Vintage Wedding Dress Fashion Show

Last month, a friend asked if Maddie would like

to be in a vintage wedding dress fashion show

called Unboxed Memories?

Hmmm -- sounds interesting, doesn't it!

Maddie agreed, tried on a dress and we pretty much

forgot about it since it was at least 6 weeks off.

Well, those 6 weeks zipped right by (just like summer break has done)

and last weekend it was time for the

fashion show!

The show was being put on by a local church as a fundraiser

for scholarship money for women.

The chance to wear a pretty wedding dress and help raise

money for women -- that's what I call a win/win situation!

Maddie and Annie -- sneak peek at the beautiful brides
they will be someday far, far off in the future!

Maddie's friend from cheerleading, Annie, was also in the 

fashion show.  The dress Maddie wore was from 1973 - so not terribly 

old or vintage.

 There was also a flapper wedding dress and dresses from 1909, 1912, 1920's, 

1930s and every decade.

They also had a futuristic dress!  

I think I'll stick with vintage!

It was a very popular fundraiser

 (I was surprised by how many people were there)

and I'm sure they collected

a good sum for scholarship purposes.

Definitely not something that was on the bucket list for summer -

but it was a great experience and so fun to have a teensy little

peak at Maddie and Annie as brides way off in the future.

Chicago - Part 2

More on the Chicago girls' trip!

Kennedy, Jodi, me and Maddie

It was a quick weekend jaunt and we now know 

that Chicago is a perfect weekend trip!

Loads to do and see and not too far from home,

so quick flights and no waiting to change planes.

Of course, we could drive too - but that would substantially

lengthen the trip!

Anywhoooo -- back to Chicago fun!

On our first day there, we followed Clark's suggestion 

[Jodi's husband] and headed straight

out the hotel and a quick right to

Stan's Donuts!

Did not disappoint -- I don't know about you, but I always need a 

chocolate donut to get moving!

BIG city - BIG buildings!

Later, after many consults of the map, we 

found our way to the river and hopped aboard

an architectural boat tour down the Chicago river.

So fun and so much to learn!

Plus--riding in a boat sure beats walking!

Boat ride -- doesn't that girl have pretty hair???

Later, we jumped in a water taxi for a ride from Navy Pier

to the Willis Tower.

Bravely, we peered out over the City -- that could 

make a person a little dizzy!

Willis Tower

Since it was getting late and we were wanting to try yet 

another mode of transportation,

we hailed a pedicab back to the hotel!

The pedicab ride was voted everyone's favorite

adventure in Chicago!

Our driver was cute and fun and funny!

Plus, he was quite impressed that I won the 

bicycle championship in Omaha when I was 10 years old!

He also blew through a number of red lights!

No doubt, once he got moving, he didn't want to stop.

It was a Sunday and traffic was fairly light!

LOVED the pedicab ride!

Girl Trip!

I have definitely gotten way behind in blogging

this summer, so I'll be attempting to

catch up a bit here and there

and posts may be out of order!

Trump Tower on the river

A couple weekends ago, M and I took a quick trip to Chicago!

It was a mother/daughter trip and we invited our 

neighbors [the sugar glider neighbors] to go too.

They decided at the last minute to join us!

After arriving mid-afternoon, we made our way to Navy Pier --
one of my favorites places in Chicago!
We talked our neighbors Jodi and Kennedy into
hopping aboard the wave swinger!
It was SO. MUCH. FUN!
I'm not too sure Jodi was convinced and will go on that ride again!
Navy Pier was swinging!

Navy Pier - so beautiful!

We had such a great time!

In addition, the Weather Gods heard my prayers and

we had perfect weather!  Mid-80s and low humidity!

Yippeee!!

Lunch at Bubba Gump

We did all the usual tourist stuff -- Navy Pier,

Architectural Boat Tour, Sears Tower (now Willis Tower),

Shedd Aquarium and, of course,

window shopping along Michigan Avenue!

Fountains at Navy Pier

More to come -- stay tuned!
Happy weekend!!

Tippy Tap!

A couple years ago, after cheer had finished, 

and Maddie was feeling like she had a lot of spare time (!),

she decided to try tap dance lessons!

Our dance studio has a class called Teen Tap so

the dancers were all teenagers and basically at the 

same newbie level!

Recital June 2018

Maddie loved it and came out every week with a red face and a really big smile.

  So much fun and an incredible workout too!

Our studio has big recitals during the even-numbered years.

It's a great way to do recitals as every single year might get to be a

bit much.  They do smaller recitals in the odd-numbered years and

not every dance class performs.

This was the year of the big recital!

The tap classes danced to a song called Faith

from the movie SING.

It was FABULOUS!

Maddie was one of the lead-in tappers -- that's my terminology - basically,

she led the group in on the right side to the performance stage.

She came out with the biggest smile on her face

and did fantastic!  It was so much fun to watch!

While the ballet and jazz and lyrical dances and dancers

were also beautiful -- 

the tap was the most spirited and fun!

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!!

Happy 4th from last year!

Such a momentous holiday and so LOUD!

Recycled the beach photo below from a 2009 summer vacay at Hilton Head.

I need a beach visit soon!

We love to celebrate the 4th of July though it's become

a lot tamer than when the boys were young!

During those noisy years, it seemed like we were

constantly running to the fireworks stands for 

more, more and more supplies!  

Most years we head to the pool for fun

4th activities!  I have been know to think about doing the

biggest splash contest or noodle races, but I generally chicken out!

One year, someone (not saying who) had me try out

for the karaoke contest.  I came in dead last --  but hey,
at least I didn't get booted

out of the contest!

It was after that I realized I'm better at lip synch

than karaoke! 
In other words, don't sing out loud!
I got the message!

Hope you all have loads of fun!

Stay safe!

Happy 4th!