stepping into summer swap

Anytime I come across a blogging gift exchange I sign up. I probably should read more about said gift exchanges, but I just get so excited. Before I know it I'm fifteen minutes deep in the line at the Post Office ready to ship another $20 limit Target gift. 

I lead a fascinating life. Really. Pilates and Post Office visits. What more does one need?

The most recent gift exchange, Stepping Into Summer Swap, was hosted my Meg and Macy. Two key words lured me in to this exchange: sandals and nail polish. Okay, you caught me. Those are three words, but no tried and true female in the blogging world can say no to those two things made up of three words: sandals and nail polish. 

One quick click on Meg and Macy's blogs, a few questions answered, several emails exchanged, and wam bam thank you ma'am, I was back at the Post Office ready to ship yet another blogging gift. 

Side note: should I invite the Post Office workers to a Christmas party this year? Yes or yes? Yes, obviously, because we're all best friends by now. 

There are several times throughout the year that I get way too excited to check the mail. Those several times include: every single day because I'm crazy and think, for some reason, that I'm going to get mysterious surprise mail 365 days out of the year. BUT the times when I'm waiting for a blog gift are REALLY exciting because I know that when I open the mailbox that there will be something there other than Southwest trying to get me to get their credit card. Real gifts!

I was paired with Macy which means I was the luckiest because she sent the cutest sandals and polish. The cutest! Think of your cutest pair of sandals and your favorite color nail polish, and then just know that mine are cuter. Wink. 

Macy got me these lace-up sandals because she said they reminded her of tying up pointe shoes. They are also a lot more comfortable than pointe shoes so winning!

Fashion blogger. Candid. Blurry phone pic. What what.

Ignore my ugly dance/Pilates feet and just keep looking at the shoes and purple polish.

Thanks, Meg and Macy, for hosting such a fun giveaway! I'll sign up for one or twelve more if you'll host them ;)

This post is brought to you by the season summer, the letter S, and me forgetting to take pictures of gifts I get before I need to post a blog. 

jumping over puddles

Olaf sings a song about summer. I should know. I only hear Frozen songs about 5x per hour. Hashtag: workswithkids. And as much as I want to tell the people who sing Let It Go nonstop to actually let it freaking go, Olaf is on to something. 

I finished up the school year/Spamalot shows and had a week before moving into teaching and choreographing for summer camps. All I wanted to do last week was SING! And DANCE! It's summer! I wanted to jump over puddles and give warm hugs, too! The freckles on my face (we're at about 1 million now). The sunburn on my booty (it's a real thing). It's all so wonderful. I've already consumed copious amounts of froyo and it's only mid-June. Actually, I've consumed copious amounts of froyo toppings. We all know the topping to froyo ratio should always be like 5:3. Done. 

So while I was wanting to sing and dance and give warm hugs all last week I was also gallivanting around Disney. According to my mother's time hop app we've been to Disney the first of June for the past 5 years? 6 years? Apparently it's not summer until a Disney trip happens so I'm glad I could keep up with the tradish. 

Thanks, Olaf, for singing a silly song that I can totes relate to. All the 6 year olds have Let It Go, I've got summer. 

Did I mention I met Josh Gad once? Besties. 

It was obviously not summer when we met. 

Happy unofficial summer Monday!

the gross side of summer

Pretty sure it's mid-May. I mean, according to my iCal it is, but according to my double-u tee eff brain it's still January 1 or 2. The thing with it being mid-May is that summer is just a wee bit away. I'm here, summer is right next door. Now don't get me wrong I love me some summer. Mostly because my birthdaymonth occurs in the summer, but also because the warmer weather, beach days, cute sundresses, cold drinks with umbrellas, endless froyo dates and all of that other stuff occurs too. 

But...but, but, but. There are a lot of reasons I am not excited about summer. Phew, feels good to say that out loud. Or rather to write that down. With summer comes a whole lot of other crud with which I would rather not deal. Let's review. 

Bugs. Holy Low Country. I thought the bugs in Central Georgia were bad. Hahahaha. Hahahaha. Oh, 'scuse me but there are times when I am the most naive fool that ever did live in the low country. The bugs here are about as annoying as the accents up north, sawwy Northern folk. If you ever wondered what it would be like actually to live in the zombie apocalypse then move here. Because the amount of love bugs and other atrocious creatures that come in mass to attack you and everything near you is about as close to the real life version of A Bug's Life meets The Walking Dead that you're ever gonna get. 

This is a He Who Shall Not Be Named bug that got into our apartment last week and sent my Tuesday into downward spiral of chaos and multiple pleadings with God. I also sent Frederick about 15 texts (per minute) (and this picture) begging him to come home and kill it. Stereotypical girl? I am her. 

Knee Pit Sweat. Don't even make a face because we all know you get it too. And it's the grossest thing. It's also one of the reasons I hate a car with a leather interior. Read: because I dislike getting stuck to the seats during the summer months when my sweaty skin forges a bond with the soft, hot leather. You get the knee pit sweats when you wear shorts. You get the knee pit sweats when you wear dresses. You definitely get the knee pit sweats when you wear pants. I'm pretty sure you also get the knee pit sweats when you are, in fact, just nekkid as a jay bird. There's no hiding from it. Let's just hold hands and face this cruelty together.

Work. Don't really know what else to say about this one other than the fact that I never felt more like a grown-up than the summer when I realized I had to work all summer. Gross. Where are the days of sleeping in and running through the sprinkler and sleeping in and did I mention that sleeping in bit? Those days are gone. Side note: I can't say I miss the sprinkler bit so much, though. Getting grass stuck all over my wet feet was something this lil diva child did not enjoy.

I really can't complain about work too much when this ^^ is what my summer work includes.

While brainstorming ideas for this post I asked Freddie for some examples of why not to be excited for summer. I'll never forget the look I received from Dearest Frederick. It was 99% my wife is crazy and 1% please God, send me another. He then informed me that he could not be a part of such a post. I'll remember that come June 1 when he's complaining about having to work during those summer days (all while sweating in his leather interior car and having to kill bugs for me)...