Getcher fried food on

The North Carolina State Fair opens in 14 days and I can't wait! They might not have Big Tex but they've still got fried food on a stick! And it won't be hotternhell either.

I'm a bad dog mom

So Lulu has this little fabric covered ottoman that she loves. In Austin it was indoors, in the corner of the living room where two windows came together. From that spot she could survey her kingdom (the back yard) and make sure no possums tried to enter it. Here it's on my screened in patio. She likes to sit on it and watch...well who knows what she's watching because the only thing back there is trees. Anyway. The ottoman is covered in Sunbrella fabric, which is supposed to be suitable for the outdoor elements. Yeah, not so much for the dampness that is my patio. There is mold growing on it. I discovered this at least a week ago. The spots are getting larger but have I thrown it away? No.

I need to find her something to replace it. I found this hammock thing, that I think she'll like, and it looks like I can wash it. Christmas is going to come early for Ms. Lulu!

How very Fetching

Finally, after months of only needing to do the thumbs to complete my first non-hat/scarf knitting project....I did it! Now I can move on to other projects. I know some people like to have several things going on at the same time--these are probably the same people that are reading several books at the same time--but I am not one of those people. I am monogamous to my projects. That doesn't stop me from perusing Ravelry and downloading new patterns or lusting after yarn.

ps...do I have really big hands or what? Because I added extra rows and extra cable repeats and they still aren't long enough.

In which I discover I still don't like French toast

So last night, or rather very early this morning, I woke up craving French toast. Normally, I do not like French toast but for whatever reason, at 3am, I was wanting it. So this morning I made some.




Yup, still don't like it.
But I ate it anyway.

Nothing happening here

I have entered my yearly birthday funk and do not feel like doing anything. Can I just hibernate for the next week? Perhaps I will just turn 35 again....

And because I think blog posts without photos are boring, behold my nephew-dog Buford. He's so cute.

Be still my heart

My favorite sun glasses wearing man is back on tv tonight....CSI:Miami starts again.

This is the best time of year, fall tv, I just love it! My dvr is cleared out and ready to go!

New Lulu photos

The weather this weekend was gorgeous so I opened up both the patio doors. Lulu enjoyed that very much.

Lulu's worst nightmare

Lulu is terrified of balloons. If this were in our living room she would stand in the doorway and cower in fear.

Shhhhh!

I don't know who created this, but it's been making the rounds on Facebook and I love it. Applicable in so many situations.

I like to people watch

Check out this blog I just ran across, People of Walmart. As a former Wal-Mart employee I can tell you that some of these images are oh so familiar. The commentary along with each photo is pretty funny too.

From my home state. Makes a Texan proud, ya'll. It disturbs me that so many of the photos are from Texas.



From my adopted home state.

Hold please

It's true, I watch too much television. So with that in mind, and the fact that I need to spend less lazy time on the sofa, I have suspended my Netflix account until further notice. Plus, fall tv is gearing up and there are some new shows I'm digging (Glee, anyone?) not to mention my favs are will soon be back (three weeks until Grey's Anatomy! Did Izzy die? I don't care but Denny's ghost needs more screen time).

This is why I can't have nice things

I have a problem....I can't make a decision when it comes to interior design for my own personal space. There are just too many options! Recently, I've been loving the mid-century modern look and have been wanting to go that route. But the relaxed, overstuffed casual Pottery Barn look pulls me back. Then I find things like this steamer trunk (from Restoration Hardware) and I just give up. Which is why my place currently looks, well, kind of like a slightly more expensive version of my college apartment. At least I have a sofa now.

My, what big feet you have!

Look at Buuuuuford's feet! He's going to be a big 'un. I love how Gus keeps trying to get in the chair.

If I didn't know better....

I would have thought this was my sister's dog, Gus.

Treating myself

From joey & rocky


From jmundodesigns

I decided to do something about it

After months, and I do mean months, of watching The Biggest Loser reruns just about every day, I finally got off my ass and worked out. What brought this on? You mean besides the huge feeling of fatness that surrounds me? I discovered that I have Fit Tv on Demand and it has Biggest Loser workouts! Now I can personally get yelled at by Bob and Jillian. AWESOME.

So tonight, I put on my tennis shoes and took Lulu for a long walk. Really. Actually, there was some running too. Lulu did really well for the first 15 minutes but not so good on the way back. Once I got home I started one of the workouts on the tv.

Let's just say thank goodness for the fast forward button. You can skip all those pesky lunges! But hey, it's a start and I'm all sweaty.

The new season of The Biggest Loser starts September 15th. Guess whose butt will be firmly planted on the sofa that night?!

Stupid

Don't get me wrong...I love tattoos. But a finger mustache tattoo? Seriously. That is such a retarded hipster kid thing. And to quote my mother "how's that going to look when you're 80 years old?!"


Find more videos like this on fingerstache


This is a much better tattoo:












photo by Happy Lobster

Even better is Picasso's Dachshund sketch. Hmmm, I have been wanting another tattoo for some time now. Have I found what I've been looking for?

Dachshund Portrait Dishcloth

Dachshund Portrait Dishcloth
Originally uploaded by evelyndesigns

I need to knit this....right after I finish the 2 other projects I've got going.

There was a storm

This afternoon a thunder storm rolled in.
Don't worry, I had my eyes on the road the entire time.

Little luxuries

This morning I realized that nearly all my bath towels were high school graduation gifts (and I graduated from high school 18 years ago) or hand-me-downs from my parents'. So while I was out and about I stopped into HomeGoods. First of all, I have never been there on a Saturday and it was a zoo! Secondly, wow did they have a lot of great stuff that I did not need (but wanted). I bought myself 2 new, very white, very fluffy, very soft towels (and for only $6/ea). In fact, I spent the next 30 minutes just walking around the store hugging them. Yes, I was that crazy lady.

HotternHell

For all my Texas peeps


#543; In which it’s Hot
(click on photo to enlarge)

Botox on a budget

otherwise known as bangs!



It's not quite what I had in mind, thank goodness my hair grows fast, but it will do. At least now I have a good reason to buy more earrings.

Next up....DIY hair coloring. Won't THAT be an adventure!

Must see for me

Maybe one day they will have a Senior Citizens Solid Gold dance show and I'll finally be able to fulfill my childhood dream.

It's over now

This weekend my sister and her husband picked up their new puppy, Buford T. Justice. It's official....Lulu is no longer going to have favored granddog status. How could she? Once my parents see Buford's adorable, squishy little face it's all over for Lulu.

Laundry Dog

Earlier in the week I was doing laundry but left a pile of clothes still needing to be washed on the floor of the closet. Last night when I was going to bed I could not find Lulu anywhere. Keep in mind that this is an 800 square foot apartment. There are only so many places she can be...and she wasn't in any of the normal spots. Finally I found her sleeping on the pile of clothes. She's funny like that. When Kristin was here visiting Lulu slept on her pile of clothes too.

Dogs is weird.

Lulu was not pleased that I turned the closet light on and took photos of her.


And no, I still have not done the laundry. Lulu is snoozing there again tonight.

p.s....please ignore my underwear...nothing exciting to see there.

Weekend getaway

I have to take some unpaid days off over the next few months and I've got vacation to use up before the end of the year so I decided I should take a quick weekend getaway but I can't decide where to go!

Chicago (love it, one of my favorite cities)
Seattle
Atlanta (bonus, I can drive there)
Asheville, NC (home of the Biltmore)
Boone, NC (the mountains)
Toronto

Where should I go?

Ikea-run

My manager is making a trip to Ikea this weekend (the closest one is a couple of hours away, in Charlotte) and said she'd pick something up for me as long as it would fit in her car.

I'm in desperate need of a coffee table. There are bigger things I need too but a truck is required for those (also, money I have but don't want to spend right now).

What I'm considering, in order of price:

The Lack table, for a whopping $19.99 (this is the table you get when you can't decide what you want but really want a table to put your feet/magazines/knitting on)

The Expedit table is $69.99 and comes with a tempered glass top. It seems a bit low though.

The Vejmon table, which is $149.99 and looks similar to my previous table, is sort of my favorite right now.

I have interior design ADD and can never make up my mind. Sure I can make a decision for other people...but for myself is near impossible. I have a ticket to go to Market in High Point in October so maybe that will help me make a decision about what kind of bedroom furniture to eventually buy.

Just what Lulu needs!

You think I'm kidding, but I'm not.

Terror!

It's a good thing I don't alarm easily. Because earlier today a terrorist cell was uncovered and arrested in the Raleigh area. But don't worry, that's way on the opposite side of town from me.

Play Ball!

Back in April, when my parents were here for Easter, we were supposed to go to a Durham Bulls baseball game. But it got rained out. Today I finally used those tickets. Now why I decided to go to a 1:05pm game in the middle of July is beyond me, but there you have it. It wasn't quite as hot as hell but it was kind of close, at least until the 7th inning when we finally were in the shade.

The stadium and field were much smaller than I was expecting. I've never been to a major league game but I've been to plenty of college games and a few games of the Round Rock Express (also a Triple A team) and I guess it is true what they say...everything IS bigger in Texas!



There was plenty of entertainment between innings for big and little kids alike and being in a smaller stadium really helped with that. I definitely want to go back. Maybe just not when it's so hot!




Oh yeah, when a home run is hit (by the Bulls of course, who cares about the other team) the bull's eyes light up, his tail goes up and down and smoke comes out of his nose. It's pretty funny.

You know this wasn't a Baptist church

I love it.

Why do wedding dance videos make me get all verklempt? Like I could cry right now if I let myself. It's ridiculous.

When a plan comes together

This is a project that I recently completed at work. Previously, the walls were stark white and there was a hideous floral camel back sofa and a beat up desk that had seen better days. Now it is a modern updated space.

Chairs: Krug Carlyle with Arc-Com Shimmer in Cornflower
Rug: Surya Roommates

Mash Up

Munchies

This is how I feel when I get the munchies. Except I prefer chips or cookies over broccoli.

It's about damn time

You have no idea how long I have been waiting for this movie to come out. The first time I saw this trailer....I have to admit I got choked up. Also, I put the date the movie comes out on my Google calendar.

Dorkiness

I haz it.

After my own heart

Saw this in a parking lot and of course I had to stop and take a photo.

They don't make them like this anymore

The other day, Kristin and I were meandering around Raleigh and stumbled upon this house. It is beautiful. Unfortunately, it's a wreck inside (yes, we did press our faces to the windows). Maybe some day someone will restore it to its former glory

Cute or creepy?

Time to celebrate!

It's official. I'm no longer a home owner.

When I got the news, at work today, I did a little dance right there in my chair. There may have been some waving of the arms in the air and stomping of the feet. The money is even in my account already. God bless wire transfers.

Joy

Now that I will no longer be using one entire paycheck to pay for a mortgage/HOA fees/utilities on a home in a state I don't even live in, I can start shopping again. For months I have only been buying only the most necessary things (okay, maybe there might have been one new pair of shoes).

A while back I saw these earrings on a blog. I loved them but, of course, didn't make note of where to buy them or even which blog I saw them on. So last week, during some down time at work, I went on a Google search. Do you know how many pages you have to sift through when you Google "silver bird earrings"? I found many cute ones before finding Figs & Ginger. Tonight I completed my purchase and I can't wait to put these little chickies in my ears.

Below is another pair I ran across and also loved. But they were twice as much and I'm still in budget mode so I went with the originals. She's got lots of cute things so I will definitely be checking back when I've got more funds.

Almost there

Today I signed the papers for the sale of my condo and put in the mail back to Austin. The closing is on Wednesday and after that (*touch wood* that nothing goes wrong) I will be FREE! Finally.

mmmmcake

This is a cake, ya'll.
So it'd be like eating cake and biscuits at the same time.
Awesome





www.cupcakeenvy.com
Originally uploaded by cupcakeenvy

What a blonde

In the mood

I'm in the mood...to sew.

The problem?

1. Not enough fabric for the pattern

2. No sewing table.

I guess I could clear off the desk and use that. Or stand up at the kitchen bar. But really, that's just too much effort. Instead I'll just go catch up on my DVR and do some knitting.

This Blows

The photo does not even do my bruise justice. This is what happens when you have veins that are notoriously difficult to get blood from combined with a blown vein. Whenever I have to have blood drawn they get one chance in each arm and then I make them take it from the hand. This past Saturday, I don't know what happened, but when I saw my skin actually bubble up I knew that it wasn't going to be pretty. Then when the nurse brought an ice pack out to put on my hand I knew for sure.