In The Good Old Summer Time

Look what we found at our family get together: a kid friendly tubing river.  My girls had a blast.  It was fun to get together and also to let them float down something safe.  What fun things are you doing to beat the heat?  Some of our favorites include running through our sprinkler, ice cream, Popsicles, bike rides, sleeping in, wearing hats, snow cones, and eating dinner outside.  I am so sad that we have less than four weeks until we are back in school.  Bummer.  Ok, maybe then I will be able to finish a few of my projects!!!

Also...

I found this and think it would be fun.

run like a girl retreat.com

August 11-13, 2011 women's only running retreat will be hosted by the Zermatt Resort in Midway, Utah. Nestled in the mountains, it provides a sweet escape from the bustle of everyday life with ideal routes for runners. Participants will learn to train smarter at the feet of local running elite. You'll walk (or run) away with a personal regimen designed to help you take your fitness to the next level. Then you can put your learning to the test by running the race on Saturday! Whether you have just started running, or you have been running for years, this event is for ALL skill levels! Choose between a whole weekend or just coming to run the race.

Retreat includes:

* Access to all day event Thursday thru Saturday

* Chance to learn from the best on how to increase performance
 * Learn how to run faster and more efficiently
 * Participate in group runs during the day Friday
 * Entry to 5k or 10k race (plus race t-shirt)
 * Free entry into the yoga, plilates, and Zumba classes
 * Retreat T-shirt

(totally stylish! You'll have a hard time NOT wearing this around!)
 * Also includes snacks & one meal during the event
 * Includes KILLER swag bag. We'd tell ya, but then there'd be no surprises. What's the fun in that?
 * Most Importantly...A GIRLS WEEKEND OUT WITH YOUR FAVORITE LADIES DOING WHAT YOU LOVE!

Upcycled Flip Flops

Remember this?

Well, look what I found around E's neck!  So creative.

She made a necklace all on her own from the original flip flop straps!

Quick!

Remember this post?

The ebook The Key to Taking Pictures Like a Professional Photographer by Katie Evans will be increasing in price on August 1st, 2011. If you've been on the fence about buying the book now is a great time to head over to the website: thekeytotakingpictures.com and buy now!
The cost is only $16.95...but not for long. :)

Zenni Optical

This post brought to you by Zenni Optical. All opinions are 100% mine.

Check this out.  I just found a great deal on prescription glasses and a fun way to "try them on." 

Zenni Optical. 

Prices start out at $6.95.  Their interactive website allows you to try out their glasses to see how they look on you.  You can get there by clicking on the link above.  Once your on their site you can upload a photo of yourself, your children or anyone you want, pick a pair of  frames, and click the "try on" button.  You will be able to see how the frames look on you before you purchase them.  So fun!  Try as many frames as you like.  They carry hundreds of different frames from $6.95 to $49.95 plus shipping.  Select your prescription type, frame style, shape, and color.  All glasses include FREE anti-scratch coating, 1.50 or thin and light 1.57 index single vision lens, full UV protection, protective case, and microfiber cleansing cloth.

Shipping for your entire order is just $4.95 for orders within the United States and $9.95 for international orders.  Most US orders are delivered in 7-14 days.

 It is really easy to order, all you need is an up-to-date prescription from an optometrist or ophthalmologist.  It is also helpful to have your PD (pupillary distance measurements).

Check out their great deals.  Think about what would you could do with the extra money that you are saving on glasses.

Zenni Optical was mentioned in Time magazine

 Check out this post from a US solider serving in Afghanistan: blog.zennioptical.com. 

Another Pair of Flip Flops

I love flip flops.  In fact, I have a pretty mean flip flop tan line.  My one rule with flip flops is that they have to be comfortable.  I love my flip flops but when I found this pic on Pintrest I had to try them. 

If I hated them I was only out a few dollars!

I love them.  Super comfy.  I want to make a pair in every color. 

I went pretty conservative and didn't add the flower.

Thanks to The Mother Huddle for the great tutorial!

Play Room

Welcome to our play room!!!

This has been quite a project and we are finally done and ready to play.

Side note:  My girls always end up together at night so we moved them into the same room and now use M's room as a play room.  The tree on the wall matched her bedding {it was painted freehand by me and my friend, Jen C}.

I didn't want to paint over it so we left it.

They now play in there for hours and LOVE IT!  I do, too!

 I spray painted this piece of metal {found at Home Depot} and hung it on the wall to hang the kids' art work!  I purposely hung it high enough

that my girls couldn't reach it so that their art wouldn't get ruined.

My dad made these STRONG magnets.  Super neat.

I found this frame at a thrift store, removed the glass

and lovely picture, and spray painted it white.

I LOVE SPRAY PAINT!

I found this darling owl at the Quilted Bear {Craft Boutique}

and hung him with my favorite things.

 

 View: Left Wall

 View: Right Wall

I wanted a little more pink so I took embroidery floss and pink circle stickers and added some decoration to the ceiling.  I used two dots for

every dot and sandwiched the floss in the middle of them. 

 I love how it turned out.

I used clear push pins, wrapped the floss around them, and

pushed them into the area where the wall and ceiling meet.

*So far it has held up great. 

 



The desk was a gift.  The girls use it all the time for playing and coloring.

Our beanbag is from Target.

It makes a great spot to read! 

Thanks for visiting today - stop by again and play.

Most of the time the playroom looks like this!!!

 I love having all the toys in one room and that I can just close the door!

Summer Treat

I found a great treat this week.

It sounds so weird but you are going to love it.

It is both sweet and salty.  My fav!

Pretty much all you need to do is get a few of your favorite

treats and put them in a bowl.

I used pretzels, Teddy Grahams, Wheat Thins Stix, mini Oreos, Swedish Fish, gummi bears, M&M's and gummi worms.  You can add anything you want.

Mix and enjoy! 

Super Delish!

Another Skirt?

Look at this cute skirt that I found at

2giggleboxes.blogspot.com

I love it.

I want to make some for my girls.

Football season is on its way and this would be so cute in UTAH RED!!!

Sorry, no blue here! 

Also look under her "things I've made" category for darling, new ideas.

I also found this tutorial for a hooded towel that I want to make.

So Cute!

We Made It!

We have officially made it through the 3 crazy weeks of of post-tonsillectomy.  E had a rough time for the first 2 weeks and just barely started feeling better.  It was miserable for her.  I felt so bad.  She didn't want to take her medication until the pain got to be more than she could handle.  She finally learned that it really worked.  Thank goodness for good medication.  She was a different girl because of it.  So E is officially back to feeling like her same ol' self. 

Sorry for the gross pic but I love what this book has taught me!!!

Toad

Last Thursday I was lucky enough to go with my friend, Jen, to the Toad The Wet Sprocket concert.  We had a blast.  I felt like I was back in high school.  The concert was at the Galivan Center {outside}.  It was a little rainy but so perfect.  We were able to be front and center, about three rows back, next to a crazy drunk guy.  After the concert we were able to stalk meet the band!   

Jen {and her cute hat} with David Wertz.  He was cool. 

So Fun! 

Us and the opening band, David Wertz

Jen, Randy Guss, and Me 

Dean Dinnin, Jen, Me, and Todd Nichols 

We can't remember what his name is!  Sorry.  He was so nice and funny.  We took a picture and then had to go back for another because it was blurry.  He probably thought we were crazy.  Ok, maybe we are but we had a blast. 

Me, Glen Phillips, and Jen

Sorry Jen, he likes me more!!!  inside joke {he has his arm around me}

Thanks Jen, I had a blast!

Neat Paint Project

I love to paint.  When I find a new technique I have to share. 

I found this at sawdustandembryos.com

She painted her walls with flat paint then bought the

same color in high gloss for the swirls.

Great idea.  Check out her blog for more great DIY projects. 

I Love You Because....

I LOVE this idea.  I am so doing this for my family.

Write on the glass with a dry erase marker to change out the reason why you love them!

Prints can be found here.  Kiki now has a new print.

Super cute.

Feathers Anyone?

If you like feathers you can find them at Elli Jayne {my etsy shop}

If you live in northern Utah and want to save on shipping email me at

danggoodfinds{at)gmail{dot}com and we can meet up!

Ragnar Relay

In the middle of June the Mr. and I were able to run in the Ragnar Relay Wasatch Back with my two sisters and their husbands.  What is Ragnar?  Well, it's pretty crazy I and I keep coming back for more.  It's a relay style race with teams of up to 12 people.  You pick a team name (some teams wear crazy outfits) and you run for about 31 hours.  Of course you don't run the whole time but you don't get a lot of sleep.  There are two vans per team with 6 people each (Van 1 & Van 2).  Van 1 starts the race and each person runs their leg of the race (6 legs).  Then Van 2 takes over and Van 1 rests!!!  Repeat this with three times.  This means that each team member runs 3 times (each leg is anywhere from 3 to 9 miles) within about a 31 hour period.  The atmosphere is so fun and, if you have a great van, (which we did - thanks guys) then it is a blast.  Staying up late and laughing until it hurts is why we love Ragnar.  This is our Wasatch Back experience...

LEG 1- our girls got to come and cheer us on!

They loved it.

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa too, who were GREAT SUPPORTERS!

 I LOVE this pic of E and my mom in the back of our new ride!

LEG 2

LEG 3

RAGNAR HILL- I am not doing this leg again, it is killer

Notice we got Dad to participate.  I think he LOVED it.

Next year he is running a leg!!!

Red rover, red rover, send Heidi right over!

YAHOO, we finished!!!

What a fun race.  Thanks fam for such a great time.  Can't wait to do it again!

We found this idea when we ran the Vegas Ragnar and it worked awesome!!!

On the left is our bags (which we don't need until we stop for a shower) which are buried.  Then our water jug in front.  I love this idea because we didn't have half full water bottles all over our van.  Everyone brought their own empty water bottle and we keep refilling them.  Then the 6 drawers.  This is where each runner puts their stuff that they need to run; each outfit (in a gallon sized zip lock bag, shoes, socks, vest, light, Garmin, ipod, lip gloss, etc.  That way when if you need it you don't have to search all over the van for your stuff.  Our food:  We had a 2 coolers and a box for our dry food.  We had a few blankets and pillows in the front of the van.  We took the rest of our stuff we to where we were staying (thanks Cap for letting us crash) the day before.  If we were doing the Las Vegas Ragnar Relay we would have to use a cargo bin on the top of our vehicle to hold all of that stuff.

We found that this organization worked great for us. 

Range Rats 2011- So Fun!

This information is for me but you are free to use it because it is useful.

Car: water jug, 6 drawers, 2 coolers, container for dry food, garbage bags, baby wipes, stinky towel to sit on.

Food: sandwiches (at least 2 for everyone, and we loved the "Flat Ones" and also "regular bread"), pretzels, beef jerky, gum, carrots, peas, ranch dip, ranch rice cakes, grapes, oranges, bananas, string cheese, chocolate milk, Cytomax, chocolate popcorn, oreos, and peanut butter.  We didn't need to take breakfast but don't forget this if there is no where to stop to load up on carbs.

Clothes: team shirt, reflective vest, butt light, head light, water bottle, running shoes, flip flops, 3 pairs of socks, 3 different clothes to run in, hat/visor, and cold weather clothes.

Extras: money, camera, toothpaste/toothbrush, deordorant, shower stuff, sleeping stuff, sunscreen, phone/charger, ipod, Garmin/charger, race bible, and a cowbell or noisemakers.

We also found these Crayola Window Crayons were awsome for decoratating our vans.  No mess like the window markers make and you can do details like eyes for stick people. Thanks Missy G for the crayons.

TIPS:  *Elevate your legs as much as you can while you wait for your next leg.

*Have good music - if you like to run with music. It will help you run faster and farther.

*Use the bathroom.  Don't hold it.  It will kill your bladder.

*Eat your pre and post run meals.  These are crucial.  Don't eat a lot of junk or you will feel like crap.  Don't get caught thinking, "I will be running my buns off so I can eat whatever I want".  Junk is not fuel.

*HAVE FUN and Don't stress the little things.

Sundy Quiet Books

Hope you had a great 4th of July Weekend.  We sure did!

Over the weekend I did some projects from my "want to do list".

This is one of the projects and I am so excited to share it with you...

Sunday Quiet Books for my girls

{These pictured are not mine, I went simple and did plain black binders},

Here is where I found the idea... {love this blog}

I Am Momma Hear Me Roar

I can't wait for next Sunday to try them out!

Pick Your Plum = FREE

Look what I found over at

 

Pick Your Plum...

Red, White, and FREE!

*This is good for the whole weekend!

Happy 4th of July!!!