F is for Friday... Fried... & Forever 21

I'm exhausted and ready for the weekend break. Hurrah for Fridays!

Last Wednesday evening, a brief lightning storm passed through and my laptop was plugged into an outlet at the time...without a surge protector (no solicitation of lectures!).

So how do you like your Dell..........fried?

This is the carnage post-Dell Support Call where I was instructed on how to disassemble the laptop and check the hardware.

This snafu was especially disheartening as I had to travel to Atlanta on Thursday (the next morning) and would be out-of-pocket for a technician that day...all this with a major work deadline due Friday (today).

But Never Fear! I was able to go to the Library this morning and use a computer at the "Technology Hub" for free. I completed the proposal on time- double Hurrah!

I even felt good prancing into the Library this morning with my super-casual summer Friday, new Forever 21 duds: jade dress, $15.80 and humongous purse that fit all my work papers, $34.80 ; Banana Republic denim jacket & J.Crew metallic thongs.

It's so simple, but sometimes the best first step to take for solving problems is to first feel your best.

It's now the weekend...and in many ways, no more "F"s

Office Project

Buckeye Belle has inspired me!

She has a new office to tout and has been working diligently to personalize her space...

Office: it's where we spend the majority of our day. Why not make it comfortable and inviting?

My Sunroom currently serves as my home office with a sitting area (for me), and library. Bombay Voyager Desk in back left unfolds to open up for workspace (albeit tiny), and built-in cabinets in foreground (hidden) conceal printer, office supplies, other work items, etc. as well as bookshelves on the other side.

My 2 biggest priorities are:

1. organization (I'm relatively organized, but it's spread across the room so it's not entirely efficient)
2. workspace area (I need more space and some shelving near my computer area for reference books and files)

I cannot afford to make any drastic changes; if I change the color scheme, I'll likely buy slipcovers rather than a new sofa and armchair. But I might need to purchase a new desk, and am thinking about installing floating shelves on the back left wall (where my diploma is hanging).

It's time to revamp this room.

New Home Office Ideas

Like Mother, Like Daughter

I definitely grew up appreciating fashion, style, and good taste.

And from whom did I learn?

My mother of course!

In the mid-70s, Mom worked at a high-end boutique named Margaret's in West Texas before she met dad. Margaret, the owner, would take frequent NYC trips to buy for her luxury shop and special clientele. Her prête à porter apparel was both classic and current high fashion. At first glance, you might wonder why a town in West Texas had such a demand, but it's a simple answer: Black Gold. And since oil = money (hey it's no different even now), there was a surprising rise of class in certain circles. And a rise of high fashion as well. (yeah, not everyone wears boots, chaps, and spurs everyday!)

Of course with nouveau riche, I'm sure there were over-the-top furs and diamonds, but Mom's style was chic and classic. In fact, many of her fashions could easily be pulled off today. I was going through some old photos, and am taking notes for future outfits...

Luv this wool Aspen sweater (I was a Shoe-horse at a young age...am still thinking those strappy wedges are cute!)

Aren't they a dashing couple? And why who is that darling little girl in the portrait behind them =) I think the bright colors and sash belt give this outfit a Southwestern vibe. Momma, where are your shoes?

Blue dress with simple lines, belt-cinched waist, matching heels, and of course classic pearls.

Purple silk sweater, plaid skirt, tiny gold bead necklace, and peep-toe heels.

Light pastel-striped tailored button-down paired with a white pencil skirt.

For the Small Guestroom

Before it was mine...

An empty room...

In Progress...

Currently...

Happy Dadder's Day!

"A father is always making his baby into a little woman. And when she is a woman he turns her back again."

~Enid Bagnold

There's this picture of me as a little girl (around 4-yrs I think) and my Dad and I are holding hands skating around the roller rink. It's sweet as it almost looks like I'm leading him and he's being pulled around by this little Asian girl one-third his size.

Sorry for the extremely-poor quality, but here's that picture of a picture from my HS Senior collage (yeah, we did one of those...). The original is 4 states away.

Even almost a quarter of a century later, I still feel like he's my big Dadder and I can lead him around (or think that I'm leading him) and he'll hold my hand.

Dadder's a big softie at-heart.

Christmas Morning 2007

Gross Like a Boy

Mom: Read no further, or you'll be ashamed of your daughter.

Hahahaha!

I can't stop cracking up at what I just did/am doing.

I've had about 3 loads of laundry pile up and realized that I'm out of running clothes. This is the type of stuff that college boys do...not a grown, professional woman.

Time to go for my run:

T-shirt.......................check
Sports Bra...............check
Socks.......................check
Running Shoes......check

So what am I missing?

Oh yeah- Running Shorts and my Hat.

Both in the bottom of the dirty laundry pile.

Well, I'm going to get it stinky again anyway.

So the responsible thing to do is just spray it with Febreeze and go on.

And appropriately, my shirt today reads:

THE HIPPIES WERE RIGHT

Wild Geese That Fly With The Moon On Their Wings...

These are a few of my favorite things

1. Girlie Dresses: And these were on sale too! DownEast Basics has classic, conservative, and cheaply-priced clothing (L-R: $15, $13, $20)

Too bad they didn't have this one in my size

2 Dancing: Sometimes I'm a ballerina in my kitchen, or a theatrical Martha Graham at the stair landing, but every time it's like no one's looking (well..I hope not!)

3. My Deluxe Light Push Reel Mower: No fuel...completely green...burns calories...I rest easy =)

4. More Decorating Inspirations: (since everyone loves pictures!)

5. Chick Lit: Currently reading this

6. Experimental Cooking: Pretty food preparation...sliced red and yellow peppers, tomato and onion, drizzled in extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with salt and fresh pepper. I broiled them in the oven then topped pasta, finishing off with liberally sprinkled grated Parmesan. Yummm.

7. My Family: Whether I like it or not, they're always there for me. Thank God!

Deja Vu

The Twins' Girls

I'm still not sure if that punctuation is correct... One twin brother has a fiancee to-be-wed-August (aka Pink Pimpette) and the other brother has a soon-to-be-fiancee, Razz-ma-Tazz (she has a lively personality with hair to match).

Us gals had a nice dinner tonight catching up over cocktails (I had a fantabulous new concoction called a Blueberry Muffin Martini that was to-die-for!) and sushi. Hmmm, I'm noticing a Girl's Night trend (from the post-SATC movie dinner last Saturday night).

Nice to have good (soon-to-be) sister-in-laws =)

Ummm yeah, next time I might ask for help in taking the picture. The camera was clearly balanced at the wrong level (bothersome glasses and straws in the way!)

Living & Evolving

Room Living

Before it was mine...

After I closed...

Currently. And ever evolving...

Rainy Days Rock

Because colors are more vibrant, clean, and refreshed.

Because the sound of rain on the roof is pure musical genius.

Because I get to make use of those Wellies =)

Love So Desires

You know why I heart SATC?

Well, of course there are many reasons...but the recurring theme that's never trendy or unfashionable is because it's simply about single gals...looking for love.

"I'm looking for love. Real love. Ridiculous, inconvenient, consuming, can't-live-without-each-other love.” -Carrie Bradshaw

To cheese this post up a little more, there's a movie quote from Dream for an Insomniac used frequently (not recommending the movie):

"Unless it's mad, passionate, extraordinary love, It's a waste of your time. There are too many mediocre things in life. Love shouldn't be one of them."

............................................................................

And I have no shame telling you that too is what I want.

I've loved many, but I've only been in love once.

And it was amazing.

I would recommend it to anyone.

My problem is that it was just with the wrong guy...

My mom's prayed for it since I was born...

As a little girl, I dreamt of it with pink castles. My Little Pony unicorns, and Strawberry Shortcake...

And as a teenager/early-20s I had sleepless nights not understanding why M/J/B/G/H or whoever he was, wasn't the prince-charming-here-to-save-me-from-the-fire-breathing-dragon-of-a-reality-I'm-living...

As a Christian, I had to come to grips with the possibility that God may not have it in His plans for me to ever find love and marry *gulp*

On that same token- as a child of God, I am acutely aware that this longing desire for me to have a helpmate is innate and very real.

"All night long on my bed I searched for the one my heart loves. I looked for him but didn't find him. I will get up. I'll go around in the city. I'll look through all of its streets. I'll search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but didn't find him."

Song of Songs 3:1-2

I'm not just looking to be married. Don't we all know people who have the marriage goal in mind from the beginning, only to settle for someone "okay" or "amicable"? I want something incredible, I want a blessing beyond what I could ever creatively construct.

I want LOVE.

That flutter-in-your-chest, can't-help-but-beam, gushing-sunshine-and-grins, twinkle-in-your-eyes, lightheaded-elation, giddy-anticipating, indelible LOVE.

And I want it with the right guy this time.

"Do not arouse or awaken love until it so desires"

Song of Songs 2:7b / 3:5b / 8:4b

So God...
Love so desires.

All Weekend Long

I had the weekend in town.

All weekend long.

And you know what they say about "idle hands"...

Friday night I had a lovely dinner with my wonderful friend Betty (one of our Supper Club founding members!). We had planned an official Supper Club, but Buckeye Belle was detained with work overload- devastating! We missed her horribly, but made plans to meet up the next day (to come).

Meanwhile, Betty baked a scrumptious meal of: Tuscan Dip; Fresh Strawberry Salad; Sauteed Squash and Asparagus; and Paula Dean's Georgia Chicken. It was AWESOME! And you know how you'll hear people rave and say, "oh I just must get that recipe from you....some day." I didn't give Betty a moment of delay- I got the Tuscan Dip recipe that night =) She inspired me though. I'm resolving to get great recipes on-the-spot rather than simply rave about the meal.

Saturday I woke up late to make a lazy, yet lovely breakfast. My favorite meal of the day. It's nice to indulge sometimes. Then it was off to shop for mirrors for above my mantel (I'm moving that artwork to the top of the stair landing); new pillows for the bench I have yet to pick up (will they charge demurrage?!?!?); an oversized wall clock and mosquito netting to hang above the back guestroom bed.

Pink Pimpette came over and then we drove to meet with Betty and Buckeye Belle for the much-anticipated viewing of SEX AND THE CITY. Fabulous! I cannot say more or I may ruin it for those who have not seen it yet, but what a glorious storyline... And then the four of us went for cocktails and sushi so we could discuss every aspect of the movie. Perfect number in our party huh? I think I must see it again in theaters to fully appreciate the film...then I'll purchase the DVD immediately on-release to enjoy it in its entirety.

Pink Pimpette and I had a slumber-party discussing various topics from the order of a wedding reception to what it is to truly be in love- the kind that makes you silly-happy and uncontrollably giddy.

Sunday I slept in again. Actually poor Pink Pimpette had to knock on my door to make sure I was still alive. I made brunch, then we talked for a while. She watched a movie while I cleaned up a bit and then surfed on the Web for ideas. After she left I went for a run...went shopping for groceries at a local, overpriced, hoity-toity, organic food market that has sucked me in because of the exotic-foods-and-trendy-clean-feeling-of-being-green. And then came home to bake an experimental dish of : flounder stuffed with spinach/bacon/toasted walnuts and topped with red Roma tomatoes and sprinkled with Parmesan. Not bad for a single gal? Yummm.

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Oh and I almost left off that I've had some very important photos taken this weekend. Now be cognisant that these are serious artistic works of art and NOT online ego boosters (who does that?).

Without further ado, here are three preview slides of my going-to-push-me-forward-as-a-rising-designer-star pictures that will be featured in House Beautiful the last month of never.

Don't worry, I'm not quitting my day job =)

Shopping in My PJs

Someone get me off the laptop.
I have an overfilled closet already. Just this morning I boxed up apparel with tags-on to donate to Hannah Homes.

But yet I keep finding stinkin' cute clothes online...with free shipping. Arrrrgggghhhh!

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http://www.endless.com/ (free overnight shipping!)

Yes, it's a combination of girlie-girlness and petiteness that drives me to the heels. I think I have a couple of pairs of black slingbacks, but I was drawn to the sleek lines of this pair (they arrive tomorrow!)

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http://www.target.com/ (free shipping over $50 for apparel)

How can you not love the floral print on this dress? Too fun! Although, it may be a challenge sorting out the straps; I've been known to get stuck in a fancy halter top that had too many strings to detangle. It'll be a puzzle...

And I've wanted a sweet, casual, white eyelet dress for a while. I think I'll wear nude-colored strappy sandals or wedges though; these espadrilles just don't look quite right.

And then I found this lovely Isaac Mizrahi for Target dress. The shift silhouette with pompom detailing at the hem is very reminiscent of my mostest favoritist designer Lilly Pulitzer.

So instead of sleepwalking, I'm blaming it on sleepshopping...
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