Are You Kidding Me, Philadelphia?

God bless Texas, I'm glad I don't blog in Philly. Not that I have any ads on my blog, but still, this is a little ridiculous. Next thing you know, they're going to start forcing people to get business licenses for their kids to have a lemonade stand, or to have a garage sale.

You can read the story HERE , HERE, and HERE

This is SPARTA!!

Okay, it's not Sparta, but it IS my 300th post!

And in honor of that, I will have my very first GIVEAWAY next Monday!!

I will leave you with some Gerry-goodness...

Still kind of scratching my head about how a man like that watches TV on a couch like this:

Have a great weekend!!

Room photo from this month's Architectural Digest

New blog - Edit and Post!

My friend Ami from Elizabeth Anne Deisgns is officially launching her latest blog today:

Have you ever wondered what figure skating can teach us about business?? Well, she can tell you!

For tips and advice on business and blogging, go over to Edit and Post here.

My Five Things

I was featured on the Lil Bee today, with the five things I'd like to do in this lifetime:

1) Restore and live in an old historic house.
2) Travel all over the world (really, there are very few places I'd not like to see).
3) Open up my own home/decor/antiques shop.
4) Have children.
5) Reach the age of 85 and be happy with my life.

That's my five... what are yours?

That's my list. What's yours??

New Year... New Look

I know I'm a little late on this one, but Happy New Year!

One of the things I've been wanting to do is change up the look a little around here - but I haven't found the time before now (sorry). I could tell you about work kicking my butt, our interesting Christmas, my ear infection, my tooth infection, the frigid weather we've been having, and Chris finally (FINALLY) being able to stay home for a while... but I think that just about summed it up.

I'm sure there may still be a few more changes, but so far I'm loving the new gray damask pattern!

Oops!

Work has just been crazy this week (everyone wants their carpet and rugs by Christmas!!), and last night I was busy "crafting" a present for a Secret Santa as well as packaging up the gifts I give out to my better clients.... so there's no Trim-It-Down Tuesday today.

But, instead, I thought I'd feed your sense of humor with this awesome picture!

We should totally do something like this for our Christmas cards next year....

Blog Award!

I've been awarded the Sugar Doll Blogger Award by Krista!

The rules are that I need to share 10 interesting facts about myself and then pass this award along to 10 other bloggers. In the spirit of the season, I thought this might be more fun if I posted 10 interesting (or humorous) facts about me that have to do with Christmas or this time of year!

Let's get started:

1. I was born in Indiana and lived there until I was 9. I really miss the snow at this time of year - I used to love making snowmen and snow forts!! Of course, since I was so young I never had to shovel the sidewalks or anything fun like that, so my memories are just of childhood snow fun.

2. Once I was old enough to assist, I have loved decorating Christmas trees! In fact, when I was a teenager, my Mom would often stand back and just let me have at it. My sisters would try to help, but most of the time I would move whatever ornament they hung to a new and "better" location on the tree. See, it's all about balance, people. You don't want two large ornaments right next to each other, and you don't want two of the same color right next to each other!!

3. One time, in high school, while I was up in the attic looking for more Christmas decorations, my foot slipped and I actually fell through the ceiling and into the garage! How embarrassing is that?? Luckily, I was young and had good reactions! I was able to catch myself with my arms so that I was actually hanging through the ceiling, holding on the the rafters. I was able to drop myself down safely, but my Mom didn't believe me when I went inside to tell her. Still to this day, I'm not really sure what she thought I meant when I said "Mom, I just fell through the ceiling."

4. One of my earliest memories was receiving a pair of ice skates for Christmas. Of course, I was super disappointed because they were black double-runners (they had 2 blades instead of 1), and not the pretty white single-blades that the GIRL ice skaters wore on TV! My Dad tells me that I straight up told him that I couldn't wear them because I was a girl, and girls didn't wear black skates. Those were for boys!

5. One year for Christmas, my crazy aunt thought it would be *cute* to get my sisters and I matching sleep shirts and socks. The problem was that 1.) I was in high school and had no desire to "match" my younger and way-uncool-er sisters, and 2.) The shirts had the (very realistic) line drawing of a pig on them! The front of the shirt showed the face of the pig, and the back had the rear. The socks?? Oh, they had hooves on them. Yeah. Best present ever.

6. My favorite holiday movies are "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (the one with Herbie the Dentist and Yukon Cornelius, naturally) and "A Christmas Carol". Both make me tear up and cry. I'm a big baby when it comes to all the Christmas love.

7. I love holiday music! I have a couple of mix-CD's (cause I'm a dork like that) of Christmas music, and about the week before Thanksgiving I can't wait to throw them in! My favorite songs?? Mariah's "All I Want for Christmas is You", "Happy Christmas (War is Over)", Band-Aid's "Do They Know it's Christmas?", Elton's "Step Into Christmas", "Holly Jolly Christmas", "O Holy Night" (the "real" version AND the one by Cartman!), "Little Drummer Boy"...... really, I could go on and on, but I'm sure that this is enough for you all.

8. I love real trees, especially Frasier and Noble firs, but Chris bought us a pre-lit tree on sale after Christmas a couple years ago and I must admit that it is pretty nice to not have to put on the lights. Plug in and go.

9. My grandmother used to make the best watermelon-rind preserves. We'd have them every Christmas, and since she's been gone I kind of miss them. Memories are strange - watermelon rind preserves = my Grandmother's house at Christmas!

10. Chris and I argue every year about when most people out there open their presents - I say Christmas morning (duh!), and he says Christmas Eve. I was always brought up opening my presents on Christmas Day. His family has the present bonanza Christmas Eve (sometimes really late at night). So I want you to leave me a comment and tell me WHEN you open presents for Christmas - this year I'm taking a poll!!

And for the nominations:

Linda (Silly Little Mischief)

Jenny (Jenny.Lee)

Bean (Without Adornment)

Jen (Mrs. Life Accounts)

Erika (Wine-Oh!)

Christin (of the Nicholas clan - my SIL)

Jenny (My Favorite and My Best)

Kate (the Neo-Traditionalist)

Emily (Wiley Wifey and the Culinary Couple)

Marianne (Haven and Home)

Ladies, feel free to post or not... but know that I really enjoy reading your blogs!!

A Picture is Worth 1000 Words...

Last night was spent running a few errands... one of them being buying a gift for a very special lady who is turning _____ tomorrow, Chris' grandmother. I don't know that she would appreciate me broadcasting her age throughout cyberspace, but we'll just say that she's over 40 and still going strong!

So, since I didn't really have time to put together a beautiful or thought-provoking post, I thought I'd steal one I saw over on Linda's blog last week! ;-)
This is a little Q&A with yours truly where I answer each question with pictures I found on Google Images.
Let's get started!

My favorite beverage:

Followed veeeeeery closely by:

My hometown:

(where I was born and spent the first 9)

Where we moved over 20 years ago, and what I consider my hometown now:

Which is home to:

(bonus points if you can guess)

My favorite TV show:

(I have several. I am kind of a TV addict.)

My occupation:

I work for a high end designer trade showroom as a sales rep selling rugs and carpeting. I did go to school for Interior Design, but I got my job right before I graduated, and I have been working here ever since.

This is the fun one!

My first car:

The year was 1992, and I had a 1983 Firebird (mine didn't have gold wheels...but it was this color!) I thought it was very cool.

It was followed very shortly thereafter by a silver 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity after the Firebird's engine burnt up (and not because of my driving, but because it was a piece of crap to begin with!)

Yeah, this car didn't even have a clock. It had one of those old radios with the knobs you turned that moved the needle up and down the dial.... remember those?

My favorite dish:

Chips and salsa - but restaurant fresh chips and salsa.

And pretty much anything Mexican.

The celebrity you have been told you resemble:

Sandra Bullock

And once, a drunken Irish lady in Cleveland (I was up visiting friends) said I looked just like Catherine Zeta Jones. But I think it was the whiskey talking....

The celebrity on your "to-do" list:

Gerard Butler

Hi there handsome....

Favorite childhood toy:

The Barbie Doll!

And now for your enjoyment, a random picture!

Here's Charlie, our Lhasa-Poo cutie pie.

I had fun playing along, and if you'd like to - consider yourself tagged!

Thank you to Mrs. Life Accounts!

I was given the Kreativ Blogger award by Mrs. Life Accounts! Thank you!

For this award, I am supposed to post 7 facts about myself and pass the award on to 7 other bloggers!

Here are some facts:

1. In case you don't already know, Chris and I have 5 dogs. Yes - 5. We didn't intend to have so many - he had one, and I had two when we got together - but we love them all (although this is it for probably the next 10 years!).

2. I hate some of the clothes and hairstyles that some kids and teens are sporting these days! I secretly am glad that all of that will be out of style by the time we have kids and they are that age!

3. We live about 10 minutes away from the new Dallas Cowboys stadium ("Jerry-World") in Arlington, and it is absolutely massive on a grand scale. But it is really cool looking. Can't wait to go see Texas Tech (Chris' alma mater) play Baylor there in November.

4. I always thought I was a "city girl" at heart, and in many ways I am... but as I get older, the draw of living in a small town gets more and more appealing to me.

5. Because Chris travels so much, and I am the one to drop him off and pick him up, I have now memorized the DFW airport and could probably navigate it in my sleep. I realize that is nothing exciting for you to know about me, but just something I was thinking about last Sunday afternoon when I was dropping Chris off again.

6. I have mad love for spicy food. Really spicy food. I love it. Unfortunately, Chris doesn't.

7. When I was younger, in high school, I would get really scared at haunted houses. But now, all they make me do is giggle and laugh. I guess it's because I know they're just people (like me) and that nothing's for real - it's all for fun. I don't know, they're just not all that scary to me anymore. (*On a side note: I also didn't think Paranormal Activity the movie was as scary as I was expecting! It was okay, but not the scarefest I thought it would be! I guess I'm jaded.)

Hmmm.... I'm supposed to name 7 fellow bloggers, but I'll leave it open to anyone who wants to play along . Just let me know so I can come read about you!

Just realized something...

There are a lot of bloggers out there that have marked their "blogiversary" or their 100th/200th posts.... evidently I am not one of those. It's not that I think it's not worth noting, it's just that I guess I haven't really been paying attention.
My one year blogiversary?? Oh, it was in May.
My 200th post?? Oh, it was earlier this month.

I guess I'll just have to pay better attention and wait for post #300 or 2 years - whichever comes first.

An ode to blogging

Oh blog, why is it that you vex me so? When I come to write on you, my mind goes blank of all original ideas. I feel like I have nothing interesting to say on you. Why?? I see interesting things on other people's blogs, and all I can think is "Why didn't I think of this?".
Argh!

So, hopefully soon, I'll be working on here to make some changes - updating blog lists, offering and showcasing my work, and just generally making things look a little fresher.

Thank you all who have kept coming by and leaving me messages, it really means a lot to me. I think the best thing about blogging, and the reason that keeps me doing it, is the friendships that I've fostered out there.

...to be better organized

I don't understand how some people do it. I just don't.
How can some of my fave bloggers work full-time, manage a couple blogs (I'm talking about you Ami and Bekah), keep them all up to date with the blog rolls and new designs, etc., and still find free time to do other stuff - like clean the house, give the dogs a bath, fold and put up laundry.... you know, all the boring things that I've been neglecting over the past week!

I am *kinda* done at my client's house. We still need to hang the curtains - which is a BIG part of the room, hence no "after" pics yet- but other than that, we have everything else arranged! It feels so good to have gone through this process and come out the other end with a sucess on our hands. Her budget was tiny - around $1000 to $1500 total - so we didn' t do the dream makeover you see in magazines, but I will say that I think it looks great! Big change from where she was before. And most importantly? She likes it.

So, now, from here, I am working on my sister's new appartment. So far we have walls painted and things moved in. This will be a much slower paced project as she's going to be buying things along the way instead of all at once. That's great because you can really take your time looking around. But it's bad because depending on how slow you take, by the time you're "done", you'll be ready to start over! Anyways, most importantly for her is a console table piece that we're going to use for her little bar. I'm so excited about her place - it's really going to be a fun and cool bachelorette pad!!

On top of that, I've been slowly pulling my own house together. And trying to get better at sewing, as well as come up with some creative ideas for a side business.

So I fear that my blogging has suffered. Last week I literally didn't have the mental brain power (or much free time, to be honest) to really come up with anything that I thought was interesting for EAD Living, and I so wanted to contribute. But the juices were dried up. With Chris out of town this week, I don't know how to gain access to our wedding photos which are stored on an external harddrive. Yes, he's shown me before, but I am a total novice with computers (I only look semi-smart on this blog). So a wedding recap being finished is out of the question for this week. Which also brings up my point that I've been thinking of updating the look of my own blog.... but how to incorporate the things I'd like?? And exactly what IS IT that I like, anyways???
There are so many beautiful and fun blogs out there that the writers put so much work into, and I just wonder sometimes how it is that they get it all done. Do they watch TV at all? Eat? Sleep? Go outside? I'd love for my blog to be that awesome, but I fear that sometimes my brain is simply empty of any unique or interesting ideas. Rather than just throwing stuff up that I feel like anyone could know ("Duh"), I would like to post on some interesting topics - or at least on something that's unique to me.

At least with the closing of this project, things will be slowing down for me. I'll have time to clean house tonight. I'm sure I'll only get part of it done, but at least the fur-bunnies will stop chasing me as I walk down the hall!

Any ideas from out there? How do all you super-women do it?

Bloggy Meme

I saw this Q & A over on Linda's site, and thought I'd steal away!!

1. How long have you been blogging? Since May '08.

2. Why did you start blogging? I started reading tons of blogs while planning my wedding, and wanted to join in the fun! Also, I started blogging over at Elizabeth Anne Designs Weddings around the same time.

3. What have you found to be the benefits of blogging? I've met some awesome people through this blog. I've been exposed to so many different ideas. I've been able to express myself so much better. (ditto!)

4. How many times a week do you post an entry? I try for at the very least twice a week. Sometimes I fail miserably, and sometimes I post more. It depends on my available time in front of a computer, and if I have anything interesting to share!

5. How many different blogs do you read on a regular basis? About 5 to 10. On a regular basis.

6. Do you comment on other people’s blogs? Yes, I try to. Unless they have like 100 comments, and then only if I feel strongly about whatever it is. Generally I comment to stay in touch with my other blog-sisters out there.

7. Do you keep track of how many visitors you have? Is so, are you satisfied with your numbers?No, but Chris wants me to. I don't know how - seriously! But I probably wouldn't care about my numbers.

8. Do you ever regret a post that you wrote? No.

9. Do you think your audience has a true sense of who you are based on your blog? Maybe. I'm not sure. I'm probably a lot more "serious" in real-life.

10. Do you blog under your real name? I use my real first name. I try to avoid using my last name, but I think I've slipped before. (ditto!)

11. Are there topics that you would never blog about? Intentionally bad-mouthing somebody, the specifics of my work. And probably Michael Jackson.

12. What is the theme/topic of your blog? My life with some design bits thrown in along the way.

13. Do you have more than one blog? If so, why? I guest blog over at EAD Living. But I've been as lazy over there as I have been here! Time to get to work!!

*Oh, and you're welcome for the gratuitous picture of my dog Riley. Just in case you haven't seen enough of him.... Just thought this post needed a pic!

A Make-under

If you haven't read her blog, or don't know what a "makeunder" is, you should go check out Jess' post over at Kelly+Olive today. Great idea for how to live your life.... or at least motivation to clean out that closet!!

Prada tote giveaway

You could win this bag from Ideeli. The drawing ends in just over a day - so get over there and sign up quickly!!

Just couldn't resist...

Passed along by one of my friends via email... http://awkwardfamilyphotos.com/
You must go check it out. The commentary is priceless.
And try to giggle quietly if you're at work, like me.

Tag!

I'm it again!

Linda tagged me with a new questionaire, one I haven't seen before! Here are the rules:
THE RULES:
Step 1: respond and rework—answer the questions on your own blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
Step 2: tag—eight other un-tagged people will be tagged.

So, here we go!

Make a list of things you can see without getting up:Um, a computer, my work phone, calculator, orange glass full of pens/pencils/scissors, stapler, tape, lots of pictures/comics I've pasted up, calendar, orders to process.... desk stuff.

What were you like when you were five? Incredibly outgoing. And very talkative.

What are you wearing now? Brown pants (that have a slight black herringbone in them), black patent loafers with gold buckle/chain thing, black cowl neck sweater (and black under tank b/c it's cold!).

What color is your bedroom? A gray-blue-green. Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage.

What’s the last thing you read/are currently reading? "3rd Degree" by James Patterson. I love murder/mystery books!

Do you nap a lot? Nope, it makes me groggy. I could doze off at work but I wouldn't be there much longer.

Who was the last person you hugged? Chris

What’s your current fandom/obsession/addiction? Finding cool, yet not too expensive vintage silver trophies for my mantle

What was the last thing you ate today? A bite-sized Snickers and a bite-sized Milky-Way. But before that was the Orchard Harvest salad from Panera Bread (it has good stuff in there, and with a vinegrette on top, isn't too bad for you!)

What was the last thing you said aloud? No, that's not my order. (To my boss)

What websites do you always visit when you go online? Yahoo (email), my blog, and various other blogs depending on the time I have.

What was the last thing you bought? Lunch (I'm getting so many in common with Linda!)

What are you listening to right now? Kid Rock/Sheryl Crow duet over the piped in music that comes out the speaker of my phone. Usually the songs aren't that cool.

What movie are (or were!) you most excited to show your kids? Sleeping Beauty. Better hope it's a girl!

If you could have any super power, what would it be? Reading other people's minds!

What is your favorite weather, and why? Sunny with a brisk breeze, about 75 degrees. I love fall. (Once again, totally agree with Linda on this!)

What time do you usually get up? 6:45-7:00

What is your most challenging goal right now? Paying bills

Say something to the person who tagged you: I love your site Linda! You always have something there that inspires me and makes me think!

If you could have a house–totally paid for, fully furnished–anywhere in the world, where would you want it to be? Only one?? Okay, I guess I'd pick a cliff, over looking the beach and ocean in Cabo.

Favorite vacation spot? Cabo. Yes, it was a great honeymoon!

What is your favorite children’s book? I'm not sure on this one....

Name one thing you just can’t resist no matter how bad it is for you: Once again, only one?? I'd have to say #1 on my list would be candy!

If you could meet anyone famous - dead or alive - who would it be? Benjamin Franklin


Okay, so I will tag Jenny, Lindsey, the Introverted Wife, Krista, Amy, Tracy, Melissa, and London Bride

Honest Scrap!

I was tagged by Miss Shugarman from the Sweet Wife to tell 10 honest things about me!
So here goes:

• 1. I don't drink coffee. I don't like the bitter taste. And yes, I've tried a cappuchino - still tastes like coffee. I am an admitted Diet Coke addict.
• 2. I need - *REALLY NEED* - to start working out again as my clothes are starting to get too tight. In fact, and this is honest here, folks - I ripped the inside lining to a pair of pants the other day by bending over. Yeah. That's a good feeling.
• 3. I really wish I could open my own little store. That would be my ultimate dream someday. And if I do, I would want it to be as awesome as Red in Fredricksburg. I think they took my dreams and made them into reality.
• 4. I don't have that many close friends anymore, and I really wish I could meet more! Most of my good friends that I used to have either A) moved away B) have lost touch C) or both. I'm really close with my sisters, which is great! But I really wish I had a great girl friend to gripe with!
• 5. I kind of feel like a dork telling you about my lack of really close friends... but seriously! Where do you meet new friends when you're 32? And not a Mom? Needless to say, that's why you all out there really cheer me up, and I really appreciate it!
• 6. I'm not really that close with my Mother-in-law... we don't quite see eye to eye on most things.... and that's all I will say. Luckily, Chris and I agree on most things.
• 7. I am a total night owl. It's really hard for me to wake up early. If I could set my own schedule, it would be: wake up at 8:30 AM and go to bed around midnight.
• 8. I used to be a history major when I was first in college, before switching to Interior Design. I wanted to be a high school teacher.
• 9. I have hypothyroidism, which means that my thyroid doesn't produce enough hormone. I've been on medication since I was 17. While I will admit that it makes me a little more prone to gain weight easily, I don't believe that it is why I'm heavier than I want to be. That's because I haven't really exercised regularly since the wedding, and I ate too much over the holidays. An underactive thyroid will not cause you to be fat or obese.
• 10. I am seriously considering chopping off my hair! At least to about my shoulders. Right now, it falls just under my bra strap (and that's when it's dry). I'm just kind of tired of it. It doesn't really have any "style" to it, and it gets in the way a lot.

Okay, I'm supposed to tag 5 people, but I'm just going to leave it open - if you'd like to tag yourself, be my guest!!

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

Guys and new technology...
This would be my husband trying out our new underwater capable digital camera in Cabo on our honeymoon! LOL!

So not to be too technologically un-savvy, I've updated my little blog here with a new look! Thank you to Linda!!
I've also added labels to my posts, and have tried to go back about a month or so and add them to my older posts.