cha cha changes!

Super excited.  Color.  Gettin' me some color.  And stripes.  Lots of stripes.  And black.  Those are my clues for right now.  And if you're an owner in Home Depot, you are very welcome.  I'm super excited to give you penny I have.  Should I just sign over every future pay check now?  Do you want the shirt off my back and my shoes too?  It's pathetic how much I spend at Home Depot.  It's got to be 10 times what I spend on clothes.  That makes me sad.  waaaah.

Here's some of my inspiration:

image found here

image found here

image found here

An ordinary day in my life

My little sister suggested (multiple times) that I should do a "day in my life" blog post and take photos of the ordinary things we do during the day.  That sounded very UN-interesting to me.  My laundry filled days bore me, how could they possibly be entertaining to anyone else?  But I decided to give it a try.  Still lacking a way for me to download photos (still haven't finished unpacking the office/computer stuff) I had to use my camera phone.  And you know how much I love making videos on iMovie on my phone!  I decided to make a video diary.  (I think I've been watching too much "Good luck Charlie" on Disney)  Wish I could've video taped the MASSIVE tantrum at Home Depot with my 3yr old. (Imagine me exiting Home Depot, football holding a toddler, who is quite strong by the way, as he is kicking, screaming and biting me.  Oh and there was spitting too.  Wish you were me huh?) But I was already getting the rudest looks and didn't quite feel this moment would be funny in the near future!  We have officially had all three children have complete melt downs at Home Depots now.  Thanks buddy, I was worried my public humiliation was over!

This video needs a disclaimer :  My child is rarely dressed but not from lack of trying.  Don't judge!

Here ya go.  Boring.  Ordinary.  Us......

random me

Some very random things you did NOT need to know about me.  Did you read the VERY random part?


1.  I secretly can't wait for TLC's "Honey Boo Boo" show.  Not sure if that's the official title, but I rewind this commercial EVERY time I see it.  "The dolla makes me holla, Honey Boo Boo!"  Seriously, the mom is just as entertaining.  "Wait.  I gotta scratch my bugs...."  Who says that?

2.  My first crush was Richard Dean Anderson, aka: MacGyver.  My last crush is also a Richard and can make bombs & fix anything.  Hmmm, I knew what I wanted at age 10.  Go me!

3.  (Grossness coming up: don't read if you're eating)  I've been thrown up on 4 times in my life.  Twice sharing a bed growing up with my lil sister.  Thanks Mandy.  I got thrown up on my a 4yr old at church once.  Walking through Sears shoe department a poor 10ish yr old boy walking by just hurled all over my shoes.  I walked barefoot to my car after that.  And the last time was a mall parking lot.  I'm pretty sure this is some kind of good luck symbol in China.   Right?

4.  I really want to go to Italy, really bad.   I find Castles to be amazing.  The only Castle I've seen is Hurst Castle in California and it's not that old, so it barely counts.  I visited the St. Patrick's Cathedral in NY and loved it.  Amazing detail.  But I also want to go to Scotland.  Hmmm, dilemma.  What to do?  What to do?  I guess I need to win the publishers clearing house so I can do both.

5. Win Publishers Clearing House.  I've said it before but maybe if I keep putting it out there it will happen.  Right?  I even wake up really early on the morning of big giveaways and get pretty.  I want to make sure I look my best for the cameras as they hand me a big fat check.  No more girls in robes with wet hair or knitted kitty sweaters!  (Although the her expression and the hair rollers are pretty awesome. I haven't seen these since I was 8.  I'm pretty sure my head is dented from sleeping on them all those Saturday nights growing up.)

6.  I have 1 to 6 fresh orchid plants in my house year round.  I'm obsessed with their beauty and they make me so stinkin' happy.  I also love to give them as gifts.  They last 6-10weeks.  You only water them once a week.  And it's the only plant I haven't killed.  Winner winner chicken dinner!

7.  I didn't learn my real name til my first day of kindergarten.  true story.  My family only called me by my nickname Annie so you can imagine my shock to learn I had another name.  I guess you really do learn everything you need to know in kindergarten!

8.  I didn't try bacon until I was 30.  (Although, my mom served it every other day, I swear,  growing up)  And now I can't imagine life without it.  Life just is better with bacon.  Not sausage.  Sausage is still wrong.  ewww.  I feel like I need to write a personal thank you to bacon providers on their amazingness.  Speaking of which, have you had a bacon, egg mcgriddle?  Uh-MAZE-ing.  Serious, the person who invented that needs a gold medal or something.  Maple syrup injected pancake top and bottom, with egg, cheese and bacon.  (take out the egg if you don't want any nutritional value whatsoever)  Genius people.  Perfection....

Some people call this the "Mc Crack".  Can't image why :)

Doesn't get more random than this does it?  A post about Richard Dean Anderson, bacon and orchids?  I might need to up my meds.  And by meds I mean, chocolate.  Chocolate is "mommy medicine" in my house.

craigslist randomness

I like searching craigslist now and again hoping to find an amazing deal.  But I tend to find weirdness instead.....  wanna see what I mean?


I have the perfect room for an antler bar!  And only $700.  Deal!

                         And we can't forget bar stools.  Because we weren't creeped out enough!

Um- nice picture?  I'm supposed to drive out to the middle of no where and pay you $100 for something that hopefully resembles this 3rd grade drawing?  Because this drawing look totally amazing right?  I can't figure out what this is!  Something for a bed..... but notice, there's no bed!

I'm all for animal prints but this is a new one for me.  I especially love the photographic beauty of this image.  The stain on the carpet on the left next to the chair is particularly attractive, er gag.

How did you know I wanted 30 boxes of random rocks and dirt?  (my 3yr old boy would think this is awesome)  Or is it 30 boxes of kitty litter?  I can't tell....

Oooh, oooh, oooh!  Sewer pipes from a trailer!  Merry Christmas to me!  I've totally wanted these!

A very questionable mattress.  Yikes.  The picture says it all.....

I've got it!  A Christmas mouse and a heating pad.  I know what my husband is getting for Christmas this year!  Maybe I'll divide it up...... birthday, anniversary..... you know, I got to spread the love.

These photos remind me of that country song where it says "God is great, beer is good & people are crazy!"  I think they wrote those lyrics after scrolling through craigslist.  Yep, people crazy!

photo booth

I didn't get the chance to blog much about my brother's wedding. It was awesome. So much fun! We had a blast, and instead of documenting the entire thing, I just enjoyed myself! One of my favorite things about their reception was the photo booth. Near the end of the reception, they had a big screen set up and made a slide show from all the photo booth shots. Here were some of my favorites.... Seriously fun! Afterwards, they had a flickr site where you could download the pictures. One shot I'd love to show you is this seemingly normal looking guy. Happily smiling with his wife in one shot and the next shot..... his shirt is off and he's making an interesting facial expression. His wife is dying of embarrassment, for him! Oh wow! The things people do when they don't realize that the photos would be on the internet! I thought twice about putting it on, but stopped only for his poor wife! You'll just have to imagine that image :)

Lighting

I love lighting.  Unfortunately I find amazing lighting and then vomit at the price tag.  It's a bit ridiculous to pay $1000, am I right?  I could justify it if it came with real diamonds or real gold, but not for fakies!  Seriously, what's a girl to do that has high dollar taste on a mint oreo budget?  (Have you tried the mint dipped in chocolate oreos?  I die!)  Anyhoo, like I was saying before chocolate came on the brain, I love lighting.  It makes a huge impact in the room.  I bought a home with really great bones.  Wood floors that I love, cabinets that are nice, love the baseboards and austin stone fireplace.  But the lights just aren't working for me.  They are beautiful, just not the modern feel I'm going for.  They're more tuscan/ old world.  Which is nice, but not me.  So I took the plunge and guess what?  I found some not so pricey light fixtures and I'm anxiously waiting their arrival.  Wanna preview?

Before lighting:

 This is my current dining room fixture. I'm sure it cost them a pretty penny. And here is my new light that hopefully arrives in 5-10 business days......

It's a whopping 48'' long.  It has great reviews and has a not so scary price.  Found on overstock.com

You can see the dining room from the entry, so that means I have to have lighting that coordinates.  Every door knob and fixture is the dark bronze color.  Which limited my lighting choices.  I didn't feel like changing every door knob and light fixture throughout the house.  I've tried to alternate silver and bronze light fixtures in other homes and you know what?  It doesn't really work.  I do think you can do funky lights that don't match in bedrooms but you need to play it safe in the main spaces and have the same finish.  That's just my opinion though.....

Here's the entry way light:

And here's the new one I ordered....

Again, this is from overstock.com and had great reviews.  I'm really counting on those reviewers.  I hope they don't let me down!  They'll look good together, right?  They have to!  Because I'm not so great about returning things in the mail.....

You might be a Texan if.....

Someone at the grocery store asked me how long I had lived in Texas and when I replied 6yrs, she said I was "officially a Texan now".  Hmm, really?  Not feelin' it.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but I don't officially feel like I fit in yet.  So I came up with a list of what makes a true Texan.   If I can relate to half of them, I will officially be a Texan!

So, in my words, you might be a Texan if.......

1.  You've had a can of soda explode in your car.....

2.  Your purse costs as much as your mortgage pmt....

3.  Your dog has more accessories than you do!.....

4.  You own as many work-out clothes as you do shoes (but don't necessarily work out)....

5.  You've worn pearls with sweatpants....

6.  You can say anything snotty about someone but follow it with a "bless her heart" and it's not       considered gossip.....

7.  You enroll your child in sports before they start walking.....

8.  You know the proper use of Y'all, Y'alls & Y'aller......

9.  You sign emails with "God Bless".......

10.  You bring a sweater to the movies because 76 degrees is just chilly!.......

11.  Your children think that snow only comes in a cone with sugary syrup.....

And one more just for fun because I've totally witnessed this (You know who you are!):
12.  You cry when you're on vacation in another state and see a Texas license plate......

Texas Pride.  There's nothing like it.  I'm really happy we live here.  Love the people.  Love the winters.  Getting used to the dogs in purses.  Almost used to the crazy sport moms.  And will NEVER get used to the summers.  But I can't have everything...... or can I?