cupcake wars

we're having a contest at work
tell your Summer Sprint story through a cupcake
since I just HAD to make a video as my submission
and our email doesn't allow sending such large files
I decided I would submit it through the blog
and therefore share my creation with all of my lovely blog readers, too!

Enjoy (be sure to crank the volume)!

oh and wish me luck...

Since the video is so small I thought I'd provide you with a bigger view of the final product.

boy are my arms tired

we've been doing A LOT of tubing around here!

we're talking rubbing your elbows raw amounts of tubing...

let me give you the low-down on how this goes

it starts with a thumbs up

and then you just hold on for dear life

cuz this new boat has got some umph!

and then comes the fun

we're talking shredding your zipper...

catching your bottoms with your toe...

skipping across the water...

water enema...

getting a wedgie type of fun!!!

once you catch your breath, put your drawers back on and give the all clear...

you try to get back on and do it all again!

but be on the look-out for this guy cuz he's got mad skillz!

"totally" random

totally missing this little miss...

totally loving that maine is cool enough that these beauties look AMAZING (yea, i'm totally rubbing it in - a little lot)...

totally digging that one layer of petals is blue and one purple on this random flower that appeared in the garden...

just totally like the look of astilbe...

totally look forward to seeing this look like this each morning (thanks decatos!)...

and in case you don't know what it is...totally go here

now i totally gotta catch a flight so i can see my honey and dukie!!!

two days of junk

maybe it wasn't ALL junk
but seriously, who could tell the difference

but it was definitely a great time with my bestie exploring the antique stores of maine

driving the roads of the semi-populated areas of maine
pulling over to explore people's garages, stores and trash barns
for real - barns of TRASH

all of which had some sort of sign in them like this...

of course there was lots of maine stuff...i mean...it IS maine after all!

yes, that's a real lobster claw!

which also meant creepy stuff...

eccentric stuff...

and...

really???  who would entrust their child in that medieval torture chamber???
i really wish this guy had come home with me
sean - i see a return trip in the near future (you can even get the tacky cute sylvester lawn ornament with the legs that twist in the wind)

wouldn't he be so cute in my garden
i really wish we could do this on a daily basis

can you make a career at hanging out with your bestie driving the streets of america shopping?  i need to find a way!

amazing sunsets

Maine has some amazing sunsets.  We love going out on the pontoon boat, puttering around, watching the sunset.  They did not disappoint while Amy was here either.  Here are some of my favorite shots from the sunsets.

Yes, it was really THAT green!

We also had a full moon while she was here.  We both took our cameras out to the dock to try to capture this.  I still have so much to learn about using this camera (which is a good thing I'm starting a new class this week!).  I thought this one wasn't too bad.  It would have been even better if the moon was still closer to the horizon and the tripod wasn't missing a piece.

I love that God created such a beautiful place that we are fortunate enough to call home during the summer and all our friends can visit AND DO!

still here

I really am.  I've been busy enjoying all our guests and then recovering from having all our guests.  We have a couple weeks still until the next batch come and we'll pretty much have someone here the whole month of August.  Needless to say, I'll be spending the next week getting you all caught up on the fun - via pictures of course.

We've had some birthday parties recently - young and...not as young.  First up was a skating party.  Back in middle school the skating rink was THE hang-out and for those of you that didn't know, Sean took me roller skating on our very first date.  So, I'm well versed in the 8 wheels and having my bestie there made it even more fun (as long as you can keep the creepy guy from checking you out).

We also did some candlepin bowling - it's a New England thang.

It's like regular bowling but with skinny pins, tiny balls and three rolls per frame.

If you get all 10 pins down in the first roll of the frame it's a strike - AND I GOT ONE!!!  Yes I did and the whole joint knew it!!!  I didn't think it was even possible!!!  But what's funnier than that is that we each won one round with a 75 (that's out of 300 - oh yea!).

We also ate lots of lobster while Amy was here - at her request.  Best lobster rolls...

how could you resist it???

We also made a lobster pizza - which was AMAZING!  

which we ate on a dinner cruise - look how much everyone enjoyed their dinner...

Much more to come in the days ahead - antiquing, sunsets, water fun, and the answer to a challenge by some friends...come back soon to read all about it!

you just never know

...what you'll find on the side of the road as you drive the Maine roads.  I'm not sure you can really call them highways as they're mostly 2 lanes and you can only go about 45 on them - not really my definition of a highway.  Strange things always seem to be found.  If you've been reading awhile you may remember this (click here) or this (click here).  Well, on the trip to catch the lobsters we came across this...

If you zoom in really close to the head it's quite creepy!

The very first time I came to Maine we came across a random, giant lobster on the side of the road and took our picture with it.  Since them I've had no idea where that really was...until our trip lobstering - WE FOUND IT AGAIN!!!  and of course we had to take the opportunity to have a photo shoot...

and just cuz Miley is cute checking out her first lobster...

tonight was dinner cruise and craft night...I'm not sure I really want Amy to leave...less than a week left. :(