Pressing the pause button.
I’m taking a time out, a la Liz & Ashlee. I’ll still be in touch through Twitter & email.
I’ll just go ahead & say it: When I was a kid, I loved time out. I know, weirdoooo. But I’ve always had a very vivid imagination & sitting in time out was an opportunity to let it run wild, to entertain myself with the stories in my mind. Sometimes, if I had a babysitter who put me in timeout, she’d even let me read a book, thinking it was a “punishment.” Little did she know, reading was my favorite thing, even more than playing with Barbies or my mom’s makeup.
Yesterday I saw that a couple of my favorite bloggers were taking a time out, & I thought, what a great idea. I mean, I know I haven’t been posting all that regularly anyway, but there’s something about a planned hiatus that is exactly what I need. Otherwise, I keep thinking about this little space & how I’m neglecting it. And there’s no room for a side of french-fried guilt on my already overflowing plate.
I’m loving my new house, but its current state of disaster is a constant source of stress to me. Couple that with needing to catch up on, oh, everything- laundry piling up, bills needing to be paid, addresses needing to be changed, & a literal mountain of boxes needing to be unpacked- & you’ll see why I’m having little panic attacks throughout the day & my stomach is in knots. Once I take some time to get everything in order, I have a feeling I’ll feel 100% better. I can only spread myself so thin.
I’ll be back soon. I don’t know when, but I know that I love this (and you) too much to give it up for long. I just need a little break, a time out, to let my imagination run wild & to catch up on everything. In the meantime, I’ll be focusing on:
-Getting my house in order. There are still boxes everywhere, & a thin layer of dust on everything. When my house is out of order, I am stressed. I can’t find anything, I’m constantly frustrated, & I’m not at peace. Not to mention, I haven’t been to the grocery store or cooked a decent meal in quite some time. My home is my castle; it’s time to get it back in working order.
-Going to visit some friends… and my therapist. This week(end) I’ll be going back to the Houston area to see some family & friends, which is always wonderful- especially given the fact that I still haven’t met anyone here. I’ll also be stopping by to see my therapist for a tune-up. It’s necessary right now, believe me.
-Catching up on emails & making some phone calls. My inbox makes me want to scream, there are so many emails I need to take care of. And there are a few special people I need to catch up with over the phone. It’s time to make these things a priority & quit pushing them to the back burner.
Moving is the worst for stress & chaos, but I’m hoping that once the dust settles & all my dishes are unpacked, my inbox is clear & I’ve had a nice long chat with friends, I’ll feel much better & ready to come out of hiding.
Until then. <3
Kitch-spiration.
Sorry I’ve been so MIA this week, but between work & moving I am dead by the end of the day. However, I am happy to report that we are 100% moved out of the tiny rental excuse-for-a-house we’ve been holing up in since June, & are currently the tenants of one of the loveliest rent houses in town! Do you need proof? Are these gorgeous, original, refinished-just-days-ago hardwood floors enough proof for you?
We spent our first night in the house Wednesday night, & waking up the next morning in the huge master bedroom with a nice big closet smiling right at me was one of the best things that’s happened in a long time. I feel so blessed that we were able to meet our current landlord, get out of our lease with our previous landlord, & that we are able to live in such a beautiful home for the next 2 years. I had completely braced myself for 2 years of living in a shoebox, but this home is like God is saying “Don’t underestimate ME!” I foresee my outlook on life improving by 100%. It’s amazing what hating vs. loving your living environment can do, especially when you work from home & are in your home so much of the time.
We’ve been busy busy busy – we agreed to do a lot of the painting, clean-up, & miscellaneous other things in a deal we worked out with our landlords. So between pulling up carpet, tearing down wallpaper, packing, choosing paint colors, painting, & cleaning – oh, & working full-time – I haven’t been getting too much sleep. I know it will all be worth it in the end & I’m trying to take one day at a time & not get overwhelmed.
This weekend we will be painting our kitchen, which has the most amazing floors (more proof):
I’ve decided (after quite the Twitter debate) that I’ll be painting my kitchen a nice light turquoise blue. Mostly because I’m really going for the retro feel & a lot of my kitchen stuff is red. Vintage/retro kitchens make my heart leap & I swear I hear songbirds (or maybe that’s Michael Buble?). I’ve found a lot of pictures I like with blue & red- not as many with yellow. So sorry Team Yellow, but I promise you’re going to love the blue!
Here are the photos from which I’m drawing my “Kitch-spiration” (yes I’m aware just HOW cheesy that is but I’m too tired to care at this point):
This kitchen was the deciding factor – isn’t it GORGEOUS? And it has the same sink & cabinets as ours (except our cabinets are white). Click here to tour the rest of the kitchen.
What are your thoughts? What kinds of kitchens are your favorite?
Happy Weekend! I’m hoping to be much more present next week & maybe even have some photos for you… here’s hoping. <3
4 Simple Goals
I love the idea of 4 Simple Goals {hosted by Elsie at A Beautiful Mess}. My favorite part is probably the word “simple”; so often, when I create goals for myself, they are very specific & rarely uncomplicated. The idea of this project is to create goals “that will make your life richer and happier on a daily basis.” I want to create a mindset for myself with these goals, rather than just looking to accomplish a task & cross it off a list {not that there’s anything wrong with that either!}.
1. Turn the new house into a warm & loving space where I’m happy to live. I had sort of resigned myself to the fact that we were going to be living in crappy rental houses for the next two years, & I thought I was okay with that. But since I work from home & spend most of my time at home, I had no idea how much not loving my home would take a toll on me. This new house is a blessing that popped out of nowhere. The landlord is letting me choose most things, including the retro-inspired black & white checkered tile kitchen floor. I’m thrilled to be moving to a place that’s clean, bright, & {most importantly} safe. I’m excited about future thrifting excursions & filling the house with our well-loved things, as well as some new thrifty finds. I’m reinventing my style along the way, which is all part of becoming the woman I want to be. More {much much more} on this another time.
2. Get healthy. Enough with the excuses {& I have had many, including moving THREE times in the last 2.5 months, not living in a safe enough area to run, weather rivaling the climate of Dante’s Inferno, etc}. I’m armed with a membership to the university gym, where they have spin, Pilates, & yoga classes galore. There are treadmills & all sorts of other foreign machines. I’m paying for this every month, which is huge since we’re on a small budget, & shows how important it is to me. I also want to go for walks with Michael & the dogs more often, & this little town was made for long bike rides. No more talking about it, it’s time to get healthy & fit once again.
3. Actively look for ways to get involved in the surrounding community & make friends. Because they’re not coming to me, & if I don’t get out there & meet some people, I might explode. I’m actively trying to find a book club, a women’s group at a church, or pretty much anything that involves estrogen. I’m in a tough spot: I’m not a college student, yet I’m not a mom. There’s not a lot of groups in a small Southern college town for the “married, working woman.” But I will keep at it until I find a good fit & some friends to meet for coffee & mid-week chitchat.
4. Treat writing as a priority, not an option. Whenever I get busy, writing is the first thing to get pushed aside. I don’t want it to be like that. It’s my passion, it makes me happy, & I feel like I’m doing what I was meant to do when I’m scribbling on scratch paper or furiously typing away. Lately I’ve been staying up past my usual bedtime & using that time to write, & while that’s probably not the best long-term solution, it feels really good to be writing on a regular basis. In the next few months, I hope to develop some sort of system & make daily writing a habitual thing.
Well, that’s all I have for now. What about you? What are 4 Simple Goals you want to accomplish?
PS: Happy Weekend! We’ll be moving all weekend so I might be MIA come early next week, but once we’re settled into the new place I should have lots of new things to tell you. <3
Change.
Moving to a new place & essentially starting a new life has brought on a new set of challenges. For one, the town is smaller, so some of the places we used to frequent just don’t exist for us anymore (unless we’re willing to drive to “the next town over”). Additionally, I’m not able to shop as much as I used to, & I’m learning to make better use of my dollars. So here are some substitutes I’ve made lately. I’m hoping to make even more in the future, & that y’all will have lots of ideas for me.
From Ulta… to Sally Beauty, Wal-Mart, etc.
I was addicted to Ulta. Addicted, I tell you. I was always getting coupons in the mail & finding excuses to stop in & try something new. There was rarely a time when I was out running errands that I didn’t pop into Ulta & buy at least one item. Solution: Here, there is no Ulta. I’m learning to hunt down the products I love at other {cheaper} places, or find substitutes at places like Sally Beauty Supply.
From salon… to DIY
This is something I still need to blog about. I did my own hair for the first time since college back in the first part of June. Since we were moving, I knew I’d need to find a new salon. But where was I going to find a place that was a) trustworthy, & b) affordable? So I decided to take matters into my own hands. I mean, I couldn’t screw it up any worse than one of those chain salons, right? Plus, think of all the money I’d save! Armed with blog posts, message boards, & a squeeze bottle, I tried. Then I toned. Then I tried again. Then I got a haircut. Then I tried again. Then I had a bad batch of toner. Basically, I hate(d) my haircut & I couldn’t get the color just right. But I’ve learned a lot & I think I’m starting to get the hang of it. I bleached it about 2 weeks ago & really liked it, but it’s in need of another bleaching already. With all this high maintenance blonde, I’m thinking of going brunette for the fall {something else that hasn’t happened since college}. Thoughts & feelings? Advice? Prayers? I also need to find a place that will give me a decent haircut. I have really weird hair & apparently some people just can’t handle all of this!
From shopping… to A Year of Thrift
Click the link for more details. I’m having a TON of fun with this one!
From cable… to Netflix
We took the plunge & cancelled cable… & are actually loving it. The only thing Michael misses is ESPN. I miss NOTHING. I’ve been getting into some new shows & watching more movies. Unlike TV, there’s always something on, & no commercials! $eriou$ $aving$ too. {Yes, I took it there with the dollar signs. Apparently I’m Ke$ha.}
From Petsmart… to Wal-Mart
I’ll admit it. We were those people. We’d take our dogs to Petsmart with us & spend way too much on food, treats, bones, etc. Then we figured out they sell all the same stuff at Wal-Mart for a FRACTION of the price. Seriously?! I felt so deceived. Petsmart said those meaty treats were on sale! Liars. Needless to say, we’re reformed. And Pancho & Leia don’t know the difference.
There are lots of other little changes we’ve made & I’m sure there will be even more to come. My next big step will be letting go of some of my more “expensive” products in favor of trying some cheaper ones. Except my $18 hairspray. I’m not giving that up.
What things have you “cheaped out” on lately? What are some splurges that you must keep, no matter how tight things are?
The Giant Chihuahua.
{Photos by the talented Cio}
When Michael & I had been married not even a month, we started playing around with the idea of getting a dog. Why? Because we were crazy, of course. We lived in a tiny apartment on the second floor! Getting used to living with each other wasn’t enough! We needed to add potty training, yapping, & a pet deposit to the mix! We were certifiable.
The day before Christmas Eve 2007, we found ourselves in the Wal-Mart parking lot while running errands. All the people trying to pawn off their litters of puppies had shown up, adorable furballs on display. Michael suggested that we go “take a look,” but not to worry, we probably wouldn’t get one.
I saw lots of puppies that day, but when I walked up to a black Suburban, I saw only one. He was a tiny brown puff. I had never seen anything like him. “What kind of dog is that?” I asked. “A long-haired chihuahua,” the woman replied. “OOHHHHH NOOOOOO,” Michael said, backing away. “I don’t WANT a chihuahua.”
Famous last words.
When I stuck my hand out to that puppy, he lifted one tiny front paw & pawed my hand. If was as though he were saying, “Hello there, I choose you.” He won my heart right then & there.
We ended up leaving without the dog because I was too nervous to make the commitment right then & there. But I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I told everyone I encountered that day about the little dog I had seen. I began to think of names for him.
The next day, Michael said “Let’s go by & see if that dog is still there.” Surely he won’t be, I thought. He was the only one left & it was almost Christmas; surely someone would have snatched him up by then.
He wasn’t gone. He was very much there. And as I walked up to snuggle him, a little boy popped out of nowhere, & his parents started asking about the dog. Instantly, my mind was made up. He was my dog. I wrote that check faster than you can say lunatic.
I named him Pancho because, really, what else do you name a chihuahua? As it turns out, he’s gotten pretty huge for his breed. 14 pounds to be exact. Oh, & his ears never stood up. But I still insist that he’s a chihuahua, even when everyone says “That’s not a chihuahua!” Of course he is! I have papers, you know. And I paid ENTIRELY too much for him to not be a chihuahua. So there.
Life with Pancho has been interesting. It took him 6 months to potty train. He has anxiety issues from being alone so much when I was working as a substitute teacher when he was a tiny puppy. He’s had to have teeth pulled & has been to the vet for a handful of miscellaneous items. He pees when he gets too excited. He cries when I leave the room. He hides under the bed when I need to put him outside. He gets into the bathroom trash constantly. He’s really just a very naughty, needy dog.
But he’s so sweet. And loving. And honestly, I wouldn’t trade him for the tiniest “real” chihuahua you could give me. I wouldn’t trade him for any other dog, even if that dog was perfectly behaved with no bad habits. Pancho is the best snuggler in the world. When I was severely depressed, Pancho was one of the only things that could always make me smile. He keeps me company when I’m alone. He’s my baby.
On Thursday night, Michael went out to get Chinese food, & I left the room for a few minutes. When I came back, Pancho was shaking violently, with a glazed look on his face. Immediately I thought it’s happening again. In June, when we first moved into this house, at 1am one morning, the same thing happened. I frantically called every emergency vet in town, but couldn’t get a call back. He ended up being just fine & I thought maybe it was a one time thing. But when it happened again, I knew something was wrong. Seriously wrong. I tried calling Michael but he had forgotten his phone. So I held him & tried not to panic while I watched for Michael’s headlights.
As soon as Michael walked in the door, Pancho was having another seizure. I tearfully told him what was happening, & he took Pancho & had me start looking up numbers & calling emergency clinics. When we got a call back, Pancho was on his fourth seizure. We rushed him over to the vet, who asked us questions while I tried not to bawl my eyes out. He gave him a shot to stop the seizures & told me to bring him in the next morning for blood work.
I cried for a good while when we got home. It’s so scary to not know what’s wrong with your dog, isn’t it? Pancho slept & I kept waking up throughout the night in a panic that he was having another seizure. I took him back first thing the next morning, & they ran tests. Everything checked out as far as blood work goes, which led the vet to believe he’s epileptic.
I’ve been giving him a high dose of medication for the last 5 days, which has made him act like he’s drunk, sleep poorly, & drink a lot of water. The final high dose was last night, which is a huge relief for me. Now, I’ll give him a low dose every day, & that will hopefully keep the seizures at bay. He should get more & more used to the medicine, so soon there will be few to no side effects.
Thank y’all so much for the tweets, emails, comments, etc. while I was in full-blown freakout mode that night/the next morning. It means the world to me that people care enough about me & my little dog to send thoughts & prayers our way. I really appreciate it & if I could, I’d give all of you a big hug. And I think Pancho would too.
Weekend Screen Shots v.05
My weekend was lovely. After a horrible scare with Pancho on Thursday night {which I’ll blog about later this week} & spending most of Friday morning at the vet, I was in need of some fun sister time.
Friday night: Michael, Katherine, & I went for a run/bike ride {I almost died}, then out for mexican food & margaritas. Katherine & Michael get along so well; Katherine insists he is her in male form, & she’s convinced that’s why I married him.
Saturday we went to the Farmers Market & on a huge thrifting trip which lasted a few hours. Lots of new stuff to be blogged for A Year of Thrift in August! It should also be noted I was haunted by owls all day. It started when I bought a peacock-colored owl brooch at the first place we stopped. Then, at a tiny antique store, I found a set of ceramic owls & knew I had to have them for my kitchen windowsill. Next, at Goodwill, I saw owl after owl, including this guy. I’m kind of sorry I didn’t buy him, honestly.
The rest of Saturday was spent painting cabinets at the new rental, eating hot dogs & homemade hot fudge sundaes, & watching movies. Bridget Jones 2 may or may not have made an appearance.
Sunday we tried another church & were given adorable little jars of homemade jam for being first time visitors {which pushed that church squarely in the lead… I mean, come on, free jam!}. We went back to the new house for a little while, then bummed around & went for another bike ride. That night, we had a big steak & potato dinner, paired with a bottle of wine I had bought for Katherine in Napa. We also made the most delicious Caprese salad appetizers with our fresh Farmers Market bounty: tomatoes, basil, & mozzarella {with salt & pepper, of course}. DELICIOUS.
A wonderful weekend with two of my favorite people in the world. I was so sad to see it end.
This week, I’ll be packing up for our third move in 2.5 months. I’m not prepared {in any way, especially mentally} for another move, but I know it’s for the better. This will hopefully be the last time we move for a good two years, so that is a comfort, as is the fact that we’re moving to a bigger, safer, more beautiful home. I suppose I am excited, after all.
What did you do over the weekend?
A Year of Thrift {July}
When I was in high school, one of my favorite things to do was go thrifting with my friends. It was a treasure hunt; let’s see how much we can find for the least amount of money. We loved the weird T-shirts from random clubs and junior high sports teams, they went well with our converse & penchant for emo bands. When I was in college, I still visited thrift stores from time to time, scoring on the occasional sundress or random accessory for really cheap. After I got married, thrift stores kind of dropped out of my life for a while. There weren’t any good ones nearby.
Since Michael has started school, we’ve had a budget overhaul. And since I’m a bit of a shopaholic, I’ve had to look for other ways to get my fix. Enter falling back in love with thrift stores. I have found 3 excellent ones here so far, & I’m on the lookout for more. There’s something so satisfying about a good thrift store trip. You have the whole “hunting” aspect, not to mention the feeling of elation when you find THE CUTEST THING for pennies compared to what you would pay for something new. Plus, in this age of vintage love, it’s impossible to not get a little googly-eyed over things that you just can’t get at Target.
I’ve decided to challenge myself for the next year {on top of my Project 365} by thrifting several times a month & blogging my findings. First up, here are all my July treasures.
I paid $2 or $3 dollars for this wonderful glass jug. I have a problem, y’all: if it’s pretty, & made of glass, I have to have it. It’s an illness. A lot of my glass stuff is packed right now but that’s no excuse not to buy more, right? Especially if it’s thrifted? I would like to eventually make this into a terrarium, but that seems complicated at this time. So for now, it’s just hanging around my house being pretty. And Leia is really interested in it.
I paid less than $5 for this shirt {I think it was $5 marked down 20%}. At first, I passed it by, thinking “That’s sort of grandma.” Then I kept coming back to it, & finally I tried it on. It will look super cute with a pencil skirt or skinny jeans & a wide black belt. I’ll do an outfit post with it eventually.
I have a few sweet prints from Etsy & photos lying around the house that I have yet to frame & display, so a couple Saturdays ago, I went on a quest for frames. The rules: they had to be cheap, sturdy, & have amazing detail. I didn’t care if they were ugly colors or a little beaten up. I’ve redone frames before, turning gold monstrosities into black beauties worthy of wedding photos. I have big plans for these little babies, & I’m sure I’ll be sharing them with you. {Price range of frames: 99¢ - $1.99.}
This doesn’t need a lot of explanation because a) I’ve already explained my weakness for pretty glass items & b) LOOK HOW FREAKING CUTE IT IS. Obviously I get woozy over vintage items, but who doesn’t? I love the colors & pattern. I think I paid $2 for this.
This thing is my little pride and joy. Only 50¢! It’s some sort of plate or platter. Right now I have it on display in my kitchen next to my glass cake stand. It’s so fun & retro. I love the colors.
I’ve also been on the hunt for clothing with a vintage feel, & this high-waisted skirt fit the bill. I paid $3.99 for this floral masterpiece, & it’s adorable with a black tank {tucked in} & a big belt. {I may or may not also have a problem with belting every item I own.} The skirt is full & feminine & again, I love the colors. It makes me happy! I’ll be doing an outfit post with this one too.
I’d love for any of you who are up for the challenge to join me. If I were fancy I would make some sort of button; as it is now, a link back to LfT will be just fine. Let me know what you think of my project & if you’re going to play along! <3
On priorities, catching up, & that elusive backseat.
I realize that when I’m busy, blogging is one of the things I tend to push aside. Maybe because it’s optional, whereas other things in my life aren’t. I don’t like it, but I’m learning that it’s okay, especially when it’s in favor of real life relationships. Last week, I went home to stay with my parents for a couple of days, and I had every intention to blog while I was there. But my 9-year-old nephew was visiting, & I haven’t seen him in almost a year. It was Cio’s birthday, & a birthday dinner was in order. Staying up talking to my dad & showing my mom hilarious Youtube videos (“Bed Intruder” may or may not have been brought out) took higher priority than the posts I had planned. Then, when the weekend came around, my sister & I went to a wedding on Friday night, & spent Saturday floating the river & laughing until it hurt. Sunday was spent in the car driving home, then subsequently crashing on the couch that night.
So here we are, & it’s Tuesday. I need a post. I need to tell you guys that my bruises are healing nicely, but I got two more small ones (one on each leg, because I like to keep things balanced), running into a bed at my sister’s friend’s house. That I went to Pilates last night, & it was the first time in a long time I’ve set foot inside a gym, & I really felt accomplished as I left. I’m planning on going to spin class tonight, & I might need someone to carry me home (please pray I don’t vomit everywhere, I hear that’s a concern).
Right now, I need to catch up on so many things. Blogging, my Project 365 (I’ve been taking the photos but am so behind in uploading!), laundry, dishes. My suitcase has yet to be unpacked. I need to make a trip to the grocery store in a bad way. There are emails I need to return & people I need to call. But I’m learning it’s about priorities. Sure, some of those things are important, but others can wait. If I’m tired, certain things can be put on hold in favor of others – or, better yet, nothing at all.
I’m looking forward to many things later this month. August has marched right into my life & said “I am going to keep you very, very busy.” My sister is coming for a visit this weekend. Later this month, there will be other trips to see friends & soak up the last bits of summer. We will be moving, & I haven’t even begun to pack. I’m sort of dreading it, actually – didn’t I just do this? Whenever I think about everything I have planned or everything I need to do, it’s easy to get overwhelmed & want to throw in the towel. But then I make my list, I prioritize, & I realize: it will all get done. And stressing out about it isn’t going to help me or anyone else. Not enjoying the good times because I’m too busy worrying about what I have to do is just a waste.
So in August, I will take the beginning steps to get back in shape. I will spend time with loved ones. I will move to a new house that I adore. I will not worry about cooking over a hot stove & will instead take shortcuts & fix simple dinners. I will continue blogging recipes & ideas & stories, because that’s what I love. I will fit in the things that take priority, & those other things will just have to take a backseat.
And dang it, I will be okay with that.
What do you need to catch up on? What things need to take a backseat right now?
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I’m more Adler than Kelly.
I’ve never been graceful. Growing up, I was always the tall, lanky girl with too many arms & legs. I learned at a very young age which sports weren’t for me: all of them. I tried to play frisbee with my friend & her dad & got my forehead split open. And then there was the whole flag football incident. So I stuck to books & computers instead. I was never a cheerleader or volleyball player. I’m the epitome of a nerd & have no problem with that.
But my lack of grace has followed me into my adult life. I’m always bumping into things & tripping over something. I have zero depth perception. I can walk okay in a pair of heels – as long as you don’t throw any obstacles in my path.
Right after we got back from San Francisco, I was brave enough to attempt a run by myself. That was dumb on so many levels. First, this house isn’t in the greatest area for a 5’10″ blonde to be running around alone. Second, Michael was away & I didn’t take a phone – so basically, I was running around a strange area with no way to call home for help. DUMB. I ended up tripping, twisting my left ankle, & falling on my right knee {HARD} & both my hands. & open wounds on your hands & something that needs to BEND CONSTANTLY? Painful.
{Right after it happened.}
{Taken on Saturday.}
It’s almost healed now, but still doesn’t look too good. No big deal, I still have my left leg, right?
So this Saturday, we were helping do some things at the new rental, & I was exploring the premises. One of the porches comes off the master bedroom, so I went out there. I noticed a small hole in the floor, so I timidly stepped near it, to see how weak the boards were. They didn’t give, so I stepped a little closer to the hole.
WHAM. In one second, my entire left leg went through the porch, all the way up. Yes, ALL THE WAY. I was wearing jean shorts (jorts?), so I pulled my leg out, collapsed onto the porch (the non-dangerous part), & moaned for about 5 minutes. Then I surveyed the damage. A long scrape up my calve, and a HUGE scrape & bruise on my thigh, which was getting darker & more colorful by the minute. Later I saw bruises on my left arm & right knee, but the one on the thigh is really the mother of all bruises.
Please, if you’re squeamish, look away.
{Whole leg, scraped up, the same afternoon it happened.}
{Close-up of bruise, the same afternoon it happened.}
{Close-up of bruise, taken today.}
Michael is convinced that stuff like this only happens to me. I’m not arguing with him, but I do have to wonder, WHY ME? Also, I couldn’t have picked a worse time to get injured, since I’ll be spending most of this weekend in a swimsuit with my sister floating a river & hot tubbing.
In conclusion, I know I’m a klutz, but I’m not the only one stuff like this happens to, right? {Please say it isn’t so.} Also, any tips for clever swimsuit cover-ups for only one leg?
Weekend Screen Shots v.04
From top: Saturday night dinner; this dress; DIY Husband Haircut; post-haircut handsomeness; hey, remember banana clips?! {& holy smokes ROOTS CITY}; strawberry cheesecake snow cone; hottie on a bike; dork on a bike; trying to make my bike helmet look badass {& failing miserably}; OPI’s Done Out in Deco.
Friday was about: Going for a bike ride, making the Pioneer Woman’s chicken spaghetti, & watching That Touch of Mink. Saturday was about: riding bikes over to the new rental* to help with some clean-up work, falling through the porch & scraping up my leg {a story for another time}, getting pizza & beer for dinner, & spending the rest of the evening holed up with our new obsession: NETFLIX. Sunday was about: Trying yet another church {Methodist this time, & we really liked it}, getting things done around the house, giving Michael a haircut, a long bike ride {complete with a snow cone break}, & more Netflix. I may never leave the house again.
*For those of you who follow me on Twitter, you might already know that we’re planning on moving to a different house ASAP. When we found this house, it was in the course of one day & was the result of being very, very desperate to find a place to live lest we end up homeless. It’s turned out to be in a really terrible location – I don’t want to go into it but ultimately, I don’t feel safe here. Michael rides bikes with a club on the weekends & a woman he rides with just bought a house she & her husband are fixing up to rent. It’s GORGEOUS & huge & in such a nice part of town. It’s a bit more expensive but we’re willing to cut out some other things to make it work. There are TWO screened in porches, a front porch, a huge {compared to my current one} kitchen, a fireplace, a FOUR CAR GARAGE, & lots of touches that make it charming & so much better than where we are. We were afraid our landlord wouldn’t let us out of our lease, but when we explained our situation, he was actually very understanding. I mean, you would be too if your tenant told you “Yeah, one night I heard gunshots & called the cops.” So anyway, looks like we could be moving as soon as the middle of this month {as long as this house rents!}. I’m totally not excited about another move so soon, but I do know that it will be for the better & also that it will be the last move until Michael is done with school {so, two years}. Those thoughts, along with the built-in cabinets in the dining room, are going to make this whole thing bearable.
A lot going on over here! What did you do this weekend?
