Month: September 2010

  • So I took a little road trip

    Dear Friends from the Internet,

    I don’t know that I’ve ever loved y’all more than I did yesterday when y’all went above and beyond to tell me all about your preferred television shows. Although I have to say that many of you way underestimated me by assuming that I don’t watch Glee or Modern Family or Chuck. I merely mentioned the new shows I’m auditioning to become part of my regular rotation because who has the time to read all my various programming choices and the reasons why they are dear to my heart?

    And I do become invested in my shows. Hence the reason I am already mourning the imminent end of Friday Night Lights. I don’t know what I’m going to do without Eric and Tami Taylor. The sky won’t be as blue.

    Not to mention that I found out yesterday that Brad is leaving Rachel Zoe, Inc.

    I DIE.

    I AM DEAD.

    Oh, and that Brad Womack is going to be the new bachelor. Which just goes to prove that there are a lot of single women out there who think they are going to be the one to make a handsome bar owner with commitment issues settle down and change his ways. Here’s a secret, play the lottery instead. The odds are better.

    But enough about television. For now.

    Yesterday was such a gorgeous day. In fact, the whole week here has been absolutely perfect. I’ve even worn sweaters for about three hours every morning before the temperatures get back up to the mid-80’s and I remember that October is too early to wear sweaters in Texas. I’ve only been a Texan my entire life so it’s understandable that I have to relearn this same principle every single fall.

    Anyway, I went to our church in the morning to help register women for Bible study, even though I am completely paranoid about being in charge of any type of administrative duties. That is not one of my gifts. Mainly because it involves things like details. And numbers. And sometimes even basic math skills.

    After I finished up, I decided on a total whim to drive out to Boerne (It’s a little town outside San Antonio and is pronounced like Bernie. As in Bernie Mac, but without the Mac.) I’d gone out with my friends from Birthday Club the night before and a few of them were talking about some great little boutiques in downtown Boerne. So I turned up a little Pat Green on the stay wag stereo and made the thirty minute drive out there intending to only stay for about an hour.

    So, naturally, I found myself finally heading back home three hours later. I had the best time looking in all the antique stores and home goods stores and clothing boutiques. And I found some treasures that you can’t find just anywhere.

    Like this vest.

    No, I didn’t buy it. But GOD BLESS AMERICA that it exists.

    And speaking of America, the land of opportunity, check this out.

    Acorns. Twenty-five cents apiece.

    Caroline totally cut me a deal on the acorns she sold me. I had no idea the acorn market was so lucrative.

    Then I saw this framed Lonesome Dove Trail map and fell in love.

    I’ve decided I want some type of vintage Texas map to frame and hang in my living room, but this one was more than my standard $15 price limit so I had to pass.

    I also passed on these melamine plates that I debated buying to hang in the kitchen.

    And now I think I regret that decision.

    However, I did make one purchase.

    I’m not even sure where I’m going to put it, but I loved it immediately. The picture really doesn’t do it justice. The store owner told me it was made by a local Austin artist, but she couldn’t remember her name. Which makes me sad because I’d love to see her other stuff. This was the last piece in the store.

    Then I bought myself a veggie sandwich made on homemade wheat bread and drove back home to pick up Caroline from school.

    When we got back home I showed P my new piece of art and he asked, “Is it supposed to look like that?”

    I realize it’s no roll of toilet paper on top of a toaster oven, but I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

    _____________________________________

    My friend, Travis, released his first book a few days ago. It’s called Surprised by Worship and I can’t recommend it enough.

    It’s on sale on Amazon. Just click on over to order a copy. And no I’m not getting compensated or anything to mention it. It’s just a great book written by a dear friend.
    ____________________________________
    There’s a new Kellogg’s giveaway on my giveaway page. Click over here for a chance to win $100 gift card.

  • A post about television because I have nothing to say

    You might think I’m exaggerating when I tell you that my mind is a total blank right now. But I’m not. I am not exaggerating. Because I NEVER exaggerate.

    I think the problem lies with the Benadryl I took earlier in the day. And, yes, I know there are other medications I can take for allergies but they all make me feel like a slightly better version than death so I might as well dance with the one that brung me.

    I don’t even know what that means.

    And there’s also the option of taking Sudafed but it causes me to be all hyped up and, frankly, if I have a choice between being overly excited or completely lethargic, I’ll take completely lethargic for $100, Alex. At least that way I can just sit on the couch and try to work my way through all the new shows filling up my DVR.

    Speaking of new shows, I’d love for you to share your thoughts on the new T.V. season. Are there any new shows that you’re adding to your rotation? Any must see T.V. that I need to know about?

    So far I’ve recorded Undercovers and then deleted it before I ever watched it because it didn’t get great reviews and I felt that it might be an hour of my life I’d never get back. I also recorded My Generation on ABC and watched it the other day. It has a good premise but OH MY WORD the acting is horrendous and the whole thing made me want to bury my head in a pillow several times. Which means I’ll definitely watch it again this week. And every week from now until its almost certain cancellation.

    I can always be counted on to pick the absolute dog of the new season. Several years ago I even managed to get Gulley hooked on a show called Reunion (apparently I am very drawn to shows about people who have known each other since high school and all find themselves back together in a big quagmire of drama) and it was cancelled after about eight shows and we never found out who killed one of the other characters. It was a heartbreaker.

    The other new show I meant to try, but forgot to record, is Blue Bloods with Tom Selleck because MAGNUM P.I. Plus it comes on Friday nights and I could use a Friday night show to get my weekend started.

    The words you’re looking for are pathetic and sad.

    And, also, ragweed sufferer. Which has nothing to do with T.V. but everything to do with Benadryl.

    Other than that, I can’t think of anything else I’m interested in adding to my weekly watching schedule. Am I missing anything good?

  • I feel we represent a different kind of southern living

    Well, after reading some of the comments on yesterday’s post, I was thoroughly freaked out about the possibility that the acorns Caroline brought home for me might be the host vehicle for some type of worm as opposed to little tiny oak trees that never reached their full potential. So I explained the situation to her and said it might be in our best interest to use them somewhere outside. Like maybe the trash.

    She completely agreed with my decision but I’ll have you know that she didn’t offer me any sort of refund. That’s two dollars that I’ll never see again.

    I’m just thankful that I didn’t buy into her sales pitch on the way to school yesterday morning when she tried to convince me the acorns might be worth the same amount as a new game for her Nintendo DS. Listen, if I wanted to pay $25 for fifteen acorns I’d shop at Pottery Barn.

    (Speaking of Pottery Barn, have y’all seen the Catalog Living blog? Hilarious.)

    As I bagged up the little worm-infested acorns, I felt that it was just one more example of why my house will never be like the homes featured in Southern Living. In all the years that I’ve perused the latest issues of various home decorating magazines, I have never once seen a dining room table that featured rotten, worm-infested acorns as a centerpiece.

    Understandably so.

    Here are a few other things you’ll never see in Southern Living:

    The charming tableau that P has arranged using our toaster as a focal point.

    Sure he could use a box of Kleenex to help him through fall allergy season, but that’s such an obvious choice. And if the half-used roll of toilet paper on top of the toaster doesn’t send the message, I think the spare roll off to the side says WE ARE EXTRA-CLASSY.

    Along those same lines, I think these bright orange soccer cones really add a little something extra to our office area.

    Before Caroline was born, I bought these darling little canister-things at Restoration Hardware. So you can be certain that I paid too much for them. But I felt like they added just the right decorative touch to the bathroom.

    So you can imagine my delight that Caroline has decided to use them as various receptacles for her mouthwash, toothpaste, toothbrush, hand soap and whatever else she decides to stick in there on any given day. I’m sure that’s exactly what the folks at Restoration Hardware had in mind.

    And then there is Caroline’s bedroom that has become P’s temporary lodging while he fights a cold and snores loud enough to wake the dead.

    I blame myself for this really. I brought that yellow floral comforter into our marriage. It belonged to me in college. Never could I have imagined that, twenty years later, my husband would use it every single night. And that it would become a replacement for the beautiful hot pink bedding I picked out for my little girl’s bedroom.

    But you know what’s worse than that comforter crumpled up on her bed? Trying to sleep while he breaks the sound barrier.

    Finally, there is this.

    You can’t really tell from my stellar photography, but that’s an album full of slides P pulled out about three weeks ago with the goal of going through all of them and getting them turned into a DVD. And then headless Butterfly Barbie joined in on the action about a week ago.

    I’m not sure why.

    But I can guarantee you that those acorns will hatch, the worms will complete an entire life cycle and those slides will still be right there.

    As will the toilet paper on the toaster.

    It’s how we roll.

    (Yes. I just went there.)

  • It’s not really a dry heat

    I will remember Saturday as one of the hottest days of my life. Although I’m sure I’ve probably survived hotter days. But those days didn’t happen forty-eight hours ago so I don’t need to complain about them at this juncture.

    Saturday morning started off just fine. Except for the fact that Caroline doesn’t really get the concept that Saturday mornings are for sleeping in. I can’t figure out why I have to drag her out of bed Monday through Friday but yet she wakes me up at 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning by leaning in as close to my face as she can get and uses a stage whisper to ask, “Will you turn on some cartoons for me?” After I peel myself off the ceiling, I lovingly say, “Go find your daddy”.

    But P had to head out early Saturday morning to help a bunch of men cook about 8000 pounds of meat, give or take 7900 pounds, for our church’s fall festival and he wasn’t available to turn on cartoons and scramble some eggs. So I rolled out of bed, cooked some breakfast, and hoped for a cat nap during Phineas and Ferb before we had to leave for our soccer game.

    The game was at 1:00. We got dressed and left for the fields by 12:30. This was a personal best departure time for me, especially considering that P wasn’t there to rush me out the door. It was my day to bring snack so I lugged the cooler across the parking lot and felt like I was about to die because it was approximately 132 degrees with about 204% humidity.

    We met P at the field and the Cheetah Girls took to the field for what had to be the hottest, most torturous game of their little soccer careers. Bless their hearts, they all looked like they’d jumped in a pool by the time it was over. And meanwhile all the parents sat on the sidelines and complained about how we’d never been so hot in our lives. As we sat there. Drinking our water. Under our umbrellas. Cheering on our precious babies as they ran up and down the field.

    After the game, Caroline and I drove out to the Fall Festival with P to see if I could possibly get any hotter without spontaneously combusting. As it turns out, I didn’t explode. But I wanted to. I would have happily exploded if it meant that I could have gotten out of the heat.

    I spent Saturday night trying to hydrate myself and wishing I could pack myself in a bathtub of ice like they did to Almanzo in that episode of Little House on the Prairie when he was so sick and Laura showed up to take care of him and let him know she still loved him even though he’d said that no woman of his was going to have a job. It’s one of my top five favorite Little House episodes ever.

    On Sunday Caroline ended up spending most of the day with Mimi and Bops. I was all excited about the alleged cold front that still hasn’t shown up as I type this (if it doesn’t make it here I will say horrible things about the weatherman for leading me on) and decided it would be a great time to really clean off our back porch and get it ready for all the dinners I envision us eating out there once the weather drops down to a crisp 85 this week.

    P had planned to sit on the couch and do nothing all day, but I lured him into my cleaning scheme because he doesn’t trust me to mix the bleach in the little pressure washer thing. I mean, you kill the grass dead one or six times and everyone’s a critic.

    Somehow cleaning the porch turned into bathing the dogs, taking the screens off all the windows and washing them from top to bottom and cleaning off all the outdoor furniture. I say that like we have vast amounts of outdoor furniture. We have a table. And four chairs. And a glider thing. Still, it was a lot of work.

    I also discovered that we don’t have any grass AT ALL on the far side of our house. It’s just dirt. Dirt that turned into mud while I washed the windows over there. So I asked P, “How long have we not had grass on that side of the house?”

    “About seven years.”

    Clearly I need to get out more.

    Later in the afternoon, Mimi and Bops dropped Caroline off. She handed me a Ziploc bag full of acorns and said, “Mama, I picked all these up for you so you can put them in the glass things on the dining room table”.

    (The glass urns on my table are filled with pinecones, acorns and little pumpkins right now. Very festive.)

    “Thanks, Baby. That’s so sweet!”

    What a sweet girl. Always thinking about her mama and taking the time to pick up all those acorns just to make me happy.

    “You’re welcome, but I’m going to need to get a few dollars for them.”

    Okay, so maybe she’s not as sweet as much as she’s a capitalist.

  • Fashion Friday: Edition memories light the corners of my mind

    Yesterday morning there was nothing I wanted to do less than my Couch to 5K workout. Nothing. Face a pack of angry badgers? FINE. Walk/run three miles around my neighborhood in 205% humidity? NO THANK YOU.

    But I did it anyway because, ALL TOGETHER NOW, if I let myself have even a tiny break it will turn into a five year running sabbatical.

    After I dragged myself around the block a few times and made it home, I cooled down for a minute and then jumped in the shower because I had to run up to Caroline’s school for the Book Fair. I took the time to blow dry my hair AND roll it in hot rollers. Then I realized I was completely out of hairspray.

    I stepped outside and before I’d even finished locking the back door my hair was as flat as a pancake. Any volume or curl was a distant memory. I had hot-rolled in vain. IN VAIN.

    So after I left the book fair, I headed straight to Ulta to purchase new hairspray. After spending much time debating the merits of different sprays, I decided to take the plunge and buy a can of L’Oreal Elnett Satin. I’ve wanted to try it for the last year but the $14.99 price tag had held me back. It seemed pricey for an unknown hairspray.

    But in their magazine ads it was touted as the brand STYLISTS ALL OVER THE WORLD have used for years even though it hasn’t been available in the United States until the last year or so. Allegedly, U.S. hair stylists used to stock up on cans of it while overseas and bring it back to the United States.

    (This must have been prior to the days of the no liquids over 3 ounces rule took effect. Surely the L’Oreal marketing people wouldn’t exaggerate for effect.)

    So now I’m the proud owner of the hairspray BELOVED by the world. Conveniently, it really was $14.99 which is my preferred price point to throw out to P when he asks how much something cost.

    Anyway, my hair was beyond salvaging by the time I made it home with my WORLD-FAMOUS hair spray, but I sprayed a little bit on my hair just to get a gauge of the aerosol coverage and smell. And I’ll be danged if the smell didn’t immediately transport me back to my Me-Ma’s pink tiled bathroom and the years between 1971 and 1992. L’Oreal Elnett is one of the smells of my childhood and I had no idea.

    Now I just need to figure out how my Me-Ma was getting cans of L’Oreal Elnett all the way to Beaumont, Texas when world famous stylists had to smuggle it back to the U.S. in their suitcases. I mean Me-Ma never even drove a car, much less jetted off to Paris to secure some hair product. It’s a mystery I will continue to ponder.

    I will also continue to use the hairspray because the smell makes me happy. And I’ll be honest, it doesn’t smell very good. It smells a little like the ozone is melting around me.

    And now for some fashion.

    1. Wanigan Coat

    I am so drawn to plaid coats. And I own at least two of them.

    But then I see one like this one and think that it’s so adorable and would love to live in my closet.

    2. Jacket with Front Ruffle

    See? I have a thing for jackets.

    3. Cecil Chunky Cowl Scarf

    Last year I found a little scarflette thing on Etsy that I wanted to carry around in my pocket because of all the precious. Now, I’m slightly in love with the cowl neck scarf thing with the little flower. It looks so cozy.

    And I’m not even sure what I’d wear it with, but I bet I could find something.

    4. Hooded Cargo Jacket

    The majority of the time I just show y’all stuff that I really like but have no intention of actually buying. Not that I don’t want to, but because I have to save my money for $14.99 bottles of hairspray and Pretzel M&Ms.

    However, I’m actually going to buy this jacket. It’s the perfect casual thing to throw on with jeans while running errands or going to school events or buying hairspray.

    5. Ultrasoft V-Neck Sweater

    I feel the same way about this sweater. It comes in a bunch of different colors, it’s soft, and I can throw it on with jeans or a skirt. And it’s on sale.

    6. Argyle Flannel Pajamas

    I don’t know why I’m featuring flannel pajamas when it’s still hotter than the sun here. I’d just like to believe that someone, somewhere might need a pair of flannel pajamas to ward off the chill.

    7. Shades of Carnelian Necklace

    Another Etsy find. I love the colors in this. It would look so great with browns or greens or denim. Perfect for fall.

    8..Mossimo Black: Studded Tote

    I saw this bag at Target the other day and was so tempted to buy it and then I didn’t and now I can’t remember why. It comes in red, black, brown and maybe silver but I can’t remember for sure.

    I just know that it’s seriously cute and a great deal.

    9. Kamik Janis Rain Boots

    About two week ago it was pouring down rain one morning and I got on the internet with a mind to get serious about making a rainboot purchase. I talked about it all winter long last year and never actually ended up with any rainboots, but with some seriously wet feet every time I had to pick Caroline up from school since San Antonio turned into Seattle for much of last winter.

    But then I fell in love with these and showed them to P and he said we’re in a La Nina cycle or an El Nino cycle or some kind of cycle that supposedly means it’s going to be a warm, dry winter and so I decided to wait on the rainboots.

    And it’s rained almost every day since.

    Thus ends my tale of woe.

    10. Made to Measure Skirt

    I have nowhere to wear this skirt. But if I had a job that required me to get out of my yoga pants, I would totally buy this skirt and I’d wear it with a velvet blazer and some great boots and I would reminisce about how much I loved the store Harold’s back in the early 90’s and how this outfit seems very Harold’s-like.

    And how maybe I was wearing an outfit very similar to this the last time I smelled L’Oreal Elnett hairspray in my Me-Ma’s pink-tiled bathroom.

    Y’all have a great Friday.

  • This, that, and the other

    I am so glad that y’all like the kitchen. I mean I wouldn’t have changed it if you didn’t, but I appreciate the validation. My kitchen felt like Sally Field at the Oscars all day yesterday. “You like me! You really like me!”

    Honestly, I don’t know how my kitchen felt. It may have been more along the lines of “Hey! Don’t be afraid to push that self-clean button on the ovens” or “Any time you can sweep the floor in here wouldn’t be a moment too soon.”

    Anyway, a couple of questions came up so I thought I would answer them in a handy numerical format. And I’ll probably add a few other things for good measure.

    1. Several of you asked about the picture hanging on the kitchen wall. It is with probably too much pride that I inform you that it’s a magnetic chalkboard.

    I had long dreamed of a magnetic chalkboard because we have a stainless refrigerator which doesn’t take kindly to magnets and yet I needed somewhere to post all manner of homemade art and party invitations. But I never found anything that wasn’t plain and boring and ugly.

    Then, one day six years ago, I walked into a local store and saw this chalkboard hanging on a wall. And I fell in love. I told the salesgirl I had to have it and she took it off the wall as she said, “Did you know it’s also magnetic?”

    LORD, YOU ARE TOO GOOD TO ME.

    2. Okay, here are the links to the fabrics I showed you yesterday.

    Aviary (It also comes in a beautiful blue and a yellow)

    Richloom Cornwall Garden

    Duralee Perch Fabric

    3. I kept my nephew yesterday while my sister ran a few errands.

    I tried not to gnaw on his cheeks, but it was very difficult because he’s like a real live muppet.

    4. After I left my sister’s house I ran by Hobby Lobby to look for a couple of things, namely some fall decor and perhaps a faux pumpkin or gourd. But I left empty-handed because I get totally overwhelmed in Hobby Lobby and before I know what has happened I have a cart full of glittery pumpkins and a pewter ghost and I’m not even sure I like glittery pumpkins and pewter ghosts.

    Not to mention that all the Christmas decorations totally threw me off.

    In summary, I really have no business in any type of craft-oriented store.

    5. Caroline has been obsessed with looking through catalogs looking for the right Halloween costume since my suggestion of a black cat with a tutu is TOTALLY LAME. The other day she excitedly pointed out a costume and said, “LOOK! I CAN GO AS SAINT LUKE!”

    Speaking of lame.

    But then she showed me the photo she was looking at in the Chasing Fireflies catalog.

    Ultimately I think she’s decided to be a purple butterfly as opposed to a beloved symbol of America or the patron saint of physicians.

    6. I need to go to bed because it’s school picture day tomorrow which means we’ll have more wardrobe changes before 7:30 a.m. than J. Lo will have in her entire first season as a new judge on American Idol.

    7. There is a new Kellogg’s post up on my giveaway page. Click on over for a chance to win $100 gift card.