Fingers crossed for a sale.

I tried this cute thing on yesterday and it fit.  Dang it.  Too pricey.  Nobody buy it so it will go on sale and I can get it.

J. Crew

Ropes

I saw a really pretty rope necklace online a month ago and thought I'd saved it in my favourites but I didn't.  I hate it when that happens.  I did a quick browse yesterday and found some similar styles.

yellow and blue

statement

I know that second one is overkill but I like the layout in that you don't need to get a clasp for it.  I went with that kind of design to make my own.

Yes, that's a James Bond lighter.

The guy at REI was really nice and didn't make fun of me for wanting specific colours of climbing rope and strapping for my necklace craft project.  He even let me root through a bag of remnants and gave me a deal on anything I picked out of there.  I'm not ready to share my first attempt at the necklace because I took it out for a little spin with friends last night and it didn't go over too well.  At least I have truthful pals.  I'm going to try again and spend more time on it.  

Feel free to make jokes about nooses now.

Sporty

I'm not the sportiest of ladies but I do love a good hike.  E.L. was telling me that she was going on a hike last Sunday and I managed to invite myself along, and then some other people invited themselves along and then we got ourselves organized and all became one with nature.

Dreamy photo from E.L.

We met at Sly Park. I'd never been there and it has beautiful greeny-blue water that you can swim in during the warmer months.  I want to go back!  The trail we took went around the water, through a wooded area, over a tiny bridge, and ended in front of a pretty nice sized waterfall.

Swim.

Lunch spot.

Crossing the bridge.

We made it!

fashion

I don't know any man who would wear this.

I found this for sale on gilt.com.  I'm sure it's still available if you want to look it up.

Yesterday evening we went to Roseville so I could browse in Anthropologie.  I wanted to look at some pretty things after being inside that dismal federal building for our interview.  Anthro always has the best window displays.

I tried on these grey and white polka dotted pants.  They were really cute but had so much stretch that they were more like leggings and may have made my legs look a little sausage-y.

They are also way too expensive for novelty pants (I learned that any pant that isn't a solid colour is a novelty pant according to the j.crew website.)  They are $178.  I would have bought them if they were less than $40.

I bought a blouse I'd tried on a couple of months ago that had been out of my price range at the time but had been marked down twice since my last visit.  It would have looked really cute with the polka dot pants but then I wouldn't have been able to pay for groceries for the next 2 months.

These are my new summer sandals.  

It's so summery out and now I'm officially ready.  I even got a tiny sunburn on my arm over the weekend from sitting on the patio at Bows.  I picked out some sandals from DSW last night.  Usually I never have any luck there but these are very close to what I was looking for.  The tassels look cute in person.  In this picture they're overwhelming the shoe.  Just wait, you'll see.  80 degrees this weekend!

Marriage test

Oh my goodness gracious, what a RELIEF.  We passed our marriage immigration exam and now I just have to wait for my cute little card in the mail.

Our appointment was at 1:30 today.  When we got to the federal building there was a couple in front of us talking to the security guard and V and I gathered that no cameras at all were allowed in the building, which for most people now includes all cell phones.  I had forgotten mine at home but V had to run back to the car to get rid of his.  I think we were both sweating already by the time we got through the metal detectors.

We took the elevator to the second floor and waited inside a large room with six other couples for about 15 minutes before our name was called.  We got to see other couples exiting the questioning area.  One lady was dressed like she was going for a night on the town with a skin tight short sweater dress, super tall heels and heavy makeup.  Another couple walked out looking a little down and a third walked out with their lawyer.  I wanted to stare more but didn't want to seem like a creep or look suspicious.  It's serious in there.

Our interviewer was a lady in her late 40s.  She led us to her small office and didn't say much or even tell us her name.  Once inside she had us raise our right hand and swear to tell the truth before we sat down.  The whole interview lasted about 15 minutes.  She asked me some questions about my previous relationship (which I was dreading but knew they'd ask), when V and I met, and about our joint accounts.  She asked V about his work, health insurance and car insurance.  There weren't any questions about family members, toothbrush colours, or the location of the salt in the kitchen.  I feel like I had a healthy amount of nervous preparation beforehand which helped me feel relaxed during the actual interview.

The interviewer needed one additional form that the immigration department hadn't asked for in previous letters.  I told her I had it at home so she gave me her fax and phone number and said that as soon as she had the form she could close out my file and send the green card.  After a quick holycrapitsover drink at the Pre-Flite lounge we went home, got the form, went to fedex and faxed it.  I called the interviewer to confirm that she received it and she said that she did and my green card would arrive in 30 days or less.  Hooray!

To celebrate, V announced that we would be going to see the Beach Boys this summer.  Just kidding, but we are.

Pals

J made us a fancy mac and cheese dinner last night and took our picture in between cooking.  E said, "we don't look especially chummy here." but I think we're just hangry.

I never think of buying fancy foods from gilt but C bought some lavender coffee cheese, some honey cheese and truffle sausage.  I don't like truffles but you couldn't taste the truffle really.  How's that for a food review?  Terrible, I know.

 Heart meat

J and Misora

I'm taking my car in to get the windshield replaced this morning.  EXCITING.  

Garden party

The skies were so dark in Tahoe Park today and it rained for most of the day and even thundered (which was perfectly timed to the three hours I spent looking at health insurance plans and getting my cracked windshield claim sorted (wah, wah, wahhhhhh)).  Our garden is so green and all the plants are blooming.  We haven't planted any tomato plants yet.  Is it too late?  I don't think so.

I used to hate roses because I'd only known the flower shop variety until I moved to California.

Baby fig

You can never have too many lavender plants.

Grape leaves

This rose smells exactly like you think a rose would.  Delicious.

Forsythia (right?)