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This is exactly what it sounds like. What better way is there to spend one of the remaining long summer Friday nights? I mean, we only get a few of them before we are back to school or work or the short days of winter. Not that I’m complaining that football is back on TV, but you know what I mean.

Tonight is the night. It’s still blazing hot here in Las Vegas, but once that sun goes down, the temperature is almost nice. I am going to go over to my good friends’ apartment complex pool, complete with hot tub, and we are just going to chill. But when we do, we do it in style. The party comes with us, music, entertainment, drinks and refreshments. We have it all.

I’m not just talking about drinks, which, of course, we will have because happy hour, obviously. We roll out a good spread. Those kid beach wagons make perfect meals on wheels or food set up. They come with cup holders for drinks, a divider not used in this case to keep kids apart, and are easy to tote thru the pool gate. Everything you need easily transported.

But what do we bring with us, you ask? Well, that is an easy question. Our unique brand of fun and crazy, a waterproof speaker, our travel wago, and oh yea, anything and everything you could have on a charcuterie board or a snack buffet and a mini-bar 🍸 😉

It’s hot, so we take a few thermoses filled with ice and our other tumblers with our pregame drinks. We grab a bottle of sprite, a thing of OJ or juice, a bottle of wine, and / or a bottle of vodka. We’ve added a cooler before, but pouring as needed with the ice is a lot easier than lugging a big cooler of ice.

All out for the snacks, too. Veggies and hummus, cheese and meats, chips, and salsa. We cooked up some Korean spare ribs and made a few quesadillas. Could have made up some bruschetta, but we got a little overboard. And last but not least, we had fresh fruit and m&ms as our sweet snacks. We think we take enough for us, but I kid you not, we probably can feed at least six people.

We are just out there trying to relax and enjoy the night. Good company, good drinks, good snacks. All the essentials 👌 I hope that you have a chance to enjoy a few more nights yourself. So cheers to you!!

I may or may not have told you my background or what I do for fun. I have degrees in Interior Design, and I work for a commercial paint company. Right now, I mainly work with designers to get samples made for projects in town. I see the same colors going up on the same walls, not very exciting. But I can and have been using my knowledge and skills on the side to help friends and other clients.

This time, I get to help a friend with her home in Colorado. She just moved into a new rental, and the landlord has agreed to do a few maintenance things, a little sprucing up if you will. She has a similar background as me, but I have access to the colors and do consultations all the time.

Exterior painting projects are different from interior projects because neighborhood rules and surrounding houses have to be considered. My friend doesn’t have an HOA committee with preselected color schemes and a board to sign off on. The other part to consider is the mood of the houses on the street. You don’t want to come into a neutral pallet and paint the house bright pink. Or come into a modern gray industrial neighborhood and go for Tuscan colors in browns and tans.

When you think Colorado, you think of trees and skies, mountians, and green hills. That naturalistic color pallet follows into the houses. In this area, houses blend in with the environment. My friend sent me pictures of her house and her two neighbors. The two with deep gray blue siding and dark gray roofing blend much better than the current light yellow/ tan color on their house. The roofing on theirs is a wood/brown color that I think is much better and will allow for a richer trim as opposed to white. Giving the house an updated unique look

She had an idea for a light grey color that could be the base color for the siding. One that she found online that was popular in that area. I used that gray to find a charcoal for the window trim and roof trim as well as an accent color for the door. Always taking into mind and starting with what the client wants. Then I went above and beyond.

Sometimes, a friend or client won’t know what they want to like until they see it. But everyone wants options. It is easy for me to come up with options because I have seen so many color pallets and color schemes for many different house types and locations. We both agreed that the house should remain on a light color. The neighbors both have white trim, which on the gray and slate is an accent color, but white on the light color would not stand out. So, instead, our trim and our accents are going to be richer, with dark browns, grays, or greens.

I pulled from the surrounding colors to get away from the blue and gray. I found a mellow green, a rich town brown and a light brownish red. Each with a roof trim, window trim, and an accent door/ shade color. It was fun for me to lay the color cards out and adjust when the trim color wasn’t quite right or the body should have been a hint more brown, less red. Overall, I am sending her 6 schemes. As I would for any of my clients, I never recommend doing paint samples. Painting a swatch on the wall will only play tricks on your eyes, distorting the true color as more of what you see is the entire wall color.

So, I am writing up a full set of notes for each scheme. Then I ordered 8×11 sheets of each. I recommend attaching them to a whiteboard or white poster board so they are easily movable to different areas of the house. Anyone repainting should see the colors in the sun and shadows, day vs. night, so they can really judge if they like the color. On the poster board, you don’t have the house painted like a cheetah in the process. Lol

I can’t show you my schemes here, but doing color is legitimately a favorite thing of mine. I am working to expand that part of my skills and will hopefully have something up and going here soon. But time will tell. If you have any color questions, interior or exterior, feel free to drop them here. I’m always willing to give input and can help if your gray is too green or that purple is too grapey. What questions do you have?

So our lovely Las Vegas weather has been nothing but days over 100 for the past 2 weeks or so. We have smoke in the valley from California fires, so plenty of us are struggling with the heat and allergies/ air quality. And now we have just a hint of rain and humidity in the forecast.

Seeing those big storm clouds in the distance brings me joy, even though it also brings stickiness and sweatiness. There is nothing like the look, sound, and feel of a summer thunderstorm. It is one of my favorite things to crack the windows and just listen.

If you are lucky enough to have a view of the city or the horizon, when the big storms come in, the lighting show could equal that of a show on the Las Vegas strip. Our air is usually dry and static, and when those bolts run through it, the effect is awe inspiring. Some will cross the sky, and others will shoot higher into the clouds. In the daytime, the flashes are bright, but at night, those flashes turn colors in bright contrast to the dark gray/blue clouds. It has an even different effect here as our night sky reflects the lights of the strip in a rainbow of colors, and it meets the yellow flash of light. Hair on my arm standing up just thinking about it.

When the rain starts to fall, fast or slow, it’s like a hush over the town/street depending on where you are. We don’t see the rain often, and most tend to stay in when it comes down. I love hearing the wind whistle thru is and the rush of drops hitting the ground, the splashing of puddles as cars go by. I like the steady soft rain, but the down pours just really intensify the joy, well as long as I’m not driving in it.

Thunder will crack in the sky, sometimes so close and so loud that it will rattle the walls. It can come before the rain gets to you or boom while it’s coming down. The sound of fireworks is nothing compared to it. It rumbles along, rain falling on the houses, on the windows. Adding to the overall feel of dark and moody.

It wouldn’t be complete however with out the intoxicating smell that it brings. The best way I can describe it is fresh earth. Here, we don’t have that fresh cut grass smell. We have a dusty terrain, and when it mixes with rain, it smells rustic, salty, and earthy. Different from rain in a forest where you smell moss and Pines. The after is best. The sky is no longer colored with smog and dust but blue and fresh, almost as if someone rinsed it off and put in a new glade plug in lol.

Today, it hasn’t started to fall yet, but it is around. I am hoping that once I get off that the storms will be here, and I can run thru the rain when I get home. Or at least get to hear it while I sleep. Rain in the desert isn’t a guarantee, though. It is literally hit or miss. I’m crossing my fingers for a direct hit today! 😁

How many of us are lucky enough to still have our grandparents around? Do you ever stop to remember how awesome they are or how much they love you? And it’s with a totally different love than the kind of love your parents give you. There isn’t much you can do wrong that a grandparent won’t forgive.

Some of us are blessed to live near them or grow up with them. Oftentimes, like me and my sister, we are far apart, only seeing them in the summers or every few years for family gatherings. As they get older, more things become harder to do. Spending time with them usually means talking at the table or maybe taking them out for dinner.

The stories they tell you might have been told once or 12 times. They might use the phrase “back when I was young” to start most sentences. Maybe you occasionally get the dirt on what your parents tried to get away with when they were young. Or for many, you hear the stories of war, trouble, or desperate times, that ingrained attitude of “if you don’t work, you don’t eat.”

It’s amazing to me what life experience you can gather by just talking to someone in that generation. They have been thru so much in 75 to 100 years. Everything from love to life to politics, and from the highs to the losses, there really is no event that they haven’t experienced. We can learn a lot.

I can’t say that my grandparents dropped a lot of keepers on me when it came to pearls of wisdom, lol. But they told me about what Hawaii was like before the bombing, what you had to do to get by when you lost a loved one in a car accident or to the war. The jobs they took to have apartments with siblings or friends. What it was like growing up with a large family on a military salary. Jumping off the train tracks into the river, even though mom would have made them do chores for 2 months if she knew. But my favorite was the way they loved, or said he was the most handsome man or she was so beautiful I couldn’t look away. That is lost on our/this generation.

Grandparents come to mind for me every day as I am living with my boyfriends grandma. It’s interesting with our personalities, and we make it work. I am reminded of my moms mom, who passed away a few years ago. I do my best to help, to let her do her do things on her own and not to get upset when we dont see eye to eye. I still haven’t mastered how she likes the dishwasher loaded, but I digress.

Today, my dad’s mom, my Gma, who is the last remaining grandparent, took a fall and has broken her hip. She was alone in her house, and the neighbor found her after a few hours, luxky he did as she did not have her alert with her. She is in surgery right this moment. Unfortunately, my Gma doesn’t handle pain meds well. They cause so many side affects for her. She will have a tough recovery. In her 80s and still fiesty, but broken hips are never a hood thing for the elderly.

To my shame, I haven’t made too much effort as of late to reach out and chat with her. We have Facebook messages, and she drops photos of us randomly. We talk for a few minutes on the phone, maybe 4 times a year for holidays and birthdays. I love my Gma, but distance is a hard thing. It’s very out of sight out of mind.

The fall was not a good thing, but it is a hood reminder that time is fading. It is precious, and everyone has a day when the clock stops. If you are one of the lucky that has grandparents take a few minutes to call them, go see them, give them a hug. Keep the fond memories of them close to your heart and maybe go share a few more laughs and smiles. I’m sending prayers and kisses your way, Gma! 😘

Sometimes, the stars just align to have some fun. Have you ever called a friend and asked if they were free right now, and they said yes? Or you just happen to be in the neighborhood, and you can stop by for a quick lunch with a friend or special someone? It’s always good to take advantage when things line up because you never know when your time is up. Enjoying friends and family on the fly is rare and special because sometimes the best of plans fall through.

Last night, I was out running groceries, and I just got it on my brain that I had to call my sister. When I asked her what she was up to, she said they were actually in my neighborhood doing Amazon. My sister and I are queens of side hustles, lol. We both had about 30 minutes on our clock, in the same place, and up for dessert 🍨

We just happened to be craving something sweet, cold, and with summer vibes. There is this little place in a shopping center called Pineapple Park. It has Dole Soft Serve, Thrifty Ice Cream, crepes, and other sweet treats. It took a few minutes to get our order since we weren’t the only ones with dessert on our minds. I got Dole Pineapple and Strawberry 🍓 😋 🍍 and they got a Dole float, and coconut Mango soft serve. To each their own. Website is below if you are in Southern Hills Area Las Vegas lol

https://thepineapplepark.com/

The best parts, other than the tasty treats, were just enjoying the summer night and hanging with my sister and brother in law. We didn’t have anywhere to be. We just sat, ate, and talked about our week, their trucking business, my job, a new Bao place that has opened up. It was just nice to be together and have no expectations of what the time was supposed to be or what activity we were doing. No plans, just there.

You can’t plan impromptu. It just happens. But if you are thinking about someone, give them a call. See what they are up to. Who knows, you might be thinking about the same wine and paint event or both craving Mexican food. Maybe they need to talk but didn’t know who to call. Or maybe you just need a little break from the daily tolls. I do dare you to put out some fun vibes into the universe. Ask the universe to send you a buddy this week and go have some fun. It is summer, after all.

Some days you really just don’t feel like cooking the big fancy “dinner”. Ya know the one that is balanced with protein, carbs, and the correct serving size of green veggies. Not that anything is wrong with popping in a frozen pizza or heating up a microwave meal either. There is absolutely no judgment here.

Tonight, I was trying to find something to cook, and pasta seemed to be the only thing in the cabinet since groceries are coming tomorrow. That just didn’t sound appealing. So, instead, I found a few things to throw together for a skillet. My favorite breakfast minus the eggs. Yep, you read that right. I am not an egg person. Boyfriend says it’s a flaw, but we all can’t be perfect. Lol

It didn’t take me more than 10 minutes to chop and throw it all together. I used 2 potatoes, half a red pepper, and half an onion for the skillet. I have a package of frozen breakfast sausage, so I grabbed a couple of those and threw them in too. I sprinkled them with a bit of garlic, taco seasoning, and some other spices and browned everything up a bit. I just realized I forgot to add some Mexican blend cheese, but it’s OK. Usually, I would have some avocado, but again, I’m waiting on those dang groceries, 😆

Finished up with some buttered toast and a glass of milk. Let me tell you, something so simple just hit the spot. It was a long day, and a quick meal was just what I needed to let the day simmer. And only one dish to wash and put away for an added bonus.

Do you ever get a craving for breakfast instead of the time appropriate meal? My boyfriend craves steak and eggs sometimes. For my sister, it’s pancakes or waffles. Mom just gets out a bowl of cereal sometimes. Share your go-to breakfast for dinner. Or your quick fix meal for a busy or long day. Would love to get more ideas 🙂

No, not the movie, but I would recommend it if you haven’t seen it. It’s a classic. What I am talking about is a work office. I need a work space, and as of right now, I am going to have to make due with half of a loft. One day, I will design a whole office to fit all of my business and crafting needs, but alas, I wait.

Anyway the office is my new project. I found a desk that I like on Amazon. It’s a corner wrap desk, so I can work on two surfaces. Don’t know how you work, but I spread everything out in an organized mess so I can see it all. Need as much room as I can get.

I’ve got a list of the basics like desk organizers, pen holders, and paper trays. Some things I have and some are added to my Amazon order list, too. I will add a few personal touches like a terrarium and some artwork that I have.

If you have ever been to Ikea and walked its office aisles, you have probably seen the boards that I am going to put up. They are simple hole and peg boards, but they are great for organizing little things, hanging pictures or goal boards, etc. When I had my own apartment, I used them to hang my jewelry. I miss having it displayed.

What I don’t have yet is a new laptop, and I am open to suggestions. I need to have a full-size screen so I can see what I am working on, whether it’s my blog, etsy designs, or website. My iPad just doesn’t do it anymore. I’m sure a post about those will follow when I do my research, I’ll let you know if I find some good options.

The office has come about because I have finally gotten some things rolling and can see a path that I want to be on. They are all intertwined and can be achieved if I focus. Creating my office space will help me work on all of them. My space for my goals. I will post as I go, but what does your work space look like? Does it need a refresh? Take some time to make it yours, and who knows what kind of production will come out of it 🙂

Have you ever wanted to be a star on Hollywood Blvd? Have your name in the shiny lights? Live that glamorous life style? I have to say I really haven’t. But I can see the draw to it.

Yesterday we stopped and took a few minutes to do the touristy thing. Yep. We went to downtown L.A. to walk the stars on Hollywood Blvd. We saw the Dolby Theater, the home of the Oscars, and we saw the Chinese theater where they do many movie premiers. Little did we know, there was a movie premier going to be held last night.

As we wandered, we came across the theater and asked why it was all barricaded. DC’s The Flash was going to be there, red carpet and all. Of course, we couldn’t get in to actually see it and the actors on the red carpet, but they had some pre showing activities going on.

The Dj was spinning my kind of music, and there were stops with Flash themed snacks. We played some skeeball and I won a popfunko collectible. Had a choice of Flash or Batman, but going old school Michael Keaton I went with Batman. They had games around and statues to stand with. A bat mobile and last but not least the movie wall lined with the red carpet.

Here we are goofing around in L.A. on Hollywood Blvd.

Overall, it was just a fun opportunity. But it has me wondering if maybe one day I’ll go for a movie of my choice and see some of my favorite actors. Henry Cavill, I’m waiting for your next Red Carpet event!! I’m there, baby!

As promised, I am writing this post from Santa Monica Beach. It’s 64 degrees, cloudy and overcast. Only I could pick a cold day in June to take a summer trip to the beach. But the weather hasn’t stopped us. The whole idea was to come and relax and we have done that.

We stopped down in the middle of Korea Town LA and had a pork soup with rice. Don’t ask me to tell you what the name of the restaurant or the soup was, I couldn’t pronounce it if I tried. But I gotta say it was delicious. They brought out the add ins and sides, kimchi, and radishes. So, so good 👍 😋

We got the beach with our canopy, mats, chairs and not necessary sun screen and we have been relaxing ever since. I took some time to journal and to read and just take in the breeze and the moment. It’s good to just quiet the mind for a while.

Somewhere down the beach is an event. They were saying first place would win 30k. I would say that wouldn’t be a bad way to end a weekend or start a week, depending on your view. There are some people around us that I have been watching too. Well, really, more just observing.

There is a family with a young son, too cold to go in the water, that are making sand castles. Two good girl friends sitting there talking and laughing at what sounds like boy drama. And then sort of to the left behind us is a group of 15 or so people that I think is either a group of college friends or a wedding party. They know how to do it in style with chairs, coolers, huge blankets, and even a corn hole game. #lifegoals lol

We are going to sit here people watching until sunset if we can see it thru the clouds. Just enjoying the cool air, sounds of waves and visitors, people watching, and just the downtime. We will wrap up the day with one of L.A.’s notable taco trucks. It’s kind of a tradition at this point, but who can say no to a taco?

Sadly, not every day can be a day by the beach. I live in Vegas, and the only beach there is Mandalay Bay Beach, which charges even the locals for a visit. I can’t wiggle my toes in the sand every day, but I can get out to do something like take a walk or have lunch outside. Wherever you are, take a break to enjoy the outdoors. It is fantastic for the soul, and I promise you will be refreshed!!

So it’s only going to be an overnight trip, but I am so excited to be going to California tomorrow. A friend and I are headed to Santa Monica, Los Angeles area. We’ve got a hotel for a night and the beach is calling our name.

I take every opportunity I can to travel, by car or plane. Can’t say that I have taken too many trains, but I’ve been on a few. I have road tripped in solo, with family and with groups. There is a different vibe for each one, but here are some of the essentials that don’t seem to change. Not in any particular order but things I’ve learned.

Hands down, comfy clothes. Being in the car for hours, you don’t want to be uncomfortable. Wear the leggings or the baggy t-shirt, basketball shorts and tanks etc. You don’t need to look like you are going to a photoshoot because after hours and sleeping, you will look like a hot mess either way. So be comfy.

Tunes or audios. Solo, I listen to podcasts and some music when the long stretches get tough. With friends, you know I am rocking it to the last 4 decades of music from boy bands to rap to country. Live it up, bounce off the walls, and sing off key. You need the hype.

Cross-country driving. I have traveled this way many times and have always known certain parts of the drive you aren’t going to have that cell phone service you rely on for gps. Take an atlas or a road map. Major highways will run into towns. But when you somehow get turned around on a two lane road somewhere in south Utah having that map to see its 10 miles to an actual highway stops your brain from thinking “and they were never heard from again”.

Snacks. Not just because you want that can of Pringles or that bag of sour skittles. But because you never know if you will get stuck somewhere, in a traffic accident or bad weather and you are on or off the road. Mainly, it’s for survival. You never want to be without food or water. But personally, I grab a Kind Bar, flaming hot cheetos, and a Dr. Pepper.

Water and drinks. There is a fine balance here because you drink too much and you will need a bathroom and that could be hours away. But I have braved the side of the road before, lol. I always take 12 or 24 pk of water for a trip, short or long. Of course, for drinking but also good in emergencies or if your car, for some reason, is out of coolant. Water can be issued in a pinch only if necessary.

Cash. They say cash is king. And some places still only work in cash (very few). You should have some on you in case you need help for any reason. As a back up. For food, shelter, gas, etc. You don’t want to take the chance.

Basic knowledge about your vehicle. You aren’t a mechanic, I know, but knowing about your car is important. I always check my tires, fill my tank, and make sure I have oil in my car before going more than 400 miles out of town. You need to listen to your car, be aware of the normal sounds of your engine, and if something doesn’t sound right, listen.

Dad always taught me to listen to my car. If he didn’t, I would be dead in a ditch. Long story short, I got off the freeway in a small town in Colorado, and when I did, I noticed a strange click. I went to get it checked out and wouldn’t leave until the mechanic found the sound. Turns out my lug nuts on my rear tire were over tightened and snapped the bolts on 3 of 5, causing the tire to wobble, and it would have come off. At the time, I had everything I owned in the Durango. It would have rolled for sure.

Those are a few things to bring along. It’s not meant to scare or deter you from going. It’s meant to help prepare. You should always be prepared for where the road leads and what it brings you. I hope you get out there to see if for yourself. Tomorrow’s post will be from the beach ⛱️ That’s where the road is taking me!

S