Flea finds

Ive been hittin up Leeds and Chelsea lately for those special pieces to finish my living room. So far, I have found some really great deals. Like these two framed British hound hunt prints. Two unique frames in great condition with new beautiful mounts and glass. They were a steal, and my new favorite things.

Im still hanging onto the ship that Spencer sat on, bc it's just too cool, even though its now in rough shape. I also snatched this glass and wood lamp. (it's detail is cool in person) The shade is temporary but currently serving its purpose. 

 and we have curtains! (thanks mom) I still have to find the perfect table to go between my (still to be recovered) chairs. I have also the frames for this middle wall, but it must all go up at once.



The dining room also got curtains and the antique mirror I snagged at an estate sale.

In April, we are headed to Atlanta for some huge flea market. I cant wait. I might be obsessed....

A weekend with Aunt Jensi

Last weekend, Jensi came to visit and brought her three adorable babies with her. Sawyer (far right), Reux (back middle) & Molly (back left). Of course Mac is up front. The reason for the visit was a friend get together at Sam's house since we were all so busy over the holidays. We had a really fun time catching up and playing with Baby Sam and David.  Sunday morning I made breakfast, and had several bushy tailed sous chefs.

 Sawyer helped with the eggs

Molly & Reaux assisted with the biscuits

In typical male fashion, Mac let everyone else do the work. 

 We have some pretty good grub by the end

Deer me.

Today was going so well. 

I had a great meeting this morning, and set up several new accounts. I finally got a laptop for the office, and I did really good by eating a wonderful tilapia salad for lunch. Then, I did something ive never done before. Somehow I didnt manage to see the doe that was lining up in a starting position on the left side of the road. When she took off, there was no stopping her. I barley had time to brake. When I hit it, I knew it was not going to be pretty. Im talking about my car of course. Luckily, it's not too bad, but I will be filing a claim tomorrow to get this poor baby fixed. Can a gal catch a break?

In the good news column, I found the honey hole of art for my living room at the chelsea antique mall. Cant wait to pick it up Friday!

First Hurdle: complete.

Im three weeks into my "new year, new you" campaign (cheesy helps me stay focused). So far, ive hit my first hurdle- 5 pounds gone! I was told by my trainer, that the average female loses 1/2 lb a week, so im trending well. I contribute it to shocking my body into exercise again after a year of eating a drinking whatever I wanted. Regardless, im pretty excited about it, and am looking forward to the next three weeks. I also cant wait to wear some clothes that have been gathering dust in the closet since 2009.

In other news, in typical lazy Friday fashion, I left the office after lunch and met my mom and sisters in Leeds for some flea market fun! Not the best loot at this trip, but I did manage to find two things. I will document these, and my progress on the living room transformation soon with some some pics. Im still looking for a few key pieces to make it complete. One being my fabric. After months of  searching and coming up short, i think a trip to some big fun upholstery place in Atlanta is in store pretty soon. If I cant find it there, it's back to square one. I wish it was as easy as stripping curtains from the windows...

Jensi and the pups are coming this weekend, so I would imagine it will be epic. updates to follow.

Random morning post

Im sitting here trying to enjoy my English muffin with Mac beside me gnawing on a potholder he commandeered last night. (typical morning routine). I have a few minutes before I dash up 280, so thought i'd pop in for a quick hello. Because of that annoying ice mess last week, all activities and meetings canceled then are occurring now. Because of which, I feel like this is the real first week back at work from the holidays. On top of that, J's bday is this tomorrow, and I still have no idea what to get him. Dinner will have to suffice for now, as eating is the only thing i really have time for (lame workaholic wife, i know). At least Tosh.O is back, right?

Exit Through the Gift Shop

Once again, J has succeeded in getting me to sit and watch a documentary, which on the onset, looks like shit. However, as with most movies he suggests, is quite not. The newest find is called Exit Through the Gift Shop, and its almost two documentaries in one.

It begins with a French emigrant residing in L.A., who owns a second hand clothing shop, but is obsessed with filming everything in his life. He carries a camera at all times. On a visit to London to see a cousin, he discovers the world of Street Art. This cousin happened to be on the cusp of the movement, and called himself "Space Invader."

He made his art out of these tiles, and put them all around London. Since, the Frenchman taped everything, he gets hours upon hours of these artists forming this art around London at night. He soon begins the meet the biggest players in the street art field. However, he has a personal obsession with meeting the largest player, Banksy. (activity: google image 'Banksy' and see his work, it's amazing) Through happenstance he finally meets the illusive artist, and becomes his sidekick for the next several years, taping everything. He gets permission to do this by telling Banksy he is putting together a documentary on street art. This documentary was something he never intended to create, however through Bansky's request is finally produced. Apparently, it was so shitty, Banksy convinced the Frenchman to him to leave him the tapes, and motivated him to become a street artist himself. Never thinking he actually would.

Enter, Mr. Brainwash.

 The Frenchman sold his business, re-mortgaged his house, and put his family's livelihood on the line to become an artist. Instead of spending years honing his craft, he put together a team of people to help him produce one of the largest exhibits the street art world had ever seen. It is at this point that the movie becomes less about street art and more about Mr. Brainwash. What happens next I will let you wait to find out. But, the whole doc is done by Banksy, since the Frenchman left him the tapes. SO good.

Is it graffiti? art? genius? a product of creativity & boredom with a splash a vandalism? maybe all of the above.

Monday Funday?

I was really thrown off guard by today's snow ice day. I had a full day of work and meetings on the book, and that isnt easy to cancel on a count of snow. I should have taken the weather men seriously on Friday, but living in Bama all my life, I just cant trust the weathermen until I can see the snow falling. (except for James Spann, who I love)

So, after Mac and I went on a long walk in the ice, I managed to reschedule my life in order to be stuck at house with my boys. So far it's been pretty nice. Ive played on facebook way longer than normal, worked out, chased Mac around in the ice when he got out (again), bathed Mac bc he was covered in mud/ice, watched most of Im Still Here (mock-umentary on Joaquin Phoenix), started my game day jambalaya, and cleaned the guest bath. And it's only 12:30! I might go stir crazy, but now ive just got to enjoy it. Im currently trying to get J to play Monopoly with me, but so far it's not happening. How is everyone else enjoying the day? (cristin, i would feel bad that you to work, but you get 80 degrees too often for me to feel sorry for you :) Snow pics to follow.

Our English Breakfast

During a delightful dinner at Veranda friday night with my gals, we decided to get together Saturday morning and watch my new fav movie, The Young Victoria. Mainly because Kara, Laura and Emily hadn't seen it yet, and also bc Reba and I are obsessed. Since it's a film about British royalty, we decided to eat the part. I brought English muffins, ham, cheese and tea, while reba provided the coffee and danish yumminess. For those in attendance,hopefully this will help clear some things up:

All family trees are from this site, if you want to explore more into the Royal lineage. Cant wait for the April wedding!!!

Andrew's Hike

My ol'e Irish roomie is taking a hike and it's not your typical walk in the woods. He will be treckin 100km over the Jordanian countryside to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Support, a UK based organization that provides support to those battling cancer. Here Andrew describes the details of the hike, which sounds like an amazing journey through a countryside that was around in 4000 BC. To support him go here. I miss ya roomie, good luck!

Training Days

Last night I started working out with a trainer. I haven't done this in years bc I dont feel I have the time, and I should know how to do everything myself. However, as with most things, we all need some accountability. Well, she kicked my ass. We didn't leave a 10x10 size room and she managed to make me sore as hell today. (plyometrics are a bitch). But, its all good bc I need it, and its the next step to getting leaner. Also, monday starts the 'Battle of the Bulge' at the gym, so that means a 10 week super diet. So far ive only managed to be good for 10 days, so hopefully since im seeing them twice a week, they will hold me accountable to that as well. Right now im chowin on some oatmeal, hot tea and an tangerine. But I gave mac half the tangerine and didnt finish the oatmeal...#longroadahead.

Saving Mula

I forgot to mention in my previous post, that I took a huge nose dive into couponing this year. I wasn't too over the top with it, but I did manage to save a good deal of money (buying the same things I had been purchasing). This year will be no different, however I am going to not overwhelm myself with it each Sunday like I have been doing. I also have some year end totals for us:

CVS: saved $989
Publix: saved $1,300 (appx)
On-line shopping: saved $250 (this year i did do some clothes shopping online when Lands End, express, nine west, or whoever was having major sales with free shipping.)

I could find a place for an extra 2,500 bones couldn't you? . I also got ALOT of (random) free stuff in the mail including: a golf grip, lots of tampons, shampoo, dog & cat food, body wash, summer sausage (not a joke), toilet paper, chocolate milk and raisins. This year I will be following three blogs: Hip2save, southern savers, and  i heart publix. They are pretty redundant, but I like things about each one. The Hip2save chick posts ALL THE TIME. She says she has three kids, but im pretty sure she also has an assistant, bc no one should be able to find all those sales, post and have a life. The Southern Saver lady has good matches on CVS and Publix deals, and the I heart publix lady just updated her grocery list, so it's really easy to print and take to the store. For those of you with kids, I dont think these ladies spend hardly anything on diapers, so you should really check them out, from what I can tell, those nappies arn't cheap.

I am also hosting another couponing seminar this year (prob in Feb). I did this for my clients (and many friends came) last year and got great response. I brought in a lady who is an expert in stockpiling to teach us some things. I need to implement more of her strategy, but she is feeding a big family, and I just dont need that much stuff lying around. However, she was great. Ok, since it's Sunday, guess I better get to it. Gotta save more dollar dollar bills yall.

The year in review, a year in preview

This time last year, I was really excited about the year to come, and I im quite pleased with how this one turned out. (much better than 09) Let's relive the highlights, shall we?

-We welcomed the new addition.

-who has turned out to be quite a handfull. what new additions will we have in 11? 

One will be some fab new chairs:

 I have been on a fabric search for at least 6 months. Maybe I cant make a decision, but I think Im holding out for the perfect fabric. 

Other 2010 highlights

- A fab trip to Vegas on another companies' dime to learn about precious metals. This year we will be heading back to the city of sin early summer, after I take a company trip to my new fav city of minneapolis. 

-Jordan got a job, which is he kicking ass in! yay for that. 

-Going on my first bike rally ride from Trussville to downtown bham. Going on another one in June! Im such a biker chic now (still trying to get these pics from my phone, they are priceless!)

-Fun times at Bama football games vs Penn State, Auburn and a trip to see them play Arkansas on the road. I got to meet more of Jordan's extended family and spend time in Fayetteville. I much prefer Bryant Denny though, there's just nothing like it.

2011 Events

-We have ALOT of weddings this year. Mostly in May. However, we also have Jordan's brothers's wedding in October down in Florida. Because of this, Jordan will be heading to a bachelor party in Vermont, and I will be hitting  up NYC in April for my new sister in law's party. (hopefully a pit stop in St. Louis to see Barabs will be in order) Pretty excited about that!

-I have a few goals this year I will share. 1) lose these extra lbs 2) start target practice in an effort to later purchase a gun. (jeris in the NRA? dont count your chickens...) 3) Finish my kitchen redo with granite, backsplash and lighting. 4) Spend more times with friends

Welcome 2011. bring it.