Unpractical Zippin'

I am in love with all things zippers ....

classy ones of course because zippers can get dark!

My liking consist from rings:

To earrings:

AND most of all to dresses:

**Now if I could have this dress, 

that'd be GREAT!!

Photos via FamePictures

Do you love unpractical zippers like me?

Rachel's 9th Birthday Wish

This past Wednesday, there was an awful 14 vehicle pileup on I-90 ....  

An absolute tragedy with a semi, a logging truck, and so many others 

that became the talk of my city for days.

The sweet 9 year old girl attended my church, Eastlake Community Church, and before her tragic death, word spread about her birthday fundraising wish:  She had a campaign to raise $300 for clean water in developing nations instead of giving her birthday gifts.  She was $80 short of her goal, but confidently told her family that she was going to work harder and raise more money for her 10th birthday.  That takes maturity, let alone from a young kid :)  

Her life was ended early here on earth, but her legend will live on because she has touched, inspired, and changed the lives of thousands.  ALL by a sweet 9 year old girl who had hope for the world to help others.

The $220 has skyrocketed to $230,000 and is climbing by the minute.  

“It is something that hits us at our core” said Pastor Meeks.”There is nothing natural about losing a nine-year old girl. But there's something that we’re attracted to, when life, comes out of death.”

Rachel started with drops of water that will quench the thirst of millions around the world.  Click here for Rachel's MyCharity Campaign.
The Lord works in mysterious ways, does He not!

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."  Hebrews 11:1

The Sun Showed Up!

Seattle is currently home of the 78 minute summer .... Quite depressing when you think about it.  So far in 2011, there has been 78 minutes of 78 degree + weather.  How is that possible?  BUT, I will take it to not deal with the 100 degree weather in TX like my poor family.  Too hot, too hot!

Gabe and I had a lovely date night at Chateau Ste Michelle Friday night doing a reserve wine tasting with three couples --- What an experience. We are by no means wine connoisseurs, but are developing our palates one tasting at a time!

Saturday was filled will a day at the pool.  Perfection.

Then shopping at Uvillage and dinner at Sonrisa Modern Mex.

Nom nom nom :)  This was Gabe's enchilada.  Pretty right?

AND, I spilled an entire margarita on the rocks IN MY LAP, kurplunk (sp)!

Sunday was the absolute best.  We played hooky from church and jetted up north to Oak Harbor, WA  to go to Deception Pass.  Oh heaven on earth this place is fabulous.  If you visit Seattle, make the drive up here.  

I'll let the photos speak for me!!

Then, we were hungry hikers and made our way to Sweet D's Shrimp Shack.  It was a fun drive-up restaurant that had been there since 1904.  I had popcorn shrimp (yum) and Gabe ate an Oyster Burger (I'm not an oyster gal' but he devoured it).  Check this place out if you live in the area!

The owner treated us to huge local prawns :)  What a treat!

I let Gabe work for those lil' guys ...

Seattle decided to cooperate and produce a weekend with lots of sun.  

So we accounted for lots of time outdoors to soak it in :)

Hope your weekend was filled with love!

Scentsy Winner

Simply Sara -- CONGRATS girl
on winning the Charity Warming Plate and Bar!!!

And for those of you that want to take advantage of snagging
a warmer from Jessica, you can contact her here!

Still can't figure out how to add the widget, how can it be this hard!

Winner will have 48 hours to confirm their win 

or a new person will be chosen.

Auntie Love

I have to brag for just a minute ....

How did I get so lucky with the cutest niece and most handsome nephew!!!

I miss these two punkin' heads and am thankful for FaceTime 

as I get to see them a little more often as they live in TX!

Ohh that smell!

The inlaws just got into town, so I am going to be MIA this next week but I am excited to share that I have a giveaway for all of you readers to keep you busy while I am away ... YAY YAY!

My newest sponsor, Jessica from Gracie Rae is a Scentsy gal and so generously gave me a fabulous product from the Scentsy line that is creating a perfect aroma for my visitors -- What's better than a yummy smell that isn't overwhelming throughout the house!

I picked the Sweet Pea and Vanilla bar, but my goodness be sure to get the Peach a la Mode .... as it it's hands down the best and was the June Scent of the Month!  You put 1-2 cubes in the warming plate, turn it on, and then the cubes melt.  Then, when you turn the warmer off, the wax hardens until you turn it back on again - genius!

To enter this giveaway and win the Charity Warming Plate PLUS Bar:

1.  Leave a comment of the smell that makes you the happiest!

2.  "Like" Jessica's Scentsy Facebook Page

3.  Become a follower of Gracie Rae's blog

Good luck - You have until July 20th at 10pm PST to enter!
I will use Random.Org to generate the winner.

Traveling Magee

It feels like we have been on the go and haven't had a second to breathe.  Our most recent adventure was to Crescent Bar with an incredible group of friends.  I must say it was one of my most fun weekend getaways because everyone had so much in common and everyone got along perfectly.  I love that the vacation spot is just shy of 3 hours away, east of Seattle where it get much warmer, and a perfect spot where you feel far, far, far, away.  20 of us filled a 3 bedroom place with air-mattresses everywhere.  I will let the photos document the weekend for me :)

Huge thanks to the Bauer's!!!!!
We had a blast!

Ohh Willy

How spoiled rotten is my dog!?  I look over, and Willis nonchalantly has his head resting peacefully on the pillow like a human.  Ohhhhh the joys that my two pups bring to my day!

Happy Friday readers ;)

Orange Beach, AL

I took on the task for the Smith's of finding a house for a summer getaway, and VRBO (Vacation Rental By Owner) made it easy breezy.  Have ya'll used this site before?  If not, I highly recommend it.  We got so lucky with a house to hold us all comfortably, in a gated community, and just 2 miles outside of Orange Beach.  We thought tourism was down as we had a private beach and the restaurants right down the road weren't packed during prime summer, and we found out on the second or third day that we were on the outskirt of the craziness.  This ended up being a huge blessing since we didn't have to deal with the crowds.

Speaking of crowds and after driving into Orange Beach .... I learned quickly that LA, also known as Lower Alabama, for the southerners is a hot spot for family vacations.  And, I must say Orange Beach was a hit with ours as well.  Gabe spent many years vacationing at Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach was the next city over which I didn't even know when planning the trip.  Thanks to Facebook and people who recently vacationed there for the recommendation :)

My sister in law and me jetting off to the beach after arriving!

Dinner at Sea - N - Suds

The Smith-Gill Family

The Shelton's-Smith's

Dallas Smith's and Seattle Smith's :)

WimbleSmith Matchup with not a cloud in the sky and layers of SPF

We heard all about Lulu's in Gulf Shores (Jimmy Buffet's sisters restaurant) and there was a 2hr wait for dinner, so we came back the following day for a wee-bit shorter wait of 1hr.  

Jam sessions as they are a musically talented group!

My mother in law, Robin -- Live music @ Tacky Jacks

Jason and Gabe

Overall, the Smith Family is already looking forward to a summer trip again next summer.  Except this time next year, we will have a 7 mth old nephew with us as my brother and sister in law are preggers - Yay Yay!