cost of all the fireworks we saw could be around $50,000. I don't get buying $2000 worth of fireworks but hey it was fun to watch. One guy said you could get arrested for some of the fireworks that went off.

This was the view from street level. I didn't take any photos from their backyard deck because it was just too dark.

Let me back up by telling you Donnie's family came over and they are the original adrenaline junkies of the family. I had no idea they had all their dirt bikes and quads in Donnie's garage. Imagine my surprise when they say Hey Sandy wanna ride the trails? I haven't ridden a dirt bike since I went to dirt bike school in November. Whenever Donnie, Skylar and I go out we ride the quads so I was beside myself that I had the opportunity to feel the rush on a dirt bike. Oh yeah baby it all came back to me!

Here's a pic after we came back from the trails. I obviously forgot to get goggles with my helmet and ate a lot of dust! That will never happen again. My eyes were so bloodshot and my face has a nice layer of dirt on it. Here I am hanging with these youngins. The tallest Mallory just turned 18, next to her is Anna 12, and Megan who I think is 16 or 17. And then there's me the old woman of the bunch at 35. Mallory and Megan are HARDCORE. These girls are experienced dirt bike riders!

Hope you had a joyous and memorable 4th of July!

Back Home

Before I left Seattle, I checked the weather in Mesa, AZ and knew the temps were going to be hot. Like really hot. So I'm leaving the airport at Sky Harbor in Phoenix and the first blast of heat hits me. Okay so not what I expected. I have only experienced heat like this 2x before once in Stockton, CA and the other in Bangkok. The whole time I am thinking will someone please turn off the heater.
So in total I hit 5 scrapbook stores and 1 rubberstamp store (Stamp Works, Scrapology, Paper Vineyard, Devine Memories, Mystic Paper and Scrapbooks Etc.) Next time I would only go to Mystic Paper and Scrapbooks Etc. Mystic Paper caters to altered artists and had a a real vintage feel to it. The store I took my classes with Heidi Swapp at was Scrapbooks Etc. which is a full service scrapbook store with lots of the latest product.
Here's a photo of Mystic Paper The classes with Heidi were lots of fun. Of the 3, my favorite was HKS Secrets. So many fun tips to using her masks. I thought I was going to be buying lots of Heidi product, but she included her latest stuff in our class kits.
My last day in AZ I checked out Domestic Bliss, a very cool store that I would highly recommend. Also used my birthday coupon at Anthropologie and bought a pair of cargo pants. Just to get out of the heat I went to go see The Hangover. Oh my that movie was hilarious. I can't even count how many times I was bent over laughing so hard.
I stayed at the Holiday Inn off of I-60 at Country Club Rd. Would recommend this hotel. Very clean and updated modern rooms. I had a very pleasant trip, but let me tell you how much I appreciated coming home to beautiful cool Seattle. I was all perma grin from the time we boarded the plane. On the plane, I have this little worry about being able to get my bag in the overhead compartment since I am so short. Well guess who helped me with my bags? Casey Treat. He was sitting behind me in first class. I never fly first class, but used my World Perk Miles and that's all they had available.

Fun & Spontaneous

So my 36th birthday is coming up and I have been trying to convince my family to go up to Whistler, B.C. to do some zip lines. The only person who was in agreement me with me weighed 45lbs. and you are required to weigh 70lbs. Of course that person is my 5 year old nephew Skylar who is a daredevil just like his aunty. Linda and Dhan don't have that adrenaline rush junky gene! So with no plans to go to Whistler I was looking for other things to do and when I came upon Heidi Swapp's blog about upcoming classes in Mesa, AZ - I said Bingo. Booked my flight, hotel and car that same day and am thrilled to be taking some fun classes. I am so ready to be inspired!!! Check back the week of the 6th for picture updates :)

I Heart Anthropologie!

I received this in the mail from Anthropologie for my birthday. A little discount happiness! Love a store that goes that extra effort to do something a little different.

Sizzling Warehouse Sale

Maya Road Warehouse Sale Check it out for some serious savings!!!

Father's Day Love

Here's a little share of the card I made for my dad and a wedding card for a very special friend on Saturday.

Out in the Wild Finale

Besides "Lost" this is the only other series I have been watching on tv. I love watching Out in the Wild on Discovery. I could never ever skin an animal and watching them do it day after day is just fascinating. It is so funny when they say that's the best squirrel soup ever! Tonight is the finale and I will definitely be watching!