Category: As blogged by Suz

Where The Weekend Went: Early To Bed, Aqua Cleaning, Multitasking And Again, My Poor Feet.

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz26 Comments

Hello, it’s me.

For your viewing pleasure: some orchids I found in the yard this weekend. To be clear, they weren’t hiding, but I don’t always know where or when they are gonna bloom.

The Coach was home the entire weekend. That is a first in months; he spent most of it finalizing plans for a Veterans Charity Event coming up in a few weeks and tackling a few honey-do’s.

We resumed our Friday Date Night. I made a reservation on Open Table for a place not too far from us for 6pm. We departed our home at 5:45 and we were back home at 6:58. Our dinner was lovely, but getting home at that time on a Friday night must mean we are steps away from the hereafter. No?

I’m definitely not on The Cocaine. I can’t even have iced tea after 2pm.

Getting home early meant we could finish the last episode of Ozark. I have issues watching shows like that too close to bedtime; they get me riled up and I can’t sleep. I was happy to end Ozark; I’ve had it up to here *reaches for the sky* with Wendy and Marty making bad decisions, and usually against each other. If it sounds like fictional characters were stressing me out, it’s because they were.

Photo of a male monarch I released on Saturday where zero stressing was involved.

If you had the inkling that my life is all glitz and glam (that always ends by 8pm), it is not. I spent a good portion of my weekend pulling weeds, trimming plants, planting plants and spreading bags of mulch. While wearing my flip flops, of course. When it was time to cool off, I went in the pool. Did I relax in said pool? You bet your sweet biscuits I didn’t. Our beautiful newly installed glass tile has calcium buildup/haze around the water features and the entire waterline.

*sigh* Do we have anything that is low maintenance?

The answer is NO.

That ain’t pretty.

I started the cleaning process in the shallow end last week with CLR and a scrub brush. It was taking more chemicals and elbow grease than I was comfortable with. So on Friday I went to the pool supply place and purchased a chemical spray MADE for just this situation and a large pumice stone.

Again, lots of elbow grease and by this time my toes were raw from the rough ass pool floor. *raises fists in the air wishing our pool contractor a lifetime of cold sores*

Have you ever tried to clean with a chemical spray in one hand and a scrub brush or pumice in the other WHILE TREADING WATER? That my friends should be an olympic sport.

Finally a few of my brain cells actually connected long enough for me to have an AH HA moment whist almost drowning in the deep end; I remembered I had some of these:

AQUA SADDLES: YEE HAW

What a life and toe saver.

I’m not sure that my toes will ever be the same; it might be too late. If I had to do a Toe {finger} Print, I’d be doomed. I ordered some water socks for my pool time in the future as I try to do some water aerobics whilst in there between cleanings.

Why can’t I just DO ONE THING? Multitasking is a disease and I need a Dr. ASAP.

Spacey dude…now my feet tan lines are going to even weirder.

Nance, are you happy I covered my tootsies?

Are we the only ones who are having dinner earlier and earlier? Pretty soon we’ll be at Morrisons Cafeteria for their 4pm early bird special and cramming free crackers in my purse.

Do any of you remember going to an event that started after 8pm? I know we did, but now? Being out after 8pm wearing clothes and being pleasant towards other humans, well, that sounds like torture.

XOXO

Weird Tan Lines and Perhaps An Intervention Is In My Future.

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz34 Comments

Me standing in front of the entire World Wide Web:

My Name is Suzanne and I’m addicted to Vionic Flip Flops.

That entire top row is the same shoe, just a different color. I also have a pair in my car. A few pairs at our rental condo and about 7 pairs in GA. I believe I am solely responsible for Vionic being in business.

I know there are people on the planet who loathe flip flops. That might be you. But if it is you, then you don’t live in Florida and you don’t suffer with arch issues or plantar fasciitis.

I lived with terrible hip, knee and ankle pain thinking I was going to die, until a Dr. (the fourth one) in 1995 stated that I had ‘fallen arches’.

My Arches after Suz gaining of 50lbs with pregnancy:

HELP, I’VE FALLEN AND I CAN’T GET UP

That particular Dr. prescribed a pair of custom made orthotics and they SAVED MY LIFE. I still have them today (26 yrs) and wear them in my athletic shoes.

It wasn’t until many, many years later that Vionic (and a few other brands) started making shoes with arch support and I could again wear cute shoes without pain.

So what did I do? I supported the entire &^%$#@+ industry, that’s what I did.

I LOVE my Vionic Tide flip flops. I put them on as soon as I fall roll out of bed; you’ll never catch me barefoot. Walking barefoot is painful.

People say: They’re so expensive!

I know. I agree.

But you know what else is expensive? Having my feet transplanted. That is super expensive and I believe unheard of.

FLORIDA PROBLEMS

It was all fun and games until Vionic came out with this new super cute sandal that I just needed to add to my collection. I was SO excited to have something comfortable and different in my arsenal.

The only issue?

My tan lines don’t match up.

Do I need to start wearing sunscreen on my feet? Or start a self tanning foot regiment?

I’m perplexed.

I would give my left middle finger (the effed up one) to be able to wear flat shoes or *hold me from fainting* stylish high heels without wanting to jump off a bridge, but that part of my life was over in my late 20’s.

*Vionic has come out with a few pair of cute heels that are doable for a short time. I wore a pair to Lolo’s wedding, but when the dancing commenced, you bet your sweet azz I was wearing my flip flops!*

Do you have issues with your feet? Or should I hate you for the fact that you can wear anything OR go barefoot?

XOXO

My Day To Shine, I Just Wish It Wasn’t In My Eyes And Enjoying A Dirty Bird or Three.

On By SuzIn As blogged by Suz30 Comments

I had a lovely Mother’s Day weekend. Lolo was scheduled to work, but had sustained a work/training injury which stinks, but she was at least able to join us on Sunday. {She’s on the mend} Lindsay and I had scheduled Saturday afternoon together doing something fun and creative at AR Workshop. I’d never been to one of these workshops before but I’ve seen friends who created wood stuff like this:

Honestly, it wasn’t looking like my vibe. I’m not into painted wood, things with our names on them, the phrase “Live, Laugh, Love” makes me want to shank someone and don’t get me started on lazy Susans; it’s offensive to all Susans and especially someone who is often referred to as Susan.

But they offered a chunky knit blanket class and I’m all about chunky and blankets.

It took us three hours to create these ONE OF A KIND blankets by hand. We had a lot of fun; there were only five of us total in the class and there was much laughter.

When we finished the child lady who owns this particular franchise said: Let’s go outside where there is GOOD light for a photo.

Um, Linds and I can hardly keep our light colored eyes open in NOT GOOD LIGHT; it was much too bright. Linds was able to fight through it for at least one pic, I could not. To quote my daughter: “You look like someone stepped on your foot”. Hence the blurring out of my pained face.

Do you think we could see them for hundreds of dollars since they are ONE OF A KIND? Prolly not.

Afterwards we had a lovely lunch at Olive Garden of Soup, Salad and Breadsticks MINUS olives because gross.

Guess who loves my blanket as much as I do?

On Sunday we met for lunch at our Marina. It’s always a delightful meal with lots of laughter when we’re all together. I appreciated the fact that Lauren and Nathan drove an hour and a half to be there.

Wait. What? Is that an extra human in our family pic?

My girls always make me feel special, but on Mother’s Day, I feel EXTRA special.

I tell them not to buy me prezzies; just your TIME, undying love and a card is all I require. Lolo {ironically} broke the law with this mug and it filled my heart with all sorts of sassy love.

I can’t think of a better way to start my day other than with a mug full of innuendos.

Amiright or amiright?

Have you been to an AR Workshop? When we were there, the creative wood stuff didn’t look nearly as cheesy as it did online. But you’ll never convince me to have “Live, Love, Laugh” written anywhere in my home.

XOXO