Hooray Weekend

This weekend I am heading here, to the lake, with Hank to see the fam. I'm super excited.

Enjoy your weekend!!

Pretty

Everything about this is b-e-a-u-t-i-f-u-l.

I would like to fly this. I specifically love that it's a butterfly kite.

How pretty are these? The bulldog one is my favorite.

Many Things

I recently finished reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett. It's a great read, definitely a page-turner, but I was disappointed with how it ended. I guess I wanted to know more, a lot more. After discussing The Help at book club last night, it made me realize there really wasn't more to be said. If you think about it, you as a reader know exactly what will happen to each character once the book is closed. I highly recommend. Now we are onto Water for Elephants, but I still need to finish The Sweet By and By, oh my!

I have been in such a crafting queen mood lately. All I want to do is craft all over the place. A few things I want to craft:

Martha's Puff Balls

Paper Cranes

Silhouettes

Who-o-o

There is an owl that lives in a tree in the backyard. He is a who-o-o-ing machine. I like him, and I like these too... Who-o-o could resist such charming owl things?

Owl Doorstop

Owl Pillow

Owl Towel

Owl Knob

On a knob note... Lobster knobs!

Anyway, I may currently be owlsessed.

A. Idol

I love Estelle's song American Boy (featuring Kanye West). I love it even more after hearing Janell Wheeler sing it on American Idol.

It may be too early to tell, but I think these are my top five favorite contestants (in order):

1) Andrew Garcia

2) Janell Wheeler

3) Alex Lambert

4) Lee Dewyze

5) Todrick Hall

There are many others that I kinda like, that may grow on me, but hopefully one of these five aren't sent home tonight.

Hump Day Hottie

This week has flown by so fast I almost forgot it's already Wednesday!! This week's HDH:

James Marsden. I first saw him in the movie Gossip, but since then he has been in Zoolander, Sugar & Spice, X-Men, THE NOTEBOOK, Hairspray, Enchanted, 27 Dresses, etc.

This post inspires me to watch The Notebook. It's been too long.

Beliefs

I see something similar to this every time I go to eat Chinese or Japanese. I always wondered why this cat's paw just kept waving up and down at me. What is cat doing here, in this restaurant? I finally found out.

It's a kitchy Maneki Nekko (Japanese for "Beckoning Cat"). When the right paw is up it is to attract customers. When the left paw is up it is to attract money. The next time I am at one of these restaurants, I will check to see if they want to please their customers, or if they just want their customer's money.

I have also seen a lot of these in stores lately. What in the world?

I found out too... It's a Fu Dog. It is believed they bring safety and luck to your home. I kind of like them, especially the bookends. But... Luckily I am not too superstitious so I do not feel like I need them. Now, opening an umbrella inside or breaking a mirror... I will not do!

Warming Drawer

Oh, the warming drawer. I never knew such a thing existed until an amazing vacation to California last summer. I was wondering how in the world we were going to keep some take-out Tacos San Pedro steak burritos (delicious) warm for almost an hour until everyone was home and ready to eat. Enters warming drawer.

The burritos went into the warming drawer. They sat... for an hour. I was skeptical. When it was time to eat, they tasted like we just picked them up five minutes ago. What!?! It was a miracle. A warming drawer would be a great standard appliance.

I would really like one because I like to cook dinner, then have all the dishes done before dinner, so that after dinner one can just enjoy the rest of the night. Enters problem. The food would be cold by the time all dishes are done. Not with the warming drawer! Until the warming drawer walks into my life, I will continue doing dishes after dinner (but I will keep dreaming about you warming drawer).

Are you for real?

Everyday for breakfast I either have Apple Turnover, Banana Cream Pie, Boston Cream Pie, Key Lime Pie, Lemon Cream Pie, Pineapple Upside Down Cake, Raspberry Cheesecake, Red Velvet Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Pie, Cherry Cobbler, Cinnamon Roll or Lemon Meringue. It's crazy because each of these tasty treats are only 100 calories. I want to call Yoplait up and ask them, "Are you for real?" Thank you, Yoplait Light! Breakfast is much more exciting with you. P.S. They have a solid commercial. Her hubby doesn't know the secret yet. He's missing out.... Big time.

Facts

Peacocks are beautiful and majestic.

.

I always wondered why a peacock wine glass I have is called, "Ostentatious," now I know...



"A group of six peacocks in real life is called an ostentation." So I guess it means if six girls are together drinking out of their glasses, it's Ostentatious?

This makes me think of how much I love random facts. I was on hold the other day, and instead of having to listen to elevator music or silence, I got to listen to random facts. For example, did you know that only 4 percent of babies are delivered on their original due date... Who knew? I think this is a very impressive customer service tactic. How can you get mad for being on hold when you are learning interesting facts?

Iron Fist

This birthday cake reminds me of the women's self-defense class I am currently taking. It's an eight week program taught by a black belt named Dallas (his name is fitting enough). I am on week three. At the last class we will be chopping a wood board in half with our hand. Oh my. I have learned a lot of things, and I feel pretty confident that I could do something to an attacker to give me enough time to get away, but a wood board? I will keep you posted.

Sticks

I was feeling creative last night. I found this (manufactured) bird's nest, and I pulled/unglued the easter eggs that were in it. Then I put in these soaps (yes, they are soaps). Now it is sitting pretty in the bathroom.

I also had my first experience with a reed diffuser. They are great. It's like a candle is lit all the time, but it's not. I highly recommend.

Wet

This is who I felt like at the gym last night.

How are you suppose to Zumba or play basketball when a kid thinks it's funny to pull the sprinkler alarms and flood the gym? His parents were there. They should sit in timeout too.

Life

This weekend at the Estate Sale I found this white table. It is now in the powder room.

I also purchased a Carolina blue and white birdhouse (for $1). After talking to the husband/grandpa, he told me that he use to build the birdhouses and his wife would paint them. I thought this a beautiful, priceless treasure. I also found this to be very sad, because they will no longer be working together on these. This Estate Sale sent one of life's little reminders... Life is a precious, precious thing. Celebrate life by doing what you love, every. single. day.

Can we copy?

Athens, GA has the most fabulous animals on parade - bulldawgs with swagger strutting around town. It's a public art exhibit created by their junior woman's club called, "We Let The Dawgs Out." Here are some of my favorites:



"Vincent Van Go Dawg"



"Game Dawg"

These are the ones I have actually seen while visiting Hank's sisters, Amy & Laura, at UGA:



"Bugga"



"Dawgwood Bark"



"Carmen Mirandawg"



"Caesar Dawgustus"

I would love to have a picture with all 36. I think this is definitely something Orange County should do. Creatively painted rams around town... Could it get any better?

Hello Weekend

I wish I was going to see these guys tonight:

But I didn't win any tickets on the radio - I tried 253467 times, and tickets were a bit much. I still believe that...

So instead it's off to see Shutter Island (Leo!):

On another note, I'm super pumped about browsing an Estate Sale in Raleigh in the morning, and even more excited because my mom is coming for the day!! And she is bringing this chair (last spotted in my freshman year dorm room):

It's going in the closet. Then when it is time to clean the closet (it's spotless right now), I have a place to sit and take a break. But really it is going to end up being a vanity chair. I think.

Saturday night it's off to Girls' Night at The Rockford, Busy Bee and wherever else the night takes us (Rum Runners... Anyone?). Hopefully there are no drunk slob-kabobs. But if there are, I will take a picture & post.

Busy Bee in Downtown Raleigh has a super unique drink called The Sting. It has jalapenos in it, and it is surprisingly delicious. I will be sure to order one for me and one for you.

Have a Happy Weekend!!

We are the World

When I saw this on TV I was so caught up with cute little boy dancing that I didn't realize he is wearing a UNC shirt. Watch the entire video, because it's amazing, but take special note at 1:24.

Where can I find this?

Not just this one... but anything similar? A beverage cart/bar on wheels? Once I find this I will serve you a drink from it. Yes, it will have an umbrella in it. And then I will roll away.

Furnishing Fun

A globe would be nice. Not more than one though. Interesting... placement here?

Funky chair... Yes.

With playful bamboo mirror? Yes.

Next to wicker elephant... YES!

Or next to wicker/glass green frog table? YES, YES, YES!!