circa 1991

Hey guys. I meant to post this when I found it but forgot. I think I was feeling sorry for myself since my mom hogged this whole photo booth memory. :) Anyway this is me about 9-10ish and my mom with glasses and a coat I wish she would have saved for me. She didn't realize at the time she would have a daughter who grew up to look old. She had hopes for a doctor or a lawyer or for anything that would have had me making more $$ so that thrift stores wouldn't be my main shopping outlet. And even though all of that is true, with a larger salary I'd probably still want those glasses and coat. The picture is a bit rough, but gives you an idea of how LARGE my my mom's noggin' is. {haha, joke.} I guess we needed to re-evaluate our sitting arrangement. And I imagine by the time this shoot was over mom was tired of dealing with what face to make next....or something.

So it's Friday and that's great news in it's self.

New or Old??

New to the little mister but the old way of learning about super heroes. We made our first ever appearance to a highly recommended comic store, Legend Comics. It was a success. Being the new comer's (that we both are) the staff was more than elated to have a new, young follower. This made for a quiet night around my house this evening. He didn't turn on the PS3 or Wii or DS or even the tv. I feel better about this choice compared to the video game purchases. Proud for sure of my little dude.

Will be soon

As I'm mapping out what will be taking place in the next few months to come, I'm doing my best not to fall on the dark side of my personality! There are so many out of town trips that NEED to happen: family, new and old friends to visit with, and work to be done, it's hard not to get a little excited (terrified of failure or leaving something out). My default setting seems to be panic at times. I'm only going to do the amount of work my body can physically do, I'm not going to worry about not knowing where we'll be living. I'm going to be a calm, cool, and collected version of myself. At least, that's what I've promised and prayed for today. ;)

For now, I'll focus on this week, which is full of birthdays, cleaning, packing, a trip to take the little mister to hid dad's and a well deserved night out with friends. CAN'T wait friends!!! I'll see you and these guys there....



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plus lots more.....

Inspiration On a Wednesday

Jenny Lyons, the creative director at J. Crew, her taste is impeccable in both clothing & interiors. I've been watching this NY Brownstone that she shares with her husband and little boy since I first saw it in the Nov '08 Domino issue, and I was elated to see a more detailed glimpse of it in the September '09 issue of Living Etc. I have both issuses saved and look at them for inspration every so often. She has a knack for combining classic traditional pieces with unexpected twists to create an graceful, yet totally livable style

So if you ever see hints of this in my house don't be surprised. I can't wait to have another nursery/child's room to stylize.

TWO BLOG(GER)S THAT I LOVE

So I'm sharing the love. I enjoy their lives, even though perfect strangers. I enjoy their photos (which reminds me I need a better camera). My favorite blogs are almost always the ones with a strong, personal story.

Listening to....

Shrinky Dinks

remember this arts-and-crafts craze? Shrinky Dinks! Shrinking plastic designs=A+ fun. I googled some ideas that would be great fun to have as end results for me or little mister:

Bret and Jemaine earrings

wearwhitelimo.com.—Helen Yun

shrinky-dinks for your fingers

Halloween

Also, in my google search I found some DIY tutorials, so this will be a very easy project to do. I've got plastic, permanent markers, scissors, aluminum foil, and an oven with oven mitts. I'll have to post our creations soon.

Happy Monday!!!

Can you handle it?

Forget starbucks or sunny days, mcdonald's ice coffee and mega options for shades is where its at.or at least in my car today....

or what about Lily Aldridge's dark on top and caramel highlights on the bottom, with my long hair being natural these days, I'm looking for a change.

image cobrasnake

Love/Hate

What's the Word?

So after writing out loud on my movie behaviors in yesterday's post, I began to think "I deserve to go see some adult movies, it's just ludicrous that my child dictates time at the theaters" (ha, dictate is a bit dramatic because Jaxson never tells me I can't, I just never do) So here are the top 2 on my list as of today:

(Click on the pic for trailers, more info and listings: as of right now The Kids Are Alright hasn't made it to Omaha, but I'm still hoping it will, if not there is always Netflicks and my mister's sister's home theater)

PS. Mark Ruffalo is hot. The End.

a review

This "review" is probably only a tiny bit pertinent, and only to people who are like me: only really get to go to the movies that your kids want to go too. As much and as many movies as I'd like to see right now, my pocketbook just can't keep up. And 3D kid movie everything isn't really helping the cost of a movie. But that's a whole other ramble.

A big part of kid movie watching is as follows. Movie A becomes a mix of Movie B and C. For example, take a dog and mix it with "Kindergarten Cop" and "All Dogs Go to Heaven" or whatever, (I'm making this up but to make my point) then knowing how ridiculous a dead cop's body is entering a dog, who could then talk, but only to his dead partner: a big fat pass to most of the movies that my kid wants to see, however, we end up going just for something to do together and in some small ridiculous plotted stories I end up finding out that I don't mind a kid movie here or there once in awhile. (and it keeps little mister happy)

So with all of that said, Despicable Me was a mix of Annie (orphan's) and Up (old guy set in his ways ends up loving the kids). And The Incredible’s (the character's body shapes)? And Batman(only for all the weapons that just pop out of nowhere made by one master mind that is not the villain)? Thankfully it's missing whatever made Annie so boring, and whatever made every character in UP so irritating.

In Despicable Me, we've got a whole team of super villain’s who plot to outdo each other, being funded by the bank of villains. There are a few different ideas - stealing the moon, a pyramid, or anything worth making the news as the "WORST" villain yet. Also an army of little hilarious minions, a crazy doctor that is the brains behind all of the weapons used to create these news worthy plots of criminal action. It was great. The 3D was great. We had popcorn (of course), and it too was great. This is getting rambly-er. In the end, little mister and I would see it again.

Music

Becasue I can't get enough of this band:

Local Natives (coming to Omaha August 30 @ The Waiting Room)

Famous

Even though i'm not a E TV stalker or an insider watcher, i do enjoy famous people because well, i listen to music and watch tv. we all have famous people that we can't help but love. Here's a short list of some of my favorites.

Emily Haines

Bill Murray

Fiona Apple

Adrien Brody

Jason Schwartzman

Music Festival Stlyees

i'm not gonna lie, picking out outfits for outdoor music festivals can be a bit difficult. you have to make some correct assumptions about your day/weekend at an event like this: you pretty much stink the entire time, it's hard to wear any makeup because your hot and sweaty, and it's also kinda hard to dress cute when all you want is comfy shoes and a loose fitting clothes. it's extreme conditions that i would not be able to tolerate if not for an unbelievable time of incredible music and the feeling of being in a completely different universe than your own. so because the Omaha scene has a few outdoor venues/festivals coming up i took the time to find some inspiration for my lady friends. (Images via google search)

Watch{ery}

i have a soft spot for watches. i believe my current number of watches is in the teens. (which lets not kid ourselves, some girls have many many more) however, mine are all dear to my heart becasue ironically i've never bought a single watch, they've all been gifts :) SO i have NO qualms with this new watch trend of doubles or heavy stacking:(style scrapbook)(Cupcakes and Cashmere)

So anyone who knows me knows that this gives me double advantage to my biggest peeve:being late!

(btw, introducing you to 2 of my must read blogs, enjoy)

noah and the whale

".....this is the last song that i write while you're even on my mind"

moderate

so my day was average. and I don't have a ton to say other than....

reading: all the magazines that have been piling up in my "to read" list. (architectural digest, dwell, interior design and lucky-which I didn't subscribe for, it just started coming) And to add to these magazines: I am starting to question doing my hobby as a career. It's an 8-5 that keeps me from my life, should I have chosen to do what was more a hobby because I don't like it every day. And it's starting to drain my desire to do it after I leave my 8-5. and also now the magazines I used to wait axiously for sit for weeks before I open them. My inspiration is gone more days than it is here. Or maybe I'm just in a rut. Or maybe I shouldn't be whining, I do have a job and a car that runs :)

listening: to songs i'd love to be able to cover if only i were in a band.

drinking: green tea everyday!! or Sonic anything

grilling: anything as a kabob

thinking: about a new hobby since i'm fizzling out in the hobby i loved because i started a career in it. maybe card games or tricks??

Ok, enjoy your Tuesday evening. It's hot!!! so hot.....

Consumer Reports

Today a couple of product reviews. Blockbuster's revision of RedBox (or more like Blockbuster’s try to compete with). It's a rent a movie in a box. Kinda like an atm for movies, great idea but not well executed on Blockbuster's part. Yeah, it's a $1 rental but like redbox they get'cha if not returned the next day. In an ideal world this would make sense if I would remember to take the movie back the next day. So far between redbox and now blockbuster express these $1 movies rentals have cost me about $25. Anyway back to blockbuster EXPRESS: I believe once our moive was selected, it took 15-20minutes for the machine to finish our transaction and give us our movie. Express? More like: Kinda sorta faster than the store. So double thumbs down. Netflix is still the leading movie rental phenomena.

Back yard mini pool. $20 at good ol' Walmart or Target (I've seen them at both places) I mean, it fits 2 adults (little mister was off to his dad's this past weekend) and if positioned in your day around Sunday afternoon nap time, it's a great way to work out that tan. Makes me 'o so happy. Put on a bit of Ray Charles shuffled with Rilo Kiley and you get 2 thumbs up from me for this product. I highly recommend one. Also good for nieces and nephews with water guns. A total war of getting soaked fun!!

Summer is Heavenly

Okay, brief rundown
another side of summer…

• staying out close to all night, going to kid friendly parties after I’ve gone to a BBQ after I've gone swimming, and drinking “summer drinks” (drinks you normally drink, but in “champion size” I prefer sonic happy hour from 2-4) (and to add this is as un-sponsored as they can be, I get no checks from the man, not that I’d expect a check but don’t ever expect me to be underground about it. Really, I just like Sonics’ ice and their endless drink selections)


• Plastic Blow up pools in backyards to help me work out a tan while maintaining my 8 to 5 indoor job hours. (insert Dolly Parton 9-5 lyrics now)


• Put to a challenge: save all receipts that I have that involve $$ spent on any food or drink for the whole month of July. (see this is where the road trip and sonic drinks become a problem) LOOK at all those receipts and its only the 9th!!! I may need to re-evaluate my spending…..or just do this challenge in the winter when I don’t feel the need to “treat” myself daily?? (shrug) Its summer and I just wanna have some fun after 5pm, every single day...

Anyway, ENJOY your Friday. I know I will at about 2 when I go to Sonic (you can't stop me challenge!!!) or maybe I shouldn't (another shrug) I mean it's happy hour so that means half off???

Married a Disco Lovin Summer for Birthday Cake

So I already did a July mix, but as I listen over and over I realized I needed a mamma-jamma birthday, wedding, summer morphed together mix. What would be the formula necessary to craft make a mix with all the right stuff?
1) all the fun of good wedding receptions
2) While cutting the cheese out (sorry, modern country songs, like “Save a Horse- Ride a Cowboy” no thanks) very difficult, but oh-so-essential
3) And still maintaining the songs that “old people wanna dance to”.
Which would be largely, not exclusively, classics- “Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now”, Yeah!

Solution? Take two fun lovin' dancing anyones, add one cup (heh) of disco, and shake it all together, for someone’s BIRTHDAY, wedding or summer party! (who’s birthday is next, btw?) So who likes to party down, now? With this mix….I’d say you better!!!

soooooooooo that is this mix. And you gon’ luv it. Weddings, Birthdays, and Disco morphed together, constituting a new theme….WedbirDISCO!!! (and that's just birweddisc-onkulous)

ENJOY!!!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

I Ain't Square; I Just Like To Share

i dont understand how i've not listened to these bands before but I am now.
(images via google serach)
casiokids. a Norwegian based band that I can’t understand with good beats.

also the joy formidable, from North Wales


These are the “ones” to watch. :)