Life In Color

So, Paul and I had the BEST time last Saturday at The Color Run.

Basically, it's a 5K where you run through color zones and get bombed with colored cornstarch.  Then, at the end of the run {or walk or jog} there's a huge after party with dancing, a DJ, color throws, and free Color Run Swag being thrown at you.  It was awesome.

Neither of us had ever done an organized race before.  One of us doesn't even run... unless someone is chasing her.  But we can't wait to do it again.  And you should, too!

We ran around Camden Yards {where Paul and I may or may not have tried to start a "Let's Go Yankees" cheer...} and Ravens' Stadium.  And there were like 25k people there.  It was nuts.  In a good way.

And then, before the race even started, I caught some swag.

Oh, and sun-g's are a must.  It was overcast, so we didn't bring our own... but I'm so glad be decided to buy some there because I don't think running with your eyes closed is a good idea!

You got some color on you during the actual run, but most of the covering came from the after party.  And when I blew my nose at home... ahhh... I shoulda taken a picture of that!

It was seriously SO. MUCH. FUN.

And we certainly weren't the only ones on 95 covered in color... but we probably should have brought towels because the color stayed on the seats and belts... so you can imagine what happened the next time we sat in the car in clean clothes.

And as a side note, if your hair ever gets dyed green from colored cornstarch, be sure to wash your hair with dishwashing detergent... or else you might have green streaks in your hair for a few days.

The Color Run: better than a spray tan.

Gettin' Dirty

This past weekend was the best kind of weekend.  Uber productive, full of DIY & home projects, meals that I don't have to cook or clean up after, and lots of family time.  This is the stuff dreams are made of, friends.

Check out the Framed Fabric DIY project I did on Saturday, if you didn't already see it.  I love it so much {and it was SO EASY... and cheap} I'm definitely going to be doing more of them.

So anyway, another project from the weekend was something I'd been wanting for a while... something that required three separate trips to Home Depot... something that Paul did most of the leg-work on:  mulching, edging and planting a vegetable & herb garden in the back yard!

AND my almost five year old niece, Callie, spent the night with us and was a huge help!

Clearing a spot for the garden meant we had to remove two bushes that line our fence.  One we replanted, and the other we tried {unsuccessfully} to give away.

Paul did some research {as per usual} and found a garden box kit to build the walls around the garden. It's great and can combine with other kits to get bigger... you know, if I end up having an awesome green thumb or something.

Everybody did their part... and no, I didn't just take photos.  I did all of the actual planting, with some help from Callie.  And Buckley?  He just guarded the {organic} soil bags until we were ready for them.

In the garden we planted:

• 3 different kinds of tomatoes
• 2 red bell pepper plants
• 2 green bell pepper plants
• 1 hot banana pepper plant {picked out by Callie}
• 2 cucumber plants

In the pots we planted:

• hot & spicy oregano
• sweet basil
• rosemary
• sweet mint
• cilantro

I think it's the perfect size starter-garden.  Our backyard isn't very big, and the garden kit fit right in with our landscaping.  Hopefully I'll get enough fresh veggies to make a couple pots of spaghetti sauce and some stuffed peppers this summer!

The first spring/summer we lived in our house, I tried to grow a few things.  I planted zucchini, broccoli, strawberries and raspberries.  The squirrels were CRAZY and ate everything before they were ripe enough to pick.  I was SO PISSED.  The raspberry bush was the only thing to survive... and it's huge now.

We've got a plan this time around.  We set up bird mesh around and on top of the garden patch and I'll be making an all natural insect/rodent repellent with hot peppers to spray on the plants.  

Any tips?  I'd be glad to have them... Fingers {and hopefully green thumbs} crossed!