First-Ever Blog Giveaway

I've partnered with Lauren Nicole Gifts to host a giveaway! Three prizes—enter today!

Here's the deal. Skip on over to the site, check out their products, and then leave a comment telling me your favorite item. Contest ends next Tuesday night/Wednesday morning at midnight CST. If you leave a comment then your name will be entered to win a monogrammed checkbook cover, a monogrammed pill box, or a small monogrammed mirror. One prize per winner. (If I draw your name, you will get to choose your pattern, color, and font. There are lots of options.)

Um, Maybe I'm Hormonal or Something

But this made me cry.

Dang it. I have a heart of mush. It's almost like a fairy tale. Minus the whole almost-died thing.

DRAPERIES!!

Could I BE any more excited? No. No, I could not.



Super huge thanks to Amy and Charles for this and for fixing my cattywampus bed that I (tried) to put together. Sleeping on the daybed is no longer at your own risk.

Everything is just finally so pulled together. (Except Bed Bath & Beyond only had three packs of rings and I needed four. That's why the right panel on the left window is all saggy, like old lady wrinkles.)

I love my place. I need to go fetch a Kleenex now.

Sad Old People Make Me Cry

But go see Gran Torino. Virgin ears might be shocked at the language, but it is a great movie. Take your tissues. Omg, how I love Clint Eastwood.

Fabulous Finds

All from Hanna Antiques this month, the month of the big, fat, annual sale. That sound you hear is me saving money.

Cool Christmas plate that will go in the dining room. 1978 is the year I was born. Now, do you feel old? Or do you feel like I'm old?!



This tray is just absolute perfection with the chair. Toot, toot. Yeah, I totally just patted myself on the back.



My mom spied these birds. Love them on the end table. Even better? She bought them.

Living Room/Desk Area

Self-explanatory, no?

Need to hang this new tray still and hide that ugly cord.




Remember the coffee table before?



Today I'll finish painting the doors and door trim. And Amy & Co. are coming to hang the living room draperies. They are gorgeous!

My Bathrooms

Yeah, never thought I'd have a post titled that.




The color on the green bathroom's walls (Dill Pickle, Benjamin Moore) was just perfect with the shower curtain I chose from Pottery Barn. No painting. Excellent. And the painting I bought a year ago was made for the blue bathroom. See? I was meant to live here.

Before and After

Time for condo updates. My pictures don't look nearly as professional as Laurey's will when she comes to shoot on Tuesday, but that's okay. I'm more about the words. Ha.

before


after

Not Impressed

I helped with a surprise party for Katie C. last night, and after dinner at Bottega Cafe, a dozen or so folks came by my condo for cupcakes. I made the Heath Bar Cake into cupcakes. Instead of buying a container of Cool-Whip, I went with the new spray can. So. not. impressed. It's not very firm, like regular Cool-Whip, and it was super runny, which made a mess. Albeit a delicious mess, it was a mess nonetheless. So, my suggestion is to stick with the tub.

PS: Happy Birthday, Katie!

Crushin'

Well, well, well. Last post January 16? Where have I been?

So my love for The Killers is obviously—and probably obnoxiously—well-known. But it just needs to be stated, in case there is any doubt, that I have a huge crush on Brandon Flowers. Dudes. He's so, so cute. I'm robbing a little, but only by about three years. That's okay, right? Cool. I'm dangerously close to becoming a groupie.

Know what surprised me though? He's a devout member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. And an avid golf fan. And he fronts a rock band.

And he's married. With a son. Weird.

Those crazy, crazy Mormons.

Baby-Name Stealers

This needs to stop! I've read about two people recently who have rudely lifted my baby name. I'm gonna go ahead and post it right now, on this here blog, available for all the Internet world to see, and just keep my fingers crossed that I'm not encouraging anyone else to use MY name.

Harper.

I love it.

Now stay away.

And don't touch Poppy either. I ain't playing. I will name my kid Poppy if given the chance. And I don't care how hard you laugh.

PS: I've come a long way from my third-grade girl-name choice: Elizabeth Bernice. Nothing wrong with that first name, no not at all. But…Bernice?

My Resolutions

You thought I forgot, didn't ya? Really, what I've done is cut myself short by 16 days. I have two weeks less time than everyone else to get my resolutions done. Planned it like that. I don't do anything the easy way.

Here's what I came up with.

1a. Read more. I love to read, but the last couple of years I haven't read nearly as much as I wanted to. Ideally, I'd like to go to bed an hour earlier each night so I can read. This will most definitely be challenging for me. Maybe I'll choose one night a week to be a reading-only night.

1b. Read the books I have before buying new ones. I am a compulsive book-buyer.

2. Work on time-management. This just spills over into every area of my life. And this may or may not be attainable. But I can try.

3. Go to the market at Pepper Place. I know. It's absurd that I've never been. But making it a resolution ensures that I will in 2009.

4. Stick to a budget. Take my lunch to work more. Plan better grocery trips. These all work together.

5. Declutter. Declutter my house. Declutter my car. Declutter my life. I have lofty goals.

6a. Eat alone at a restaurant bar. This will be hard for me, but I'm determined to do it.

6b. Go to the movies by myself. See above.

7. Try new restaurants in Birmingham. I love eating out, love good food. I won't get too crazy (see #4), I just need to try some great places that I've been dying to experience.

Wish me luck!

My Biggest Dream

I think, if I could choose anything in the world to do, I would own an independent bookstore. A small, You've Got Mail-style Shop Around the Corner. And, actually, I'm watching that movie now. Every time I do, I'm reminded of how much I love books. Love bookstores. Love the quiet. Love the smell. Love the order.


I especially love children's books. I've already started a collection for my not-yet-born bebes. (That makes me sound a little creepy.) Wait, let's be for real. That's what I say. What I mean is that I love to read children's books myself. I especially, especially love the Newbery and Caldecott winners. Who doesn't?

Anyway, the dream is kind of dumb, especially in this economy, but it's what I want. I would totally have kid's story time too. I'd have to host a book club. And I'd sell coffee, cause coffee goes in a bookstore. But I would serve it in real mugs on saucers, no paper cups. Oh, and I'd wear my glasses all the time too. Probably the red ones, just so I don't look too bookish. Girl's gotta protect her style, you know.

Ahhh, learning to embrace my inner nerd.

NO WAY

This better not happen or I'll…I'll…well, I don't know what I'll do, but it won't be pretty.

Tuning OUT

I was at the post office the other day and, after turning down a sketchy [homeless?] man's request to fill out a form for him, I saw an older man coming in the door. He was probably in his late-seventies or eighties, and I noticed his hearing aids as he approached the mail slots.

But when he turned around to drop off his mail and I got a better look, I saw that grandpa didn't have any hearing aids. He was totally plugged in…to his iPod. His earbuds were tucked safely in his ears, and he had his iPod zipped up in his jacket pocket.

Rock. On.

Do you think my bags of ice will stay frozen?

I'm thinking they're safe in the car, where I forgot them and where I am not going to retrieve them.




Go ahead, all you beloved Yankee readers, and laugh at me. But look! The coldest it's been in six years! I can't even remember back that far. That means tomorrow and Friday are going to be colder than any day I can remember in my eight-and-a-half years in this city. And I don't even own a pair of gloves! BRRRRR.

Another Decorating Post

But not about me. US Weekly has this tremendously interesting *insert total dripping sarcasm here* article about the Obamas and their new interior decorator and his ideas. They end with this very useful tidbit. I think we can all take away a tip or two, right?

Although the family hasn't released many details about how they'll personalize their new home, the Post reports the Obamas' Chicago residence featured Asian and African art, glass-fronted bookcases and framed family photos.

Really? Really? Framed family photos? Oh, what a fantastically new and innovative idea. It must've been a slow news day. Because, seriously, that is not a "feature" of someone's home.

Why don't you just hold this story, US, till they are actually done redecorating, and then show us some photos. Now that I will be curious about. I love seeing interior shots of the White House! Anyone else hoping for a TV tour a la Jackie? I'm totally keeping my fingers crossed!

Amen, Sister

See? Everyone thought 2008 sucked. Though, admittedly, her year was pretty darn crappy.

Get Your Facts Straight

In the February issue of Marie Claire, the cover story is about Renee Zellweger. (Who, incidentally, I find I don’t care for personally, but I do really like her in movies. I guess this makes her a good actress.) Anyway, the interviewer, of course, refers to her short-lived marriage to my boyfriend, Kenny Chesney. (And, side note, said marriage was in 2005. The speculation about the “fraud” annulment is getting tiresome, and so is the constant questioning in Every. Single. Interview. Okay? It's 2009.)

So, my point.

The article refers to Kenny as a “fellow Texan.”

Hello, copy editors.

Everyone knows KC is from East Tennessee. I mean, he totally has a song devoted to ET and everything. He talks about growing up in ET all the time. He’s a huge UT fan.

I just couldn’t believe it. Whatever happened to good ol’ gettin' your facts straight? Huh?

This Ain't Right

And I don't like it.

More Tears

Please. I have nothing left to give.

Stephanie Went to Market

…and saw THIS MAN in a red fur coat!



Wish the picture was better, but how do you ask someone to pose for a photo you intend to share with the Internet because he looks so freakin' ridiculous? He had a man-bag and a glass of wine to go with his ensemble. And this whole voice…thing.

Oh, Poor Baby

Little Nakoa-Wolf Manakauapo Namakaeha Momoa is going to have a hard time fitting that name on the top of his school papers. I pity his kindergarten teacher. So wrong.

Do You Watch Jon & Kate + Eight?

I've just recently gotten hooked. And I loved it. At first.

But during a cousins discussion over Christmas, it was brought to my attention that the Gosselin family is the recipient of some serious backlash. And I get it, I do. Kate can be a little…much. But, honestly, I think it's the closest any "reality" show comes to reality. So I'll keep watching, trying not to judge.

However.

That child, one of the twins, Mady. Uh-huh. No way. I would beat the crap out of my kid if she behaved that way. All. The. Time. Okay, okay, that's a little harsh. I wouldn't, uh, beat the crap out of my kid. But, seriously. She frustrates me. What a miserable little runt. All of the sassing and attitude and little pinched-up faces. The arm folding and huffiness. The…the…misery of it all. Ugh. I mean, just look at her in this picture!

Can we discuss?

I. Am. Heartbroken.

Please, let me grieve in peace.

This is So Cool

And I'm sorta miffed I didn't come up with it myself. Oh, how fun. I would love to open a place like this in Birmingham. I'd hire my friends too. And I'd have really cute monogrammed aprons, duh. Check out the Austin Cookie Lounge. I swear, that city is too cool for school.

Oops, I Forgot!

The 2008 Ornament Swap attendees. If you didn't come, see what you missed?



PS: There were a few tense moments this year. Just what we all love: good ornament-girl fights!

So Polite

I was trying to email some photos to my aunt last night, and I'm not nerdy enough to know how to do it properly, so I clearly overloaded and got a mailer demon response. But it was so nice. Knology really tried!

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at spamlite10.knology.net.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

That last line is the most perfect break-up line evah. And I am going to find a way to use it. Watch me.

Suggestions?

I'm working on my resolutions. Yeah, I'm late, big surprise. Feel free to let me know if there is anything y'all would like me to work on.

Heh. I don't really mean that. Don't you dare.

January 15

That's the deadline. That is when Moreno and Stafford must declare their intentions to join the NFL draft. I really, really, really hope they stay in school. School is cool, dudes. Please, please, please. I promise to return all my Christmas gifts if they come back. Hold me to it. I can't bear to think I watched their last college game yesterday. It was sad enough that the season ended for me.

The Month of Me

Thursday started the second annual Month of Me. This is what I deemed the month of January, beginning last year. January 2007 was uncharacteristically tough for me. I was sad, cried a lot for no reason, and just in general felt down in the dumps. I logged on to WebMD and self-diagnosed the winter blahs. (Doctors around the country are cringing now, I'm sure.) The misery magically dissipated in February, and I vowed to myself that I would remember in January 2008 that I was just coming down off the holiday high. To combat said withdrawal, last year I decided to look forward to January as a month where I would do things for myself. I refused to book myself with obligations seven days a week. I didn't do any crafts unless I wanted to. I read a lot of books. It was lovely.

And so here we are, January 2009, and I am so looking forward to this month. It's very freeing, not packing your calendar full for four glorious weeks. This year's Month of Me actually started in Nashville yesterday. We were out pretty late NYE, so we slept in Thursday morning. And then I did what I wanted to for the rest of the day, including:

1. Moved from bed to JLo's sofa. Drank coffee and watched tv in my pajamas.
2. Wore my pink sweater slippers to Chick-fil-A for "breakfast," which consisted of nuggets, fries, and sweet tea because it was lunchtime.
3. Went back to the sofa, took intermittent naps till Georgia's bowl game.
4. Watched game, napped during halftime.
5. Took another nap.
6. Refused to form an opinion about dinner.

See? It's awesome. Today, after I got home, I piddled around the condo, then decided I deserved a bubble bath. So I took one. Which explains why I'm sitting here on a Friday night, damp curls piled on top of my head with a big plastic clip, blogging. Because I want to. I'll keep you posted on my other just-for-me activities. I will have to take 7.5-hour breaks five days a week to go to work. I can't have it all.

Leaving Nashvegas

Some readers may get the Sheryl Crow song reference in the title. I told you I'm on a music kick.

So, I was really sad to leave Nashville today. Part of that, I'm sure, is because my leaving also involved dropping Brooke off at the airport. Plus, we just had a really good time the past few days. I let everyone be the boss of me, and I didn't make a single decision for three days. In fact, on NYE, I didn't even decide what I was having for dinner. (Well, I tried, but after ordering two meals and having our waiter return to say they were out of both, I made him decide. It's okay, he paid too.)

Anyway, the drive home today was bittersweet. I love driving in the car by myself and listening (and singing) to all the random music on my iPod, but I also knew I was heading back to the Ham, real life and all. Which got me thinking: I could live in Nashville. I really could. I love Birmingham, but if I had to choose a few other cities in which to live, Nashville would top the list. Here it is.

1. Nashville
2. Dallas
3. San Francisco
4. Atlanta
5. NYC
6. Louisville

What are yours?

Trashy & Classy

One of my Christmas presents from Brooke was these awesome damask-print trash bags from Home Chic Home by Two's Company (one of my faves). Heh. Y'all know this is something I can totally appreciate. Even better: My kitchen is black and white. I turned this one inside out so the damask print shows on the outside of my trash can. Look how much better the damask bags look next to my boring plain white trash bag. SO fun. Thanks, Brooke!

Fun With Finger Puppets

Brooke and I met Christopher for lunch last Wednesday before we headed out to Nashville. He gave us each a finger puppet for Christmas, a cat for BK and a bulldog for me. Look how much fun they had together. I named mine Georgia. No need to make fun of me.

The puppets enjoyed a bit of baby's breath at the table.
Then Georgia tried to whisper sweet nothings in the cat's ear. She wasn't having it.



And apparently Georgia enjoys the coffee at Urban Standard as much as I do.




They went to a lovely NYE dinner at South Street Kitchen. Sadly, the restaurant was out of nearly every dang thing on the menu.




We had to put them away after dinner because the puppets tried to sneak a drink at Loser's, and they are not 21. Then Georgia helped me drive home today. He kept a watch out for the cops.

New Year's Eve

I heaved a huge sigh of relief at midnight as I rang in 2009 with an old friend and lots of new ones in Nashville. I don't know a single person who has any love for 2008, seriously. I was so ready to part ways with last year. So happy was I to see this new year that I literally almost starting crying. I know. That's gay. (And that, my friends, is not a homophobic slur. It's an inside joke, and if you don't get it, well, then, you weren't there. And you had to be.) Anyway, Nashville was a blast, and I pretty much met my goal of not paying for anything the entire evening. Even dinner was on our waiter (long story).

A very Happy New Year to you all. Let the diets begin!

PS: I provided wardrobe for the evening, JLo provided transportation, and BK provided my New Year's kiss.

PPS: I have the longest neck of anyone I know. Look at that thang!

I'm Just Sayin'

Chick-fil-A sweet tea gives me indigestion. Real bad. But I just can't stop drinking it. I spent a miserable two hours in the car today, driving home from Nashville, after sucking down a medium one. That's all.

I Might Catch Crap About This

But I don't like James Taylor. Do y'all? He sounds super whiny to me, and I just can't stand a single song that he is responsible for. I went out with this guy about seven years ago who really loved him. And he asked me to go to the James Taylor concert at Oak Mountain. And I pretended I had something else really important to do. We didn't last.

I'm Really on a Music Kick

And so here's another video. Everyone is allowed to have one cheesy, sappy song that they really enjoy. Even though they really shouldn't. Okay. This is mine. I only get to hear it at Christmastime. I promise it's NOT in my iTunes. I know, I know. It's baaaaad.

How to Get Pregnant

Yeah, see, you were confused, too, weren't ya? I'm pretty sure we all know how this happens. Nevertheless, there is a book at Barnes & Noble just for you in case you just want to double check. I realize it's probably about something serious like infertility, and that's not funny, but when you're just looking for a book for a friend and you run across a big hardback with that title, it's going to make you giggle. I don't care who you are.

Too sad to be clever

I'm very very devastated that The Killers shows in Nashville and Atlanta sold out, as I'm sure I've told all of you at least 1,000 times. So instead I'm just going to torture you on my blog. This is my current favorite. Well, this one plus Human.

This Song is Stupid

It wouldn't be so bad if he didn't keep repeating, "I'm just not that cool." Over and over. And over again. I wanted a gun. Have you heard it?

Excuse me
Do you have the time
'Cause I've been here waiting since a quarter after nine
And it is not true love that I'm hoping I will find
No the truth is that I just don't want to be alone tonight
My how your eyes sparkle
Have you heard that one before
'Cause if you have don't you worry I know at least one million more
Like the one about your father stealing stars out of the sky
And if I could buy you just one more drink I think I'd have the strength to tell these lies
And it must feel so fine
To get what you want every time
I would if I were more like James Dean
Then I could walk right up to you
And say hello how do you do
Then you'd come back home with me
But I'm just not that cool you see
I'm just not that cool you see
So for now I'll just sit here and wait alone
And hope that maybe you'll say hello
As the night just creeps along
And I don't want to know about the clothes you wear
I want to see you in the morning with the sunlight through your hair

Let it not be said that I don't suffer for beauty(ful hair)

I just thought this might give y'all a good belly laugh. You didn't think that caramelized blonde hair was natural, did ya?