red rocks

i want to share red rocks first

since it was my favorite part of colorado.

ronnie and i rode out there in the morning.

i just wanted to see it before it was packed with people that night. 

i guess since i'd been waiting forever

i wanted my own moment.

it was awesome and we got some cool pictures

but being there at night with the rocks glowing in the lights

while the band is playing, the stage is lit and you can see the stars;

that's REALLY the moment.

mark foster (of foster the people) said:

i've been looking forward to this before we ever scheduled our tour.

red rocks is what every artist looks forward to.

it looks like God took both hands and thrust them up through the earth.

i couldn't agree more.

the two side rocks of the ampitheater are called ship rock and creation rock.

it's definitely a special place.

ronnie and i had an amazing time at the concert.

kimbra, mayer hawthorne and foster the people 

were the perfect pairing with the rocks.

it's something i won't forget.

surprise, surprise, surprise... happy birthday!

mr. ronaldo turned 33 over the weekend

and drug my ass camping in 107 degree weather.

i kept trying to explain that i don't complain (as much)

if we would go camping in the fall.

no one listens.

so although there wasn't singing, balloons and presents

there was a cake.

i figured it was the least i could do,

and while my bday cake would consist of

chocolate, peanut butter and marshmallow fluff

ronnie wants fruit.

so i found this recipe off pinterest,

blueberry pie bars:

crust

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3 sticks butter, chilled

fruit filling

• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups sugar
• 1 cup sour cream
• 3/4 cup flour
• pinch salt
• zest of lemon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups blueberries
• 2 cups blueberry pie filling 

to make the crust and topping, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

combine the flour, sugar, and salt.  mix.  cut the butter into 1/2-inch cubes and add to the flour mixture.  mix until the butter is evenly distributed but the mixture is still crumbly.
reserve 1 1/2 cups of the mixture to use as the topping.  press the remaining mixture into the bottom of the pan and bake 12-15 minutes.  cool for at least 10 minutes.

to make the filling, whisk the eggs in a large bowl, then add the sugar, sour cream, flour, salt, lemon zest, and vanilla extract. pour the berry mixture over the crust.  sprinkle the remaining crust mixture evenly over the filling, and bake for 55 minutes.

happy birthday to my mister!

ps- did anyone get the cinderella reference in the title?  oh gus gus.

lights out

what happens when i switch getting our electric bill from paper to online statements and don't tell ronnie?

answer: we don't pay our bill for two months and get a notice that they will be turning off the power next week.

let's just say ronnie went nuts. 

oops.

it was also a little more than embarrassing when i called to make the payment over the phone and the lady ask if i was sure i could afford to pay the whole thing off at one time.  she really wanted me to consider only making a partial payment so as not to stress our other financial obligations. 

i felt poor. 

and hated life. 

 

photography lessons

when you vacation with only one other person,

you run into a problem:

the awkward photo

and basically you're left with three options.

a) the "ask a stranger to take your picture" pic

b) the "buy a cheesy $15 professional photo" pic

c) the "arm outstretched trying to take your own" pic

ronnie and i mastered all three.

don't be jealous.

royally hot

we went to our first royals games this season

and picked the hottest day of the freaking year.

1:10 on a sunday with a 107 degree heat index.

oh and we took/tortured a poor kid too.

ronnie's nephew, tyler, had never been to a game

so we thought it would be a good birthday present.

i think he enjoyed all the "family fun day" activities

at kauffman, but the extreme heat was a bit much for him.

i kept refilling water bottles:

two to drink and one to dump over tyler's head.

we lasted until the bottom of the 8th,

but once the royals started royally losing

and we were drenched in our own sweat,

we called it a day and headed home.

happy freaking birthday.

dang it.

and i thought it was going to be so cool.

27 dresses

i bought a new outfit.

and even though i have a closet filled with dresses,

i thought i needed another one.

it was too cute and too on sale not to buy.

that's what i told ronnie.

the dress.

the purse.

the shoes.

i loved everything.

thank you dorothy perkins, charming charlie, and dsw.

now i just need ronnie to build me a walk-in closet. 

someone tell him to get on that.  



t.u.r.n.e.r.

ahhh the turners.

there's something to that name.

and yes, i wish it were still mine.

so over the weekend ronnie and i made the treck

to the lake of the ozarks

to spend a few quality days with all the other turners.

our first family reunion.

and the first time i've seen some of these people in 10 years.

we had fun.

 we met up at shorty pants - a restaurant bar on the lake,

where i had the most amazing shrimp po boy ever.

ever.

i mean it.

the next morning we split up.

some went shopping at the outlet mall.

others went to the pool.

isn't madeline adorable?

that afternoon we all met up again at my cousin's house

and lined up for family photos.

first, the original turners.

my aunt, uncle and dad (with spouses)

and their kids.

brian and i, connie and melinda, and doug. 

we're only missing chris.

notice doug?

my brother is 6'2 and clearly looking short in this pic.

doug is about 7'1.

holy mother, right?

and then our kids.

(not mine, obvi)

you can see the age range.

two to eighteen.

we spent the days drinking/eating/playing games and catching up.

it was fun and i hope we don't have to wait another 10 years to do it again.

 the next morning we took dad out for breakfast for father's day.

and then headed home.

it was relaxing.

and wah la.

my weekend in pictures.