My new toy

I got a new phone this weekend that can call, text, email, take pics, get on the internet, set appointments, has a to-do list, has GPS.... I feel more organized already!

It's the HTC Snap, and while it isn't a touchscreen, it's very easy to learn and use (and with the buttons is just as fast as the touchscreen), has a nice sized keyboard, and was about $100 less expensive than the touchscreen phones. As someone who's had smartphones for the last 3 years or so, Chris welcomed me to 2009.... ha ha.

Don't you love getting new practical things that are also fun????

RIP you 3-year old flip phone. You served me well.

Decorating project #2

My second project!

This client is a young professional who just graduated from MBA school and landed a job in Fort Worth at Lockheed in their financial division. She's 27, single, lots of fun, and is looking for a cool more "adult" space that shows off some of her personality and that she can entertain in.
She also happens to be my sister, so this gig isn't really going to be paying the bills.
But I'm excited about it nonetheless!

Last weekend, when she moved in, this is what it looked like:

Pretty basic apartment.

So this week, we worked on a few things. We're by no means finished, but I wanted to show you what we're planning and doing so far.

We are planning a large gallery wall - to break up the large expanse of blank wall space. Here are some of them laid out. (Obviously, James Dean is not going on the wall sideways. We're going to get a multi-opening mat for the frame and use it for pictures.)


This is the large expanse of wall where the pictures will be.

Since light yellow is one of her favorite colors, and it helps to brighten up this space, we painted a few walls in the living "area". The round table, lamp, and Texas A&M chair are temporary, as is the tan slipcover (until she can find a nicer white one).

Another view of the light yellow - I think it turned out so nice. We're going to accent this with "peacock" colors like teals, greens, and blues.

This weekend she plans to buy a couple of really pretty upholstered chairs, along with a 3-tiered console table we're going to use as a bar and a small mirrored side table.

I really think this is going to turn out so cool! It'll be young and fun, but still sophisticated.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

...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?

Can't Touch This... or When Bad Fashion Comes Back

Please Hammer, don't hurt 'em.

I was reading over on the Newlyweds Next Door that she was seeing elements of "Grunge" fashion coming back in style. Plaid, flannel, baggy jeans.... This after we've cycled through (and still are) the '80's with the skinny jeans, baggy dolman sleeved shirts, bright colors, and leggings.

But when I saw THESE on Ideeli this morning, I didn't laugh. I was a little bit horrified. Seriously? Hammer-pants??? I remember wearing these. I was in 8th grade, "Saved by the Bell" was big, and so was our hair and Z Cavariccis. I had a floral pair from the Limited Express (back when it was still the Limited Express), and I thought they were soooooo cool. But at least I can use the excuse that I was 13 - 14 years old. But there is no way I'd even think to wear them now. I mean really, would they be cute on ANYONE? I don't think looking like you've got droopy-drawers looks cute at all.

Just my take. Yours?

What's up

I've been busy at work on my client's house - painting, shopping, hanging, sewing.... And we still have things to do!

But I wanted to share some "during" pics with you all.

This is her entryway, and all of these pieces are new. We may still add some more, we'll see how the budget stretches.


Here is Chris lending a hand, and a level, to the gallery wall in her office. I thought it turned out really great, and she is excited about it too (yay!)


One view of her living room. We've painted her walls a silver-sage color, we added the mirror, side table, and lamp. We moved the furniture around a bit too. But we still lack pillows, curtains, floor lamp, more artwork, and possibly a plant. I'm trying to convince her that she's not going to kill it, and if it does die, she's not out a ton of money!

In her dining room, we've bought a plate-collage thing (a really great technical description, huh?) to go into the recessed arch in her wall, and we're planning on painting it a shade or so darker than the wall color. We still need drapes - which will match the living room drapes, and a few accessories.

So, tonight: finish pillows. Tomorrow: meet with client, talk drapes, talk stencils for her kitchen, and see about our game-plan for the rest of the week. Wednesday: meet with my sister at her new place to help pick paint colors. Thursday: dinner with friends who just had a new baby. Friday: meet with client possibly, or shop for her, or sew curtains.

Oh, and work from 9 to 5 at my day job through Thursday!

It's nice to be busy, and it's been fun to see this come around as it gets closer to being finished! But I'm definitely learning that I need to be more organized!! I'm wanting to get a calendar or list maker on my phone so that I might schedule my time more efficiently! I still need to finish my posts of my wedding recap for EAD, post something on their Living site (because I haven't for so long!!), oh, and clean the house/wash the dogs/put up laundry/do my nails..... so I'm hoping that getting a little more organized will help with all of this.
Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Happy Monday!

Puppy-proofed

We always joke that by the time we have kids, we won't have to worry about "baby-proofing" the house. With the exception of a few outlet covers, we have everything fragile/breakable up fairly high, and we have to make sure that we have the trash locked up. Rascal, the Black Lab/Shephard mix, is the ringleader of the "Free the Trash" protest movement, but the other little ones join into the mix too.

So, when we leave and forget to lock up the trash, this is what we come home to:

Fun.

What's even more fun? Oh, they pee-ed on some of it. Yeah.

On a happier note, everything's moving along great with the decorating project. We have walls painted, a side table and 4 lamps purchased, artwork and a mirror. She's out of town for a few days, but on Sunday we'll be finishing up the painting and hanging things on the walls.

Of course I forgot to take "before" pics, but I'll get some "during" pics Sunday to share with everyone!

Is it hot enough for you?

Detailed Local Forecast

Today: Plenty of sunshine. Very hot. High 106F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph.
Tonight: Mostly clear. Warm. Low 81F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow: A mainly sunny sky. Hot. High 104F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.
Tomorrow night: Clear. Low 79F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.

Wednesday: More sun than clouds. Highs 100 to 104F and lows in the low 80s.

Thursday: Mostly sunny. Highs 98 to 102F and lows in the upper 70s.

Friday: Scattered thunderstorms possible. Highs in the mid 90s and lows in the mid 70s.

Just in case some of you in, I don't know.... anywhere but here, think it's hot outside. Thank Jesus you haven't lived in Texas the last few weeks. Or, for the next couple. It's freaking hot. Like, get-into-your-car-that-has-light-gray-upholstered-seats-and-still-burn-yer-ass-hot.

I know, I know, I live here. Have lived here for over 20 years. Shouldn't gripe - I know what's coming when summer rolls around. But I think this summer is one of the worst that I can remember. It's just brutal out there (and it's a Monday) and I just needed to gripe to somebody.
So, thank you.

You may go and enjoy your air-conditioning now.

P.S. - I like how today is described as "Very Hot", but tomorrow is only labeled regular ol' "Hot" because it's only going to be 104!!

Guess what??

I just got my first official (meaning "not family") decorating job!

On my mandatory day off from work yesterday I met with my new client "T" at her house, and I'm going to help her decorate her living room, dining room, study and entryway and kitchen. We're looking to paint, buy a few smaller pieces of furninture, some accessories, curtains and pillows.
Yesterday we came up with a color scheme and an initial, very loose, plan for what all we wanted to do.

I'm so excited abou this!

More details to come...

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!

Happy July 7th

I hope everyone had a wonderful Fourth of July! After the *fun* event last week, we had a great and productive, albeit hot, weekend.

A new ceiling fan was purchased and hung up, mortar/grout/adhesive/trim were all purchased in preparation for new kitchen countertops, and paint was purchased and applied to my living room walls (plus one in my dining room).
My sister Jacque offered her help, and between the two of us we had the room painted in about 4 hours (including lunch). Jacque is about to move into an apartment in downtown Fort Worth after graduating with her MBA, and she is planning on doing some painting there. She offered to help because she doesn't have a lot of experience painting.... you heard me right. She wanted to learn and practice. I don't think she realized the fun she was signing up for, but nonetheless, she really helped me out and I greatly appreciate it!


I am really liking the new "Greige" color on the walls ("Windsor Greige" from Sherwin Williams). It's actually the same color as in our kitchen, and it brightens the room up quite a bit. The green color was nice, but it was just so dark.
Initially, I didn't want a "beige" , but I thought it would be nice to tie in with the kitchen since it is all very open. Also, I just couldn't find another color that coordinated with my big green leather chair!!!! This "greige" color allows me to bring in colorful accents.



Here is the new and old colors next to each other. Although it doesn't look like it's much darker in this picture, the new greige color is so much lighter and brighter than the green!

I'll post more "after" pics soon.

Chris is feeling much much better, although his new blood pressure medication is not really agreeing with him. He is pretty much feeling all of the side-effects, poor guy. So, he has a call into his doctor to switch meds to something that doesn't make him feel so crummy. But, we had a nice weekend together, and he is back to normal.