Pool Fun/Surfing Wiener Dog

For the most part, I keep my dating life off of my blog & Facebook, but I feel like I must 'introduce' two new important guys in my life. The great guy that I have been seeing since our first date on July 10th is named Chris Evans and he has an adorable son named TJ.

Chris is from Pennsylvania originally, but has spent most of his life in Alabama (with brief stints in Wisconsin & Michigan). He lives very close to me in Mansfield, which is nice since the DFW area is so spread out.

We have had a great time getting to know each other so far and I'm looking forward to more fun in the future!

Here are some pics of Chris, TJ and Maggie (surfing wiener!):

BBQ at Beth's

On my last night in Ohio, Beth threw a big barbecue party for lots of friends and family - it was great to see everyone and a nice excuse for Beth's family and friends to get together, as well as the grand opening of Beth's new addition on her house!

Here's Beth and I havin' fun!

Holly and I - up to no good, I'm sure:

And the one-and-only Colleen whose awesome laugh served as the entertainment for the evening!

Of course, there were some games, which included the Ohio State version of Cornhole:

Beth's nephew, Beth and Becca (in town from Fort Wayne, IN):

Chris, Nate, Amy and Beth's new 'friend' David (and the super awesome DJ equipment in the background - thanks to Nate and his mad DJ skills, we had great tunes playing all evening!)

The women and babies hanging out in the new addition:

The food that everyone brought was AMAZING - I was stuffed! And Colleen even made the famous pumpkin log!


More ladies hanging out - in the garage this time:

Colleen and Becca:

And then we busted out the fire pit action - so great!

Becca and I at the fire:

Holly, Michael & Becca (Michael is the one who worked his magic and built Beth's new addition):

It was amazing to be up in the cooler temperatures so it didn't seem obsurd to light a fire and create heat. Actually, I hate to say it, but I was cold out there - had to get my blanket and also move closer to the fire. Maybe I really AM acclimating to the insane heat down here in Texas afterall??

Then the next day, we (Holly, Michael, baby Isaac, Becca, Beth and I) went to Cedar Creek for church and then to Blue Pacific (similar to Mongolian Barbecue) for lunch - before I had to leave for the airport in Detroit to come home. That was also my 32nd birthday - I loved spending time with all of them on my birthday! Thanks, guys, for an awesome visit and I can't wait to see you all again soon!

Home Makeover: BETH EDITION

So many times over the last year, I have posted pictures of my home improvement projects - either ones that I hired someone else to do...or ones that I have done myself. But since I took the summer off after a crazy busy spring (painting like a madman), I am featuring a GUEST Home Makeover - from Maumee, Ohio - Beth's house!

Beth decided to add on to her house with an extra room on the back of the house to serve as a hangout place/porch-type room. Our friend Michael Wise did the whole job himself and he did a BEAUTIFUL job! It was finished just in time for the big barbecue that took place at Beth's house the weekend I was in town. I don't have any 'before' pics, but basically it was a grassy part of her back yard 'before'!

So here is the new addition!

This is during the 'bringing in the furniture' phase....

The wood ceiling looks fabulous and that ceiling fan is going to come in handy during the warm days....
Beth let Michael design the floor pattern himself and he did a fantastic job!

The room turned out just beautiful - everyone loved it!

Way to go, Beth and nice job, Michael! You both have excellent taste!

All Dolled Up - First Lady Style

While I was in Ohio and staying with Mike & Barb, we went to go see a traveling exhibit called "First Lady Style: White House Gowns" - a display of all of the first lady gowns. It was located at the Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center (see yesterday's post) and it was the last weekend before it moves on to the next city!

It was a really neat display, but Barb and I were thinking "Man, these dresses look TINY! From the pictures of the first ladies next to each dress, there's just no way she fit in this thing!" Well, come to find out, all of the dresses are 'reproductions of the original' and were 'tailored to fit a model's size'. Whew!! That made me feel better.

However, there were 5 dresses that were original and actually worn by the first ladies. Here are 4 of them:

LAURA BUSH
BETTY FORD
NANCY REAGAN
BARBARA BUSH

Understandably, Mike wasn't so keen on the dresses exhibit, so he stayed home - he was busy grilling up lunch by the pool! He is such a great guy and took care of us!!

Here's Barb getting ready to jump in the pool for the afternoon:

And Mike, relaxing in the pool after being a stellar grillmaster for lunch!

It was an absolutely gorgeous day - I'm so lucky to have friends like Mike & Barb and for the weather to have cooperated so well during my visit!

Presidential Morning

When I was in Ohio last week, I stayed with my friends Mike and Barb in Fremont for the first night. We had pina coladas immediately when I got there, which was awesome! We went out for pizza and ice cream that first night. Here's a pic of Mike at the ice cream place....

The next morning, we hung out on their porch, then headed over to the President Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center to tour the Hayes home, gravesite and museum.

Here's President Rutherford B. Hayes and his wife, Lucy - circa the late 1800's:

This is the memorial area of the museum - very pretty:

And this is a cannon that was used in the Civil War!

And this is the former president's white house carriage:




Here I am at the president's gravesite - located just behind the house.

And during the tour of the house, they said that he buried 2 of his horses on the grounds - we found the stones from when they were buried! They actually buried the president right by where his beloved horses were laid to rest.

And this squirrel was the biggest, fattest one that I have ever seen! It's hard to see the size perspective because it's such a close-up, but it was INCREDIBLE!

And this is my good friend Barb! Mike and Barb were such wonderful hosts and so generous. I miss you already, my dear!