I Miss My Dear Friend

Oops, I meant to post this last week when my computer fried. I'm slacking a little on blogging...blaming it on the bar-b-qued Dell.

Dear Friend's in Atlanta. And it hasn't seemed real to me until recently when we've had a terrible bout of playing phone tag. Yep, she's officially living a different life in a whole other state.

Love you Dear Friend!

Our Small Group's Goodbye Dinner at Cajun Steamer's

Congrats on your new job! Dinner at Cheesecake Factory

Christmas Open House December 2007
Memorial Day 2008 Dear Friend's Masters Hooding Ceremony December 2007

Happy Fourth!

"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die."

-Dwight D. Eisenhower

Energized...Revived...Happy Again!

After being a little down, frustrated & completely exhausted, this is really to assure you- I'm okay now =) Back to my goofy-silly self...

God is good!

I Ain't Afraid of Color

Before it was mine...

An empty room...
After I got ahold of it...
Giraffe from Anthropologie...he makes me happy =)

My reclaimed mantel...

Bohemian bedding and rustic decor in place of a headboard (from Frontera)

P.S. The bench at the foot of the bed is really an old coffee table; I layered a bench cushion and colorful throw and voila! The popcorn chenille throw at the end of the bed is a vintage find from eBay...I adore it. Also, there's another art vingnette in the back right corner that can be seen in my post on found art. For the bed, I have additional pillows that I've layered before, but I really luv this bedding and thought it stood alone well. I've also not done any window treatments yet. This room will change drastically over the next year, but for now it's my Happy Boheme room =)

Stairwell

Over the past year or so, I've collected various black and bronze frames. The idea was to dress up a rather drab stairwell and display pictures of family and friends, prints, and perhaps some artwork as well.

I'm not content with it yet, but it's coming along nonetheless...

Mom has a better version of this along her bottom-most stairwell. All her frames are black with identical molding and display family pictures of us being active (backpacking, whitewater rafting, skiing, rock climbing, etc.) *sigh*

Here's the new bench at the top of the stairwell.

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!)