Last Weekend

This past weekend was a blast! Even though I was post-endoscopy and missed all of Friday night I was still able to enjoy the rest of the weekend. Saturday morning after I got home from work we jumped in the car and headed with our guests, The Eckles, to Tortilla Flats, AZ.

Tortilla Flats is a grand place... building.

You see, Pat has refused to take me there for the last 3 years because it is his job to drive that route on a weekly basis. (Ask me to go to the mall I work at and I will happily join you). So, finally we had guests here that wanted to sight-see and, finally, he could no refuse me! We drove the winding road to Canyon Lake and then Tortilla Flats.

First stop: Deep Valley/Car Dump

When Joe decided to pull over to look at a ravine I jumped out of the back seat like the car was on fire. You have no idea how grateful I was for this stop. I am prone to get very car sick, and I was still reeling from my very recent stomach violation, so this car sickness was not a surprise on this trip. I mean, I WAS in the back seat and all.

Second stop: Canyon Lake

 

This is a little lake made from the SRP dams, but damn it is nice to see water, even if it is lukewarm. (BTW we totally have our pose down right?)

Third stop: Back SRP Road
 

 

On the secret back road to the SRP dam you can only go so far on via car. But, we were with an experienced driver who knew how to navigate the tricky roads. Until we got to the "No trespassing" sign. So what did we do? We drove back a few 100 yards and we got out and walked. On our journey to see this "river" Pat told us about, we saw countless jumping cholla and snake holes. No snakes though, thank God. Michelle was wearing flip-flops and was a champ navigating the rocky terrain. (I did not mean to have this be a black and white photo when it was taken, but it looks pretty epic, no?)

Finally: Tortilla Flats, AZ

I forgot to take a picture of the restaurant so...   via

 

When we arrived I was sure there would be a little bit of a wait, so I ran to the bathroom. I walked in, and, to my dismay, there were only half doors, and these doors had provocatively dressed ol' time Western Women's' bodies painted on them. You know, so you can pose and it looks like it is your body with your head. Really, you can imagine my surprise when a little old Amish woman popped her head up when I tried opening her stall door. How the heck are you supposed to know someone is in there for cryin' out loud!? She giggled, I blushed and we went on our way. By the time I got back to the group to tell my tale, we were ready to be seated.
We were seated in a stuffy back part of the restaurant and the folks behind us forgot to wear their deodorant. (Not that I am one to talk, but I don't stink... I don't think). The food was good enough for 4 starving people and the beer was served in mason jars. That automatically adds another star, right?  There was money from all over the world covering EVERY inch of that restaurant, other than the floor. The thought was there to take a dollar or two, but the karmic retribution would be too much I am sure!

All in all, it was a great weekend full of wine, laughter and corn hole.

Le Pergola!

Day One:

Before

Hole Digging

Mr. Haire wins an award (to be determined) for digging these holes on his own. They are 2 feet deep and that is AZ soil you see. Basically concrete. 

Posts are in! 

(note: my cement carving did not last the next morning)

Day Two: The Dudes Arrive

Tools with Coffee...

These guys rocked that pergola. Pat almost lost a thumb to Richie's drill, but there was nothing but laughter, advice and good ol' chummin' that happens when hungover guys start on a project together.

Working hard for their beer

Mad props to Jackie and Megs for coming over and helping me make MASSIVE sandwiches for the guys, and helping me supervise and drink some booze. 'Cuz that's what you do on a Saturday afternoon at the Casa de Haire. 

Tools with Beer...

I am so thankful to have friends that will come over, kick some major lumber ace for a sandwich and beer. I hope we can repay everyone that helped with a similar act of kindness! Watts, your next!

Hallo-weenie

Somehow in my life I have surrounded myself with folks that love to get the crap scared out of them. They go to scary movies and laugh "because there hasn't been a scary movie created since The Ring." Mr. Haire has to go on Scary Movie dates with the neighbors and I stay at home and watch Notting Hill or The Wedding Date.

To them, Halloween is all about scary movies, haunted houses, and saying "Bloody Mary" in front of the mirror with the lights off. Well that last bit might be an exaggeration. But to me, Halloween is all about wearing a colorful wig while passing candy out to the Trick-or-Treaters, carving pumpkins and wearing my scary ghost socks and pajama pants while watching the Today Show Halloween specials. I am such a skirrdy cat that I am afraid to look at some of my favorite blogs. For example, CromeYellow has posted their 11 Must Watch Halloween Movies List. So if that is your thing, take their advice, they are experts. If you are looking for something a little more mild, my Halloween movies include:

• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Hocus Pocus
• The Frighteners
• The Craft
• The Others

Now, I know those may not be considered scary, but they are the ones I know won't give me nightmares. At least they haven't in the past. How Mr. Haire ending up with such a weenie I don't know, but I just don't do scary!

Here are some pictures from our Pumpkin Carving session with our neighbors and dear friends "The Kims."

Mine is the happy one in the back.

(pictures from Mrs. B. Kim)

I hope everyone has a happy and safe Halloween, and I really hope you don't find your Happy Pumpkins smashed in the road Tuesday Morning!

The "mis-matched" bridesmaids

Pros:

• Each girl finds a fit she is comfortable and confident in- we all have different bodies, how could one dress be flattering on every girl? 

• Each girl gets a color she looks best in (within a range)
• Makes your wedding more personal
• The gals can do something to match your wedding theme too! Vintage, cocktail, modern, the options are endless! (My girls went for a garden-vintage theme)
• If your gals are scattered across the states like mine were, they don't have to worry about which store they can get THE dress at, and which dye lot was used, is the right dress going to come in at all? Etc.
• It can be in their price range. There is nothing worse than have to make your friends charge for your day. 
• They just might wear that dress again!

Cons:

• It can really stress your girls out picking out the right dress. The pressure is on them instead of you, and sometimes your gals may just rather you pick for them. Talk to them to see if they are up for the challenge!
• They have to send you pictures for approval. I received so many emails and picture messages with the dresses... I really liked that part because I never get to see these girls anymore.(I suppose this could be a pro or a con, depending on your stress level) I would love to share a few of the horror stories, but I might get shot...
• Online shopping isn't the best suggestion. I suggested ModCloth to my girls because there are so many amazing dresses on there, but none of them worked out, whether it was the wrong color, too short or too revealing. They all found their dresses at Dillard's, Macys, and other major department stores. If you are a frequent online shopper, and you know what you are dealing with, then I say go for it!

Tips :

• Get them a few pieces to unify them. I did matching necklaces and shoes- these also served as their bridesmaids gifts.

Necklaces: Forever 21 Shoes: White House | Black Market

• Give your girls some examples, options and a good idea of the color range you have in mind.
• Give them some freedom, they have your best interest at heart.

Here is our Wedding Party. I think it was a great group, and I really love how all the photos turned out with the mis-matched dresses.

 

photos by: Stephanie Patterson