And a little embarassed by how many times I have watched this video. I have seriously got to get a kid, or at least a hobby.
And a little embarassed by my manic laughter.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
I was going to write about losing weight, but.....
Somedays I wish that this blog was anonymous. I wish that it wasn't Miranda's Minutes, that is was Girl Unknown's Minutes. I do not think that I am a natural writer, I stress and strain over the words and rhythm. But I enjoy being able to sort things out (maybe just a little) in my head and put it down on paper (or really I should say type it out on the computer-but you know what I mean.) I love to go back a month, a year, to see what I was thinking or what was going on. Granted, I don't have a kid that I can record every milestone, which I think is maybe the most popular reason for these kinds of blogs. But I am pre-kid ( no everyone, I'm not pregnant) and maybe someday I will look back at this time when all I had to worry about was getting myself up and to work, and what color to paint the kitchen.
But there are days when I have so much going on my head that there's no way I can sort it out here, or anywhere. I talk myself in a loop. And there's personal things that I'm not sure that I'm ready to share with the Internet. And maybe it's really not the Internet that scares me, maybe I'm not sure that I'm ready to share it with those close to me outside of the Internet.
And maybe I'm most scared of putting those thoughts out there into complete, understandable sentences (well, hopefully, I shouldn't get too ahead of myself and my grammatical abilities.) It might make them more real and more tangible and more heavy for myself. Yet I feel that if I don't allow myself to feel those depressing, hard thoughts, that maybe I will let myself just float on and someday I will look back and think "If I had only...."
I have prayed that the Lord would give me strength and patience. But the funny thing is, that He would never just give you more strength and more patience-he will give you something to work through and deal with to gain those qualities. And I read these other blogs that have such amazing stories, women who have gone through so much, and I am touched and challenged and encouraged by their stories, these women who have amazing things to say and tell. And I sit here struggling to figure out how to say anything that seems relevant or amusing or even half interesting. And then I pray, Lord-please never give me the challenges that these women have faced, I am not as good as them, and I don't know that I could survive their hardships.
And I feel like He says, don't worry about other people, you have your own story to tell. What will come, will come. Turn only to me, because you never will have the strength alone, but when you turn to me I will hold your hand and wipe your tears when needed. Do not feel useless, because I have much use for you.
------------------------------------
So, this post, this part of my story, turned out nothing like what I started to write. And since I try not to edit out anything that I have said, I will post this-and maybe it'll seem like a bunch of nothing to most of you, but maybe one person will have that same prayer. I am not and never will be an eloquent speaker or prayer or anything, but maybe someone will get it, whatever it is that I'm saying. And maybe this is just for me, so that in a year or five or ten, I will look back and remember what I thought and said, and be able to known then how the Lord has held my hand and wiped my tears and made me useful.
But there are days when I have so much going on my head that there's no way I can sort it out here, or anywhere. I talk myself in a loop. And there's personal things that I'm not sure that I'm ready to share with the Internet. And maybe it's really not the Internet that scares me, maybe I'm not sure that I'm ready to share it with those close to me outside of the Internet.
And maybe I'm most scared of putting those thoughts out there into complete, understandable sentences (well, hopefully, I shouldn't get too ahead of myself and my grammatical abilities.) It might make them more real and more tangible and more heavy for myself. Yet I feel that if I don't allow myself to feel those depressing, hard thoughts, that maybe I will let myself just float on and someday I will look back and think "If I had only...."
I have prayed that the Lord would give me strength and patience. But the funny thing is, that He would never just give you more strength and more patience-he will give you something to work through and deal with to gain those qualities. And I read these other blogs that have such amazing stories, women who have gone through so much, and I am touched and challenged and encouraged by their stories, these women who have amazing things to say and tell. And I sit here struggling to figure out how to say anything that seems relevant or amusing or even half interesting. And then I pray, Lord-please never give me the challenges that these women have faced, I am not as good as them, and I don't know that I could survive their hardships.
And I feel like He says, don't worry about other people, you have your own story to tell. What will come, will come. Turn only to me, because you never will have the strength alone, but when you turn to me I will hold your hand and wipe your tears when needed. Do not feel useless, because I have much use for you.
------------------------------------
So, this post, this part of my story, turned out nothing like what I started to write. And since I try not to edit out anything that I have said, I will post this-and maybe it'll seem like a bunch of nothing to most of you, but maybe one person will have that same prayer. I am not and never will be an eloquent speaker or prayer or anything, but maybe someone will get it, whatever it is that I'm saying. And maybe this is just for me, so that in a year or five or ten, I will look back and remember what I thought and said, and be able to known then how the Lord has held my hand and wiped my tears and made me useful.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Christmas Letter
I want you all to know that though I may not send you a Christmas card this time of year- I am thinking about you, my dear friends. And so, I thought I would include on here what I am sending out in my Christmas cards. (And by that I mean handing to you at one of our Christmases, if I see you, or may possibly get in the mail by New Years if I don't.)
So Merry Christmas from our family to yours:
It’s been over 2 years
Since Mark and Miranda said “I Do”
They’ve never sent a Christmas Card
So it’s time to catch up on what is new
After the wedding was done
To Enid, Ok they went
Got red dirt on the truck
But learned Kansans they were meant
Clay Center, the call said
A job opening for Mark
Run the local elevator
And an idea was sparked
We’ll be closer to home
Miranda’s family and K-State
And to Mark’s family farm
It all sounded so great
So calls were made
2 week notices put in
A rental house was found
A smaller place there’s never been
Miranda got a good job
A bank teller she is
She made lots of new friends
And is a money counting whiz
And Mark bought a quarter section
Now has land of his own
Planted soybeans and wheat
You should see how its grown
Next came a house
Miranda got her home in town
Get past the wallpaper
And the potential was found
Lots of hard work to be done
On both the house and the land
But they have the company of each other
And man’s best friend
That’s right, a yellow lab
Best Birthday present ever
Cody, an 80 pound “lap dog”
Miranda’s spoiled baby forever
So it’s clear in the end
God’s grace and blessings abound
We wish you Merry Christmas
Be you friend, family or hound
So Merry Christmas from our family to yours:
It’s been over 2 years
Since Mark and Miranda said “I Do”
They’ve never sent a Christmas Card
So it’s time to catch up on what is new
After the wedding was done
To Enid, Ok they went
Got red dirt on the truck
But learned Kansans they were meant
Clay Center, the call said
A job opening for Mark
Run the local elevator
And an idea was sparked
We’ll be closer to home
Miranda’s family and K-State
And to Mark’s family farm
It all sounded so great
So calls were made
2 week notices put in
A rental house was found
A smaller place there’s never been
Miranda got a good job
A bank teller she is
She made lots of new friends
And is a money counting whiz
And Mark bought a quarter section
Now has land of his own
Planted soybeans and wheat
You should see how its grown
Next came a house
Miranda got her home in town
Get past the wallpaper
And the potential was found
Lots of hard work to be done
On both the house and the land
But they have the company of each other
And man’s best friend
That’s right, a yellow lab
Best Birthday present ever
Cody, an 80 pound “lap dog”
Miranda’s spoiled baby forever
So it’s clear in the end
God’s grace and blessings abound
We wish you Merry Christmas
Be you friend, family or hound
Monday, December 21, 2009
Movie Night at the Meenen Manor
Have you ever noticed that nothing can compare to the movies on "25 Days of Christmas" on ABC Family?
Granted, I do get easily drawn into some horrible reality shows (umm...Jersey Shore, love it! anyone else out there with me?) but for both Mark and I to sit there like we're 7 year old kids watching Spongebob or something, you know it's pretty amazing.
Basically, it's one of the highlights of the Christmas season. Right there around opening gifts and cheese trays.
Granted, I do get easily drawn into some horrible reality shows (umm...Jersey Shore, love it! anyone else out there with me?) but for both Mark and I to sit there like we're 7 year old kids watching Spongebob or something, you know it's pretty amazing.
Basically, it's one of the highlights of the Christmas season. Right there around opening gifts and cheese trays.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Comedians of Chelsea Lately
Back in November, on the Friday after Thanksgiving, Mark and I and my friend Alicia all loaded up in the truck after work and hit the road on the way to Kansas City. I was so excited because we were on our way to see the Comedians of Chelsea Lately.
Chelsea Lately is a show that I have recorded on my DVR, and Mark and I will both watch it, so it's pretty amazing. I record an amazing amount of TV shows, but many of them Mark will not let me watch if he's home-we've got to watch something we both like. Which actually is only fair, since I throw kind of a fit when he wants to watch the Hunting Channel or the Speed Channel all day Sunday.
Our seats were 3 rows back from the stage, on the left side. Awesome seats, hilarious comedians, raunchy humor, and two of my best friends (well Mark has to be my best friend-legally, I think we signed something-and I work with Alicia, so she knows too many things about me-I have to be nice to her.)
It was right about the picture above that the security guard (you know the 120 lb, zit faced little boy that they hire to throw out the troublemakers) told us we couldn't take pictures. So it wasn't until after the show that we got the camera back out. Chuy was sitting in the lobby taking pictures and signing autographs. The line was approximately 2miles long, so we decided to move on, especially considering we had to go back home that same night. But I did hand my camera over to my husband so he could try and snap a picture of Chuy as we left. You know, he's the tall one in this relationship, so I try to take advantage of that when I can.
Above is the picture that he took. Thank you, honey.
So I ducked under and around a few people and snapped this picture of him. Can you see him? It's kind of like a game of Where's Waldo.
Hopefully my poorly drawn arrow and circle will help you locate Chuy. (I am a computer Goddess, me and Paint go way back, I can draw straight lines, and circles with different colors inside of them like no one's business-just don't ask me to use Photoshop.)
We saw Josh Wolfe, the Sklar Brothers, Whitney Cummings, and Jo Koy. They were all hilarious, and while we had seen pieces of their bits on TV, it's so much better in person, with some new stuff thrown in, your friends and a crowd of thousand others laughing with you and some $7 beer. Joy Koy was my favorite, probably because he was drunker than I was. But they were all really really good.
So all in all, a good time was had by all.
Chelsea Lately is a show that I have recorded on my DVR, and Mark and I will both watch it, so it's pretty amazing. I record an amazing amount of TV shows, but many of them Mark will not let me watch if he's home-we've got to watch something we both like. Which actually is only fair, since I throw kind of a fit when he wants to watch the Hunting Channel or the Speed Channel all day Sunday.
Our seats were 3 rows back from the stage, on the left side. Awesome seats, hilarious comedians, raunchy humor, and two of my best friends (well Mark has to be my best friend-legally, I think we signed something-and I work with Alicia, so she knows too many things about me-I have to be nice to her.)
It was right about the picture above that the security guard (you know the 120 lb, zit faced little boy that they hire to throw out the troublemakers) told us we couldn't take pictures. So it wasn't until after the show that we got the camera back out. Chuy was sitting in the lobby taking pictures and signing autographs. The line was approximately 2miles long, so we decided to move on, especially considering we had to go back home that same night. But I did hand my camera over to my husband so he could try and snap a picture of Chuy as we left. You know, he's the tall one in this relationship, so I try to take advantage of that when I can.
Above is the picture that he took. Thank you, honey.
So I ducked under and around a few people and snapped this picture of him. Can you see him? It's kind of like a game of Where's Waldo.
Hopefully my poorly drawn arrow and circle will help you locate Chuy. (I am a computer Goddess, me and Paint go way back, I can draw straight lines, and circles with different colors inside of them like no one's business-just don't ask me to use Photoshop.)
We saw Josh Wolfe, the Sklar Brothers, Whitney Cummings, and Jo Koy. They were all hilarious, and while we had seen pieces of their bits on TV, it's so much better in person, with some new stuff thrown in, your friends and a crowd of thousand others laughing with you and some $7 beer. Joy Koy was my favorite, probably because he was drunker than I was. But they were all really really good.
So all in all, a good time was had by all.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Not really shredding at all
This morning I woke up all ready to Shred-you know, shred away the pounds with Jillian Michaels's 30 Day Shred-because I am tired of being so content. I had my shoes set out, a sports bra ready, and the DVD already in the player. I turn it on downstairs, it's Mark's old TV set with the built in DVD and VHS player. I watch all the boring stuff you can't skip past, I listen to her tell us how it's gonna be, and then I'm ready-I'm at the menu-and because the remote was broken about 3 years ago, I can't change which option it is on on the main menu. I can only hit play, I can't go up or down, and the first thing on the list is a thing called Recommendations-it recommends you do it every day.
That's it, that's what it says. So I read the one little sentenece and it sends me back to the main menu-and because of my broken TV, I can't go up or down. Seriously?
So I take it upstairs-sorry honey, you're just going to have to hear all the major amounts of losing weight that I am going to be doing. I put it in that DVD player, wait for all the unnecessaries that once again you can't skip past, get down on the floor so that I can see our DVD player, and look for buttons or something on it so that I can go up or down on the screen.
Nothing
I have no idea where the remote is for that thing, it again has no up or down buttons on the DVD player and I am no better off and certainly not thinner! The world is conspiring against me and my fat ass.
Maybe I'll try again tomorrow, but for now, I think I will lay on the couch for just a little while, and get alittle more rest- it's healthy to get lots of sleep, right?
**Update Feb 18, 2010**
Just to keep it real, I shredded for 2 whole days in a row about 2 weeks ago, and that's as far as I've made it. Yep, Day 2 of 30 days-and I don't even have the excuse of not being able to figure out the DVD player anymore. I'm just lazy!
That's it, that's what it says. So I read the one little sentenece and it sends me back to the main menu-and because of my broken TV, I can't go up or down. Seriously?
So I take it upstairs-sorry honey, you're just going to have to hear all the major amounts of losing weight that I am going to be doing. I put it in that DVD player, wait for all the unnecessaries that once again you can't skip past, get down on the floor so that I can see our DVD player, and look for buttons or something on it so that I can go up or down on the screen.
Nothing
I have no idea where the remote is for that thing, it again has no up or down buttons on the DVD player and I am no better off and certainly not thinner! The world is conspiring against me and my fat ass.
Maybe I'll try again tomorrow, but for now, I think I will lay on the couch for just a little while, and get alittle more rest- it's healthy to get lots of sleep, right?
**Update Feb 18, 2010**
Just to keep it real, I shredded for 2 whole days in a row about 2 weeks ago, and that's as far as I've made it. Yep, Day 2 of 30 days-and I don't even have the excuse of not being able to figure out the DVD player anymore. I'm just lazy!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
It's that time of year
Shh....don't tell anyone but I have a secret-I love Christmas shopping. I love that feeling, almost like that of going on a treasure hunt-searching through, around, above, or below. But more importantly I love watching my loved ones open their gifts. I hope that they know how much I care for them, and want them to have something they want, not necessarily need. Something fun or unique, something that they wouldn't necessarily buy for themselves-and hopefully something that won't just sit unused, collecting dust.
And this is probably a good thing, considering the number of people (mainly family) that I buy for. I love me a list and without lists I don't think I would get a thing done. Now don't think that just because I like lists that I am an organized person. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I think I would fall apart without lists. I am such a procastinator and so flighty that if I don't put it down in writing I seem to forget or think that it's not that important. And so when it comes to Christmas presents-I begin making lists in October or so.
Of course, I do typically lose my list though, so it's more like 12 or 15 lists that I have-but still, it helps me to focus, and remember how I'm doing on actually completing the list.
This year I feel like I've got a few presents that I am really excited about. Presents that I believe the recipients are going to love! Now of course I can't tell you about them, everything being a secret is another reason why I love Christmas-but I will tell you that I have made many purchases online this year. I'd like to think that it has helped me to not get to rushed or stressed with the amount of purchases I have to make-but I still fret and worry about when they're getting to my house-gotta check what state they're in today-why did I buy from so many different stores-I've gotta make out a whole other list of purchased gifts that are somewhere between the store and myself, so I know what I'm still waiting on.
But with online shopping, I feel like I can shop around more, find the best deals, and make better decisions. I guess I'll just wait and see and let you know the true success of my online endeavors after Christmas.
And this is probably a good thing, considering the number of people (mainly family) that I buy for. I love me a list and without lists I don't think I would get a thing done. Now don't think that just because I like lists that I am an organized person. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I think I would fall apart without lists. I am such a procastinator and so flighty that if I don't put it down in writing I seem to forget or think that it's not that important. And so when it comes to Christmas presents-I begin making lists in October or so.
Of course, I do typically lose my list though, so it's more like 12 or 15 lists that I have-but still, it helps me to focus, and remember how I'm doing on actually completing the list.
This year I feel like I've got a few presents that I am really excited about. Presents that I believe the recipients are going to love! Now of course I can't tell you about them, everything being a secret is another reason why I love Christmas-but I will tell you that I have made many purchases online this year. I'd like to think that it has helped me to not get to rushed or stressed with the amount of purchases I have to make-but I still fret and worry about when they're getting to my house-gotta check what state they're in today-why did I buy from so many different stores-I've gotta make out a whole other list of purchased gifts that are somewhere between the store and myself, so I know what I'm still waiting on.
But with online shopping, I feel like I can shop around more, find the best deals, and make better decisions. I guess I'll just wait and see and let you know the true success of my online endeavors after Christmas.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Troubled Annie
So it's not Tuesday, and I've been gone for a little over a week, but I have to tell you something-something great! A few weeks back I was commiserating over the fact that none of my faves from Nashville Star have really made it big on the national scene with their music. Now I do not have to hear an artist on the radio for me to listen to them, in fact-it's typically the opposite. But, because they aren't big or well-known, I had lost track of them, and it's highly doubtful that anyone would ever come to Kansas to play, so there wasn't much of a chance of me catching up with anybody later.......till I became obsessed with blogs and blogging and I stumbled across this blog http://hootenannie.com/.
You see, the cutie from hootenannie.com is friends with Meg Allison, and just the other day talked about Meg and if I'm understanding this right, a dude from the same season of Nashville Star-Joshua Stevens (who by the way looks approximately 1100 times better now), making a duo called Troubled Annie. Awesome awesome stuff! I'm excited for them to come out with some great stuff and I've just had their myspace page playing in the background and I love their voices together.
So now my family has some more ideas for my Christmas stockings! (That's right, I get more than one stocking-in fact Mark and I travel to about 73 different holiday celebrations-ok more like 7 or so -but that's just the immediate family, grandparents and parents, and it feels like 73.) Yes dear family I will take a CD from about any or all artists I have listed in my little music section.
And you have some more exposure to the real country music, the good country music that I love and that you should too.
You see, the cutie from hootenannie.com is friends with Meg Allison, and just the other day talked about Meg and if I'm understanding this right, a dude from the same season of Nashville Star-Joshua Stevens (who by the way looks approximately 1100 times better now), making a duo called Troubled Annie. Awesome awesome stuff! I'm excited for them to come out with some great stuff and I've just had their myspace page playing in the background and I love their voices together.
So now my family has some more ideas for my Christmas stockings! (That's right, I get more than one stocking-in fact Mark and I travel to about 73 different holiday celebrations-ok more like 7 or so -but that's just the immediate family, grandparents and parents, and it feels like 73.) Yes dear family I will take a CD from about any or all artists I have listed in my little music section.
And you have some more exposure to the real country music, the good country music that I love and that you should too.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Music Tuesday #?
It's Music Tuesday again and I have lately been reminded of my love, my random strange love for the band Dropkick Murphys. Yes, completely out of left field-but it's true. I have to give full credit to my friend Robin, clear back from high school she loved all sorts of different British and Irish and I don't know-any sort of punk music. Thanks to her I fell in love with those guys and B*Witched. Oh ya-google that one!
The songs are fun, and they're Celtic-meaning they're perfect drinking songs! Sounds like a good night to me-I think I'll turn up my speakers, open a Bud Light, and enjoy the fact that I work at a bank and don't have to show up to work tomorrow.
Favorites:
Tessie
The Pub with No Beer
I'm Shipping up to Boston
And just cause I know you want to see some B*Witched-Enjoy....
The songs are fun, and they're Celtic-meaning they're perfect drinking songs! Sounds like a good night to me-I think I'll turn up my speakers, open a Bud Light, and enjoy the fact that I work at a bank and don't have to show up to work tomorrow.
Favorites:
Tessie
The Pub with No Beer
I'm Shipping up to Boston
And just cause I know you want to see some B*Witched-Enjoy....
Saturday, November 7, 2009
EMAW
EMAW
Every Man A Wildcat
Today's the day-the hated opponent, the season on the line, the tailgating-it's all so important and already making me nervous. I don't do well with this kind of stuff....but I live for it. Purple-Get Ready to Roll.
Go STATE!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Ornament Exchange!
I have no idea what I am doing with this whole blog thing. But I do know it's fun, and I like snooping into other's lives-I mean reading about others!- and learning and being entertained and encouraged and challenged by what others have to say. One blog that I have recently started reading and enjoying is http://pamperingbeki.blogspot.com/ and she recently had a post introducing her 2009 Bloggers Ornament Exchange.
Now I love Christmas and I love ornaments. Every year starting when I was little, my Grandma Alice (my mom's mom) would get me and my sister an ornament, typically with our name and year on it. And after she passed away, my mother continued on with the tradition. So, two years ago, for Mark's and my first Christmas as a married couple- I wanted to continue on with our own tree. So, I drug him along and he actually picked out a fun ornament with a little bride and groom. Last year, as we lived in the world's smallest house, I bought a little house ornament and told Mark that we would always remember that year when our house was the same size as the ornament. Now this year has been the year of the loan-as we have purchased a farm, a house, and a tractor. Maybe we'll buy a paintbrush ornament, or a little red tractor, or an empty wallet ornament.
But anyways, I jumped on this opportunity to share my love of ornaments with others, and meet another blogger from near or far, and again be inspired and challenged and entertained. If you would like to join in the fun, check out Beki's blog (and her adorable shop-lots of cute necklaces and such that would make a perfect Christmas present for a neice or a friend or whomever!)
Check it out!
Now I love Christmas and I love ornaments. Every year starting when I was little, my Grandma Alice (my mom's mom) would get me and my sister an ornament, typically with our name and year on it. And after she passed away, my mother continued on with the tradition. So, two years ago, for Mark's and my first Christmas as a married couple- I wanted to continue on with our own tree. So, I drug him along and he actually picked out a fun ornament with a little bride and groom. Last year, as we lived in the world's smallest house, I bought a little house ornament and told Mark that we would always remember that year when our house was the same size as the ornament. Now this year has been the year of the loan-as we have purchased a farm, a house, and a tractor. Maybe we'll buy a paintbrush ornament, or a little red tractor, or an empty wallet ornament.
But anyways, I jumped on this opportunity to share my love of ornaments with others, and meet another blogger from near or far, and again be inspired and challenged and entertained. If you would like to join in the fun, check out Beki's blog (and her adorable shop-lots of cute necklaces and such that would make a perfect Christmas present for a neice or a friend or whomever!)
Check it out!
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Lazy Days
I love having lazy Sundays. I have a few things that I am slowly getting done today, laundry, eating out at the Mexican restaurant, a little more laundry, and napping. Yesterday Mark and I were both in the same cleaning up mood so we got a lot of things done-which could be explained by the weird behavior associated with Halloween. But anyways, we went with it and got lots of little things and big things (like mowing our lawn for the first time in about two months-yes we're that kind of neighbor) done.
About a month ago I stopped at our farm and pulled 3 old doors and a screen out of the grainery. Yesterday I finally got around to washing them off and placing them in the house. Now they still need some love and decorations, but they're really cute and I love them so much. And they even passed the husband test, which was important. (not really)
So I placed the first one with the window in the dining room. Love it! And you can't see it in this picture-too dark, but that's my purple dining set on the table. Love it even more!
That's my "Congrats on the new house" plant from my mom. I really only have it sitting there because I thought it needed some more sunlight-since I had kind of forgotten about it in my Mary Kay room.
I needed a headboard for the spare bed and I think it works ok. It needs some more stuff on the wall and maybe even on the door. My friend/interior decorating advisor Alicia suggested maybe some of those wooden twig balls with lights in them.
Also-let it be known that I do not love this comforter-I like the colors, but I guess it just seems a little too dorm room to me now. But I did pick it out and someone was nice enough to buy it for us for our wedding-so if it was you I'm sorry! It's not your fault-it's all my fault that I changed my mind.
And finally the front porch and the last door. The steel pail and plants came from a wonderful co-worker, cause Lord knows I could never grow anything-she had to get me the simplest, easiest, can't kill kind of plants (like with the plant from my mom that I forgot about and left on the floor of my MK room for about 3 weeks-whoops.) This door needs a wreath but I love the old barn door look.
What do you think? Kinda fun, free decorating. The best kind in my book!
About a month ago I stopped at our farm and pulled 3 old doors and a screen out of the grainery. Yesterday I finally got around to washing them off and placing them in the house. Now they still need some love and decorations, but they're really cute and I love them so much. And they even passed the husband test, which was important. (not really)
So I placed the first one with the window in the dining room. Love it! And you can't see it in this picture-too dark, but that's my purple dining set on the table. Love it even more!
That's my "Congrats on the new house" plant from my mom. I really only have it sitting there because I thought it needed some more sunlight-since I had kind of forgotten about it in my Mary Kay room.
Here, on the right side of the picture you can see the screen that I put up plus the gold clock that I spent a fortune on out at the Pamida-but hey I like it! The screen came with the old blue paint which happens to look beautiful next to my blue wall. I think it was meant to be.
I needed a headboard for the spare bed and I think it works ok. It needs some more stuff on the wall and maybe even on the door. My friend/interior decorating advisor Alicia suggested maybe some of those wooden twig balls with lights in them.
Also-let it be known that I do not love this comforter-I like the colors, but I guess it just seems a little too dorm room to me now. But I did pick it out and someone was nice enough to buy it for us for our wedding-so if it was you I'm sorry! It's not your fault-it's all my fault that I changed my mind.
And finally the front porch and the last door. The steel pail and plants came from a wonderful co-worker, cause Lord knows I could never grow anything-she had to get me the simplest, easiest, can't kill kind of plants (like with the plant from my mom that I forgot about and left on the floor of my MK room for about 3 weeks-whoops.) This door needs a wreath but I love the old barn door look.
What do you think? Kinda fun, free decorating. The best kind in my book!
Friday, October 30, 2009
$$$
Earlier this week, Mark and I paid off my student loans. Paid Off
PAID OFF!
Now I do have to say that we were very blessed in the fact that my husband graduated with zero student loans, and while I had some-it was not near as bad as it could have been. (But then of course, it wasn't as good as it could have been either! If I had umm.....kept my GPA up and not failed Spanish 2 my second semester of my freshman year and kept my scholarship. I mean seriously, who fails Spanish?)
But still, I am super excited. We made our first student loan payment in July of 2007. We had set out early on with the goal of paying them off quickly, as opposed to taking the full 30 years like they wanted us to.
When Mark and I were dating and talking about our future, I always knew that I wanted to be able to stay at home when we have kids. And so, that meant planning financially for that future.(Which is not in the near future-but that's a post for another day.) It's crazy and dumb and backwards and old school that I would want to be a stay at home mother, and quite ironic that to do that I have to concentrate on paying off loans for a college degree that I won't be using. But it's something that I feel strongly about. And I know that if it gets down to it, and I'm in the middle of a job that I love and can't imagine giving up then we'll find a different way, and Mark won't be upset and life will be great. But as we have it planned now, I want to be able to spend that time at home with my children and raise my family and put my "career" on the backburner.
We don't drive brand new vehicles and we work around a budget every month and we maybe put off buying tons of new furniture or whatever because that doesn't work for us right now. And we still have season football tickets, and we go out to eat, and we buy fun things, and I never feel guilty about spending money when I do-we just don't let that get out of hand.
I am very blessed to have a husband who feels the same way about money that I do. Many couples say that money is one of their biggest issues. Our biggest money issue is why he's not spending more of it on me? I mean seriously, I'd take another diamond or maybe just a pretty bracelet, or a shopping spree-that'd be fun too.
Having money isn't everything, and I never want it to sound that way. But having money affords you choices, and we want to be able to make those choices for our family, our friends, our faith, where ever we are led.
PAID OFF!
Now I do have to say that we were very blessed in the fact that my husband graduated with zero student loans, and while I had some-it was not near as bad as it could have been. (But then of course, it wasn't as good as it could have been either! If I had umm.....kept my GPA up and not failed Spanish 2 my second semester of my freshman year and kept my scholarship. I mean seriously, who fails Spanish?)
But still, I am super excited. We made our first student loan payment in July of 2007. We had set out early on with the goal of paying them off quickly, as opposed to taking the full 30 years like they wanted us to.
When Mark and I were dating and talking about our future, I always knew that I wanted to be able to stay at home when we have kids. And so, that meant planning financially for that future.(Which is not in the near future-but that's a post for another day.) It's crazy and dumb and backwards and old school that I would want to be a stay at home mother, and quite ironic that to do that I have to concentrate on paying off loans for a college degree that I won't be using. But it's something that I feel strongly about. And I know that if it gets down to it, and I'm in the middle of a job that I love and can't imagine giving up then we'll find a different way, and Mark won't be upset and life will be great. But as we have it planned now, I want to be able to spend that time at home with my children and raise my family and put my "career" on the backburner.
We don't drive brand new vehicles and we work around a budget every month and we maybe put off buying tons of new furniture or whatever because that doesn't work for us right now. And we still have season football tickets, and we go out to eat, and we buy fun things, and I never feel guilty about spending money when I do-we just don't let that get out of hand.
I am very blessed to have a husband who feels the same way about money that I do. Many couples say that money is one of their biggest issues. Our biggest money issue is why he's not spending more of it on me? I mean seriously, I'd take another diamond or maybe just a pretty bracelet, or a shopping spree-that'd be fun too.
Having money isn't everything, and I never want it to sound that way. But having money affords you choices, and we want to be able to make those choices for our family, our friends, our faith, where ever we are led.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
I'll Play Doctor with You!
I have a confession to make.
I have a crush. And it's ok, I already told Mark-he's not too worried.
You see my crush is on a fictional character. I have recently become enamored with the tv show Numb3rs and one of the main characters Charlie Eppes. Dr. Charles Eppes. Oh man. He's a mathematical genius, a kind person, and he has the floppy curly hair that kind of just does it for me.
I think I would die if I ever met David Krumholtz (the guy who plays Charlie) in person. And I would cry if he wasn't at least a little bit dorky and smart in person.
So there, I've admitted it-I've confessed my love for a fictional character. I feel a little better, but I wish I was at home watching a Numb3rs marathon.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
What I did on my Sick Days
I'm back to work, I headed back on Wednesday. I went to the doctor on Monday and he told me that I just had a cold and that I was a big ol' wimp. Well maybe not the last part-but that's what I kinda picked up on. No flu, no strep, just a little cold that put me on my back for about 4 1/2 days.
It's been a long time since I have spent that much time in front of daytime TV and it taught me two things. 1) I have rekindled my love for two morning TLC shows A Baby Story and Bringing Home Baby- and I can't decide if they make me want to start a family or never ever ever go through the process of labor and 2) TV Shopping Channels are addicting -sorry family if all you get for Christmas is a Denim and Co. cardigan set or a lifetime supply of really expensive clothes hangers.
And maybe if I'm lucky-when I order I'll get to talk to the people on set and tell them exactly who I'm buying everything for and I can tell them a cute story about my puppy and all the other things I'm gonna buy from their lines and what the weather is like in little ol' Kansas and yes I've heard that Wizard of Oz joke before and ohmygoodness we'll become best friends forever and it will all be so wonderful -AND I can just make the 5 easy payments and it'll all be shipped to my house in time for all the holidays!
My husband is now realizing that I can never be sick again.
It's been a long time since I have spent that much time in front of daytime TV and it taught me two things. 1) I have rekindled my love for two morning TLC shows A Baby Story and Bringing Home Baby- and I can't decide if they make me want to start a family or never ever ever go through the process of labor and 2) TV Shopping Channels are addicting -sorry family if all you get for Christmas is a Denim and Co. cardigan set or a lifetime supply of really expensive clothes hangers.
And maybe if I'm lucky-when I order I'll get to talk to the people on set and tell them exactly who I'm buying everything for and I can tell them a cute story about my puppy and all the other things I'm gonna buy from their lines and what the weather is like in little ol' Kansas and yes I've heard that Wizard of Oz joke before and ohmygoodness we'll become best friends forever and it will all be so wonderful -AND I can just make the 5 easy payments and it'll all be shipped to my house in time for all the holidays!
My husband is now realizing that I can never be sick again.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Music Tuesday
Completely random-I mean way random and I don't even know why I thought of this. But I was thinking about the tv show Nashville Star. Now I'm talking about back when it was on USA, not NBC-because you can hardly consider that show Nashville Star, plus I could hardly watch it for the severe dislike I have for John Rich-blech.
But anyways-I was really into Season 5 and I thought I would google a few names and see if anyone from that show had done much of anything. Sadly, it's not really looking like that. But I do still love some of the girls from that show and there's a few random singles out there that I love.
The winner of Season 5 was Angela Hacker. Her most popular song during the competition was "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool." She just crooned it and made me close my eyes and sway along and I loved every minute of it. According to her website she's supposed to be coming out with a new CD in early 09-it's obviously late 09. So hopefully it is in the making somewhere, because I really think that she has an individual sound and could take country music back to its roots.
Another favorite of mine was Meg Allison. She wasn't real classic "country" sounding. But I big time love her. I love the twang and the writing and everything about it. She seems to be busy with tour dates, and there's lots of good songs on her myspace page.
But anyways-I was really into Season 5 and I thought I would google a few names and see if anyone from that show had done much of anything. Sadly, it's not really looking like that. But I do still love some of the girls from that show and there's a few random singles out there that I love.
The winner of Season 5 was Angela Hacker. Her most popular song during the competition was "I Was Country When Country Wasn't Cool." She just crooned it and made me close my eyes and sway along and I loved every minute of it. According to her website she's supposed to be coming out with a new CD in early 09-it's obviously late 09. So hopefully it is in the making somewhere, because I really think that she has an individual sound and could take country music back to its roots.
Another favorite of mine was Meg Allison. She wasn't real classic "country" sounding. But I big time love her. I love the twang and the writing and everything about it. She seems to be busy with tour dates, and there's lots of good songs on her myspace page.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Still sick
I'm skipping work today. I wish I could say I was just playing hooky and that I was going to do something fun today, but I'm pretty sure my day will consist of laying on the couch, trying to hack up a lung, guessing as to whether it's been long enough that I can take another capful of my Nyquil stuff, and hopefully making it into the doctor without catching someone else's sickness.
I can't remember a time where I have felt like this. Been this sick. Normally I might get one of those 24 hour things where I just sleep all day. But that's not happening now. I might only get 2 hrs of sleep before I wake up and have to start fighting whatever it is that I have. I cough and cough, not getting anywhere or again have to make that painful swallow in your throat-where you're not really swallowing anything and you have to close your eyes and squint just to finish that painful motion.
And I'm still so hoarse, I can hardly talk-I sound like a whispering man. And yes, my husband is enjoying this quieter Miranda-but I'm still able to make demands, so it doesn't work out all that well for him.
Basically this just sucks and I'd (almost) rather be at work. I'll let you know when I switch over to definitely would rather be at work-if that happens.
I can't remember a time where I have felt like this. Been this sick. Normally I might get one of those 24 hour things where I just sleep all day. But that's not happening now. I might only get 2 hrs of sleep before I wake up and have to start fighting whatever it is that I have. I cough and cough, not getting anywhere or again have to make that painful swallow in your throat-where you're not really swallowing anything and you have to close your eyes and squint just to finish that painful motion.
And I'm still so hoarse, I can hardly talk-I sound like a whispering man. And yes, my husband is enjoying this quieter Miranda-but I'm still able to make demands, so it doesn't work out all that well for him.
Basically this just sucks and I'd (almost) rather be at work. I'll let you know when I switch over to definitely would rather be at work-if that happens.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
So Sick
I am so sick today.
So sick that I can't talk.
So sick that I can't go to the K-State game.
So sick that I'm allowing my mother-in-law to stop by with some food, even though my house is a disaster.
So sick, and so pissy! Why does this have to ruin my weekend. I had some fun things planned.
Just so sick.
And yes, I will take your sympathy.
So sick that I can't talk.
So sick that I can't go to the K-State game.
So sick that I'm allowing my mother-in-law to stop by with some food, even though my house is a disaster.
So sick, and so pissy! Why does this have to ruin my weekend. I had some fun things planned.
Just so sick.
And yes, I will take your sympathy.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Is queso an acceptable anniversary gift?
Last night my dad came to Clay Center to hang out with me and my husband. He had wanted to take us out for supper for our anniversary since, well our anniversary. But you see, I had no concept of this whole Fall Harvest thing back when I decided I wanted to get married-which has of course resulted in Mark and I never being able to actually celebrate our anniversary with more than a quick supper and a lousy champagne toast at about 10pm when he gets home all dirty and gross from the elevator. I mean seriously, why did no one tell me about this whole deal back when we actually decided on the wedding day!
But anyways-I digress.
My sister Morgan, my dad, Mark and I all went to eat at Carlos O'Kellys. I love me some queso and chips. Did you know-when we lived in Oklahoma-EVERY Mexican restaurant served not only the free chips and salsa, but also free queso! It's one of the few reasons Mark and I kinda miss Oklahoma. That and the......well, I'm thinking......we also miss the umm.......I don't know. There wasn't much else, other than the Mexican restaurants.
Mark and I moved back to Kansas from Oklahoma on March 29th, our 6mo. wedding anniversary-surprisingly another date that we couldn't celebrate, with anything more than a lousy toast and lots of sweating and cursing from the move.
But anyways-I digress.
My sister Morgan, my dad, Mark and I all went to eat at Carlos O'Kellys. I love me some queso and chips. Did you know-when we lived in Oklahoma-EVERY Mexican restaurant served not only the free chips and salsa, but also free queso! It's one of the few reasons Mark and I kinda miss Oklahoma. That and the......well, I'm thinking......we also miss the umm.......I don't know. There wasn't much else, other than the Mexican restaurants.
Mark and I moved back to Kansas from Oklahoma on March 29th, our 6mo. wedding anniversary-surprisingly another date that we couldn't celebrate, with anything more than a lousy toast and lots of sweating and cursing from the move.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Outgoing Introvert-not an oxymoron
Back in high school, when you had to fill out the personality tests, it would always ask if you were an extrovert or an introvert. And always I would answer, Extrovert. No questions. I'm typically loud, and enjoy talking, I like people and can strike up a conversation with almost anyone. But one day, after reading the true definition of an extrovert, I realized I may not really meet the criteria.
Extroverts are people who are energized by being around other people. As outgoing as I am, and as much as I like being around other people-I have realized I need my alone time. It is at home, in the quiet, in my own domain, that I truly re-energize. Whether it's through reading a good book, taking a long bubble bath or just getting stuff done around my house, I feel best after having some time to myself.
Sometimes I just like the quiet. I love it when I'm comfortable enough with a person that we can be quiet together. That's when I realize that I can truly be myself with that person. And honestly there's not many people that fit that description in my life. And it's not anyone else's fault, it's all mine! So often I feel like I have to play a character, be a certain person - whatever is either expected of me or who I need to be so that I can fit in. And I'm not trying to say that I'm always fake, or that I don't like many people or consider many people my friends, or that I'm quiet most of the time (cause Lord knows THAT'S not true) but just that there are just a few people that I could take my issues or questions or problems to and expect an answer that is really best for me.
But all in all, I like who I am and where I am as a person and more importantly where I am going. I want to become a better person, I want to be a person of bigger things, I want to be a person of great friends and great influence and great character.
But tonight, this evening, I just want the quiet-and the comfort of being married to my best friend and his understanding of me-and the acceptance.
-But then again, by about midnight, when he's wanting to go to sleep-that will probably be the time that I want to start talking and being silly and whatnot! Oh the problems of being an outgoing introvert.
Extroverts are people who are energized by being around other people. As outgoing as I am, and as much as I like being around other people-I have realized I need my alone time. It is at home, in the quiet, in my own domain, that I truly re-energize. Whether it's through reading a good book, taking a long bubble bath or just getting stuff done around my house, I feel best after having some time to myself.
Sometimes I just like the quiet. I love it when I'm comfortable enough with a person that we can be quiet together. That's when I realize that I can truly be myself with that person. And honestly there's not many people that fit that description in my life. And it's not anyone else's fault, it's all mine! So often I feel like I have to play a character, be a certain person - whatever is either expected of me or who I need to be so that I can fit in. And I'm not trying to say that I'm always fake, or that I don't like many people or consider many people my friends, or that I'm quiet most of the time (cause Lord knows THAT'S not true) but just that there are just a few people that I could take my issues or questions or problems to and expect an answer that is really best for me.
But all in all, I like who I am and where I am as a person and more importantly where I am going. I want to become a better person, I want to be a person of bigger things, I want to be a person of great friends and great influence and great character.
But tonight, this evening, I just want the quiet-and the comfort of being married to my best friend and his understanding of me-and the acceptance.
-But then again, by about midnight, when he's wanting to go to sleep-that will probably be the time that I want to start talking and being silly and whatnot! Oh the problems of being an outgoing introvert.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Trying for Wife of the Year
Probably not a good sign for the day when this is the conversation I have with my husband, as I return from a night away with some fun Mary Kay gals:
Me: Hey hon! How's your day going?
Him: Oh fine......hey, could you do me a favor when you get home?
Me: Ya sure, what?
Him: When you get home will you look by the bed for my glasses?
Me: .......so does that mean you don't have your glasses on now? You're saying that you're so blind that you can't find your glasses. That sucks.......wait, you've been at work for over 7 hours? What exactly are you wearing then?
Him: My safety glasses.
Me: Hey hon! How's your day going?
Him: Oh fine......hey, could you do me a favor when you get home?
Me: Ya sure, what?
Him: When you get home will you look by the bed for my glasses?
Me: .......so does that mean you don't have your glasses on now? You're saying that you're so blind that you can't find your glasses. That sucks.......wait, you've been at work for over 7 hours? What exactly are you wearing then?
Him: My safety glasses.
Me: Hahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahaha (imagine my manic laughter as you have heard before)
Him: If you're just gonna laugh, then forget it. I'll find them when I get home.
Me: hahahahahahahahaha
Thursday, October 8, 2009
It's a Good Time to be Me!
I am tired, so tired. And I couldn't even tell you why, but I am just tired.
And no, I'm not pregnant.
But tomorrow all will be better. Tomorrow I will be in the hands of a Massage Professional, a Massage Master if you will. Tomorrow there will be soaking in a hot tub, leisurely conversation with my favorite Mary Kay gals, and massaging of my tired tired body. And the best part of it all. Because this massage is better than just any old massage. Do you want to know why? Why the massage in itself is not the best part of my day?
It's all FREE! Because I have the best job in the world. My Mary Kay director is treating all of her star consultants to a day of luxury. Tell me that it is not the best job in the world, I play with makeup, hang out and have parties with girls all the time, and get free massages!!!!
And then , because the weekend is not great enough just with that-I will be having a 4 day weekend because I get Monday off as well. Christopher Columbus, you're a lost idiot, but thanks a little to you too. And to celebrate this day off from the bank, I will be spending time and money at the 2nd best place to spend those things (well you know the first is of course the spa.) We will be at the casino! So pass me your oxygen tank, and your nickels and wish me luck!
And no, I'm not pregnant.
But tomorrow all will be better. Tomorrow I will be in the hands of a Massage Professional, a Massage Master if you will. Tomorrow there will be soaking in a hot tub, leisurely conversation with my favorite Mary Kay gals, and massaging of my tired tired body. And the best part of it all. Because this massage is better than just any old massage. Do you want to know why? Why the massage in itself is not the best part of my day?
It's all FREE! Because I have the best job in the world. My Mary Kay director is treating all of her star consultants to a day of luxury. Tell me that it is not the best job in the world, I play with makeup, hang out and have parties with girls all the time, and get free massages!!!!
And then , because the weekend is not great enough just with that-I will be having a 4 day weekend because I get Monday off as well. Christopher Columbus, you're a lost idiot, but thanks a little to you too. And to celebrate this day off from the bank, I will be spending time and money at the 2nd best place to spend those things (well you know the first is of course the spa.) We will be at the casino! So pass me your oxygen tank, and your nickels and wish me luck!
Friday, October 2, 2009
I Apologize
1. I apologize for the cuteness that is my dog. It's just amazing how cute he is.
2. I apologize for my manic laughter. That is what my husband has to deal with, and probably a large portion of why he's going gray at 24.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
The Living Room
After my fun adventure along Highway 36, I came home with some real treasures. I was so excited to start decorating, especially after finishing up the gorgeous paint in my living room. Below is the picture I am most excited about. I painted all the frames so they matched, except one which is gold. I framed scrapbook pages, one old door lock, and in the middle frame I hung the gold M that was our wedding topper. And this picture honestly doesn't even do it justice.
Also notice that Mark and I made those spindles disappear. You see, there were spindles here separating the living room and dining room, they matched those that we also removed from the bathroom and the ones that I have yet to figure out what to do with in the kitchen (I still need your opinions!) We got the sawzall out, and he even let me have a turn! -Obviously this picture was taken before this weekend, as it still has the hideous blue gingham wallpaper and sunflower border that was the "Before" shot of my kitchen.
I love it! Now I actually am starting to feel like I've put my own stamp on this place.
Music Tuesday-Again
Today I want to highlight one of my most favorite bands ever! Jackson Taylor and the Sinners. Apparently the last time I named them I accidentally said Jackson Taylor and the Stragglers-but that's Jason Boland-so I apologize-but anyways. Back to Jackson Taylor.
I LOVE Jackson Taylor. He's got some hardcore music, strong lyrics, and can be offensive. But if you close your eyes, listen to the words, and remember it's not personal-it's just his story and maybe you can relate or empathize or just enjoy, I really think that a lot of people will enjoy his stuff.
When Mark and I got married, (two years ago today!) our first dance was to Jackson Taylor's "Circle of Trust" and the first time I ever climbed on top of a speaker with a good friend and a lead guitarist for a band was at a Jackson Taylor concert. The first time I ever knew every song the band was playing was Jackson Taylor. And the first time that I fell head over heels in love with the Texas country stuff was Jackson Taylor.
I have worn out all my old CD's and I fear that greater than shoes or clothes addiction is that of my music addiction, and so I have to be careful of continuously ordering more and more-but Jackson Taylor is one the ones that I know will be worth it everytime.
Click here to Listen
And then-Click here to Buy
I LOVE Jackson Taylor. He's got some hardcore music, strong lyrics, and can be offensive. But if you close your eyes, listen to the words, and remember it's not personal-it's just his story and maybe you can relate or empathize or just enjoy, I really think that a lot of people will enjoy his stuff.
When Mark and I got married, (two years ago today!) our first dance was to Jackson Taylor's "Circle of Trust" and the first time I ever climbed on top of a speaker with a good friend and a lead guitarist for a band was at a Jackson Taylor concert. The first time I ever knew every song the band was playing was Jackson Taylor. And the first time that I fell head over heels in love with the Texas country stuff was Jackson Taylor.
I have worn out all my old CD's and I fear that greater than shoes or clothes addiction is that of my music addiction, and so I have to be careful of continuously ordering more and more-but Jackson Taylor is one the ones that I know will be worth it everytime.
Click here to Listen
And then-Click here to Buy
Happy 2 years!
Happy Anniversary to the man of my dreams--or at least the man who is constantly in my dreams.
I love you honey, you're my favorite.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Whatdoyouthink?
So I thought it would be fun and amusing to post my kitchen pictures on here again, the beautiful ones with all the white walls (well if you can get past all the crap I have strewn everywhere) and ask you, my wonderful talented friends to give me some advice. I was going to ask what colors? what changes? what to do with those dang spindles? all of that. But then, oh goodness let me tell you, but then my dear friend and co-worker Alicia came over and saved me the trouble. I said, ya know I've always wanted to paint it green, but I also like purple, but seriously I love how open and big it seems now with the white, but I want it to go with the blue in the living room (OH MY GOODNESS-I haven't shown you my living room! What in the world have I been doing? Oh that's right, catching up on my DVR'd new Fall TV schedule and avoiding the computer-whoops.) But so she solved it all, she figured it out, she made the decision so easy for me, which believe me Mark will forever thank her for making me decide things.
But still, I want to hear what you think, where you think I should go, what would look beautiful and modern and cozy and mainly beautiful? Green-light, celeryish, not lime green? or Purple and fun and different? or stick with the neutrals and add some fun pops!? or a family member of the blue in the living room? (I swear I'll put a picture of it up tomorrow.) Or yellow, orange, red, grey, brown, something else? And notice the spindles on the bar, they've got to go, but I think they're pretty important to the cabinets up above. New spindles? Different support? or just get rid of the cabinets above? And if you can, notice that I have yellow counter tops. Which will be staying, at least for awhile more. They're not horrid, but I definitely don't want to call attention to them.
So give it all to me, all opinions, thoughts, admonishes for the way my countertops look, whatever! I'll take them all. Maybe you'll change my mind, or give me a different thought on how to approach the whole thing, or give me an idea for a different room, or give someone else an idea for their own house! Leave a comment, let me know or you can also vote in my color poll on the side, if you're not too wordy (unlike me.)
Thanks for anything, I'll enjoy reading your comments.
Well, if you leave me any.
And not that I'm being desperate, but please leave me a comment, it'll make me feel so cool! Just click on the little words below the post that will say (0) comments and then type away in the box. You don't have to have a blog to comment, you can just leave your name.
Maybe I'm being a little desperate.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Operation Wallpaper Removal
STATUS: ALMOST COMPLETED
At the beginning of today, this is what my kitchen and dining room looked like.
Well, w/ a fridge and stove in those holes, but with that same blue and white striped wallpaper.
Yea, it looks more like this.
Don't you love how well the two wallpapers meet.
I employed a good friend to help with the removal. She came in handy, because just the same as when shopping for the good stuff in antique stores, her tallness is great when I need to use the stepstool.
She may kill me for this.
Yea! Wallpaper is gone!
Look at all that white, clean, open goodness.
Now it's time to pick a paint color.
I've got LOTS to choose from. My new friend Sarah from the Manhattan Home Depot gave me this little beauty on a recent shopping trip. I love her. And I love my paint chip thingy. If there is an official word for this thing, please let me know. And yes, when you look at the picture above I was holding it backwards, so all you see is the white back of each sheet.
She may kill me for this.
Yea! Wallpaper is gone!
Look at all that white, clean, open goodness.
Now it's time to pick a paint color.
I've got LOTS to choose from. My new friend Sarah from the Manhattan Home Depot gave me this little beauty on a recent shopping trip. I love her. And I love my paint chip thingy. If there is an official word for this thing, please let me know. And yes, when you look at the picture above I was holding it backwards, so all you see is the white back of each sheet.
Same Old, Same Old
This blogging thing sometimes is really difficult for me. I always have lots to say (just ask my husband) but I always seem to have a hard time actually saying it-I also have a hard time putting my thoughts down on paper -or computer. There have been a few times this week that I have sat down to try and say something, something more than just updating you on how the house is coming along, and I just sit there. I may type out a line or a sentence or perhaps just a few words. But that's it, that's as far as I get. I'm never concise, full of cliches, and lose interest quickly. Which, when combined together never make for anything worth reading. And I'm all about putting quality posts on here to stimulate your mind and challenge myself and, hahaha who am I kidding.
But still, I do want to write something that at the very least makes sense, and so here I am again today. Typing, yet saying nothing. Reminds me of a song by Jared Pete Gile, yes the same one that I wrote about on my last Music Tuesday post-you know almost two weeks ago, which of course means that after two solid weeks, I've already gone AWOL on my weekly Music Tuesday Posting posting. Ah well. He had writer's block for awhile and so he took a trip to see new scenery, get out of his routine, and perhaps get over his block. And he said what he finally did to break through, was just to write a song about having writer's block.
Same Old, Same Old
Same old hat same old blue jeans
It’s always the same old same old it seems
The glass is half empty and I’m laying around
Why does everything gotta seem so upside down
Thumbing through the classifieds
Ain’t no jobs out there unless you wanna work 8 to 5
Sun comes up then it melts aways
It does the same thing day after day
CHORUS
I could use a break
From all this nothing that I do
I sleep in till about 11
And finally get outta bed around 2
Just looking for something to get me out
Of this restless state of mind
I’m stuck in a rut but if I can dig out
I bet I’ll be just fine
Same old hunger same old empty plate
It’s always the same old same old just a different date
Watching the world out my front door
Dr. Phil at 3 and Bonanza reruns at 4
CHORUS
I could use me a Hummer
One of them great big 4 wheel drives
If I could just get my hands on a new set of wheels
I bet ya I’d feel a little more alive
Just looking for something to get me out
Of this restless state of mind
I’m stuck in a rut but if I can dig out
I bet I’ll be just fine
Same old guitar same old songs
It’s always the same old same old all along
Head in my hands feelings on my sleeve
I ain’t the type to ask why but why me
CHORUS
I could use a trout stream I could us a pretty mountain morning
If I could just get my hands on a million bucks
I bet my life wouldn’t seem so boring
Just looking for something to get me out
Of this restless state of mind
I’m stuck in a rut but if I can dig out
I bet I’ll be just fine
But still, I do want to write something that at the very least makes sense, and so here I am again today. Typing, yet saying nothing. Reminds me of a song by Jared Pete Gile, yes the same one that I wrote about on my last Music Tuesday post-you know almost two weeks ago, which of course means that after two solid weeks, I've already gone AWOL on my weekly Music Tuesday Posting posting. Ah well. He had writer's block for awhile and so he took a trip to see new scenery, get out of his routine, and perhaps get over his block. And he said what he finally did to break through, was just to write a song about having writer's block.
Same Old, Same Old
Same old hat same old blue jeans
It’s always the same old same old it seems
The glass is half empty and I’m laying around
Why does everything gotta seem so upside down
Thumbing through the classifieds
Ain’t no jobs out there unless you wanna work 8 to 5
Sun comes up then it melts aways
It does the same thing day after day
CHORUS
I could use a break
From all this nothing that I do
I sleep in till about 11
And finally get outta bed around 2
Just looking for something to get me out
Of this restless state of mind
I’m stuck in a rut but if I can dig out
I bet I’ll be just fine
Same old hunger same old empty plate
It’s always the same old same old just a different date
Watching the world out my front door
Dr. Phil at 3 and Bonanza reruns at 4
CHORUS
I could use me a Hummer
One of them great big 4 wheel drives
If I could just get my hands on a new set of wheels
I bet ya I’d feel a little more alive
Just looking for something to get me out
Of this restless state of mind
I’m stuck in a rut but if I can dig out
I bet I’ll be just fine
Same old guitar same old songs
It’s always the same old same old all along
Head in my hands feelings on my sleeve
I ain’t the type to ask why but why me
CHORUS
I could use a trout stream I could us a pretty mountain morning
If I could just get my hands on a million bucks
I bet my life wouldn’t seem so boring
Just looking for something to get me out
Of this restless state of mind
I’m stuck in a rut but if I can dig out
I bet I’ll be just fine
Monday, September 21, 2009
The Farmer's Wife
Last February, Mark and I headed to Louisville, KY for the National Farm Machinery Show. We were excited and nervous. Well, he was more excited (in a farmer-don't show any emotion-silent kind of way) and I was nervous (in a hope he doesn't throw me out of the moving vehicle because I won't shut up-have to pee again-or got him lost kind of way.) But we survived and we enjoyed it, and I hope that we can do some more trips soon.
It was a long car ride, especially with no Mt. Dew on hand-but I didn't want to have to make Mark pull over 12 times through Missouri, so I sacrificed.
The trip was what I "got" him for our 1 year anniversary. Which is also the reason I was thinking about it today. Our anniversary is in 1 week and there is nothing that I can really think of to get him. I mean he already has me, right?
And seriously, do you see the size of that cake? I was a happy woman. No, no-content, remember? Content
Here I stand with our good friend, Jon. Jon and I grew up together, and then he and Mark were in the same major. There was a whole group of K-State guys there while we there. We hung out with Jon all day, mainly because he and Mark are both equally excited at the same boring things.
Oh man, it's a Gleaner!
We Drive Gleaner.
On our way back home, we stopped in St. Louis and went on the Budweiser Plant Tour. It was tons of fun, and they have free beer at the end!
The day we spent in St. Louis was actually Valentine's Day and we ordered pizza to the hotel and spent approximately $178 at the hotel snack bar-but they did give me a rose. Must have felt sorry for me that this was how I was spending my Valentine's Day.
But it was wonderful, and I couldn't imagine doing it any other way.
Which brings me back to why I started this whole thing-what in the world should I be getting my husband? The 2nd year traditional anniversary gift is cotton.....he does need some new jeans. Maybe that will work.
It was a long car ride, especially with no Mt. Dew on hand-but I didn't want to have to make Mark pull over 12 times through Missouri, so I sacrificed.
The trip was what I "got" him for our 1 year anniversary. Which is also the reason I was thinking about it today. Our anniversary is in 1 week and there is nothing that I can really think of to get him. I mean he already has me, right?
And seriously, do you see the size of that cake? I was a happy woman. No, no-content, remember? Content
Here I stand with our good friend, Jon. Jon and I grew up together, and then he and Mark were in the same major. There was a whole group of K-State guys there while we there. We hung out with Jon all day, mainly because he and Mark are both equally excited at the same boring things.
Oh man, it's a Gleaner!
We Drive Gleaner.
I think this is the world's biggest something or other. Like I know what I'm talking about. After this trip, I tried explaining to a friend how I had learned that the difference between a Gleaner combine and one of those green ones was that the thing on the inside, like a drum/barrel thing, went side to side not front to back, which is better. I don't think I proved my point.
And there's a Tractor Pull too! As if 1.2 million square feet of tractors and combines and farm related booths insn't enough. I mean really, I have to be the best wife ever.
Here's one of the tractors as it gets ready to take off! It was actually pretty fun and loud and great.
Here's one of the tractors as it gets ready to take off! It was actually pretty fun and loud and great.
On our way back home, we stopped in St. Louis and went on the Budweiser Plant Tour. It was tons of fun, and they have free beer at the end!
The day we spent in St. Louis was actually Valentine's Day and we ordered pizza to the hotel and spent approximately $178 at the hotel snack bar-but they did give me a rose. Must have felt sorry for me that this was how I was spending my Valentine's Day.
But it was wonderful, and I couldn't imagine doing it any other way.
Which brings me back to why I started this whole thing-what in the world should I be getting my husband? The 2nd year traditional anniversary gift is cotton.....he does need some new jeans. Maybe that will work.
Did You Know?
When using the spellcheck here on blogger, it doesn't like the word pissy. It must be too pottymouth for it to be recognized.
Kind of like how my cellphone won't automatically spell out ass for me. Instead it thinks I want to type apr. Believe me - when I say I'm gonna kick your apr I'm not really talking about an annual percentage rate.
Kind of like how my cellphone won't automatically spell out ass for me. Instead it thinks I want to type apr. Believe me - when I say I'm gonna kick your apr I'm not really talking about an annual percentage rate.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
All in a Day's Trip
I woke up at 4:15 Saturday morning, and I jumped up-got in the shower, felt good, felt awake and was headed on my way within an hour. Surprising considering the fact that it takes about an hour to continuously hit snooze on my alarm clock almost every day before going to work. But Saturday was different, Saturday was exciting, Saturday was Highway 36 Treasure Hunt Day-funny considering the fact that Saturday was also International Talk Like a Pirate Day.
Below you will see the multitude of picture frames that I purchased. I think I spent about $1.25 on all of these, plus you can see that I bought a door lock. It's in the middle of the middle frame. That was $0.50. All of these frames will be painted, except maybe the metal one on the bottom right.
This is a close up detail of the frame.
And I did say that I was going to buy baby stuff...and then I did say that I was kidding-Majorly Kidding! But what I didn't realize was how much fun I would have looking for my friends's babies. I found this adorable outfit-that it is way too big as of yet-but it only cost me $0.50 and one day my adorable friend Bailey's adorable son-to-be will look as cute as you can get in this thing.
Next despite my husband's ridicule, I could not pass this beautiful thing up. Yes, it's a window, and yes it's going on the inside of my house, on a wall. And everyone's doing it anyways, honey! It'll look good I promise-and yes, if everyone else jumped off a bridge.....
The following picture shows off the beautiful Christmas decor that I got for....FREE! An elderly lady tried to give me about 6 boxes of free Christmas stuff, but basically I would have just had to have my own garage sale for the rest of it-I mean it was pretty sketchy. The lady was so nice, her and her husband were dumping other boxes so that I could have empty boxes to cart off more Christmas stuff, but Dana and I had to sneak out of there with just the couple of boxes that I did actually want.
I bought this lantern for $3-I thought it was kinda overpriced- I should have offered $2, but when we saw other lanterns that were just a little more cleaned up for $15-$30, I figured I must have done ok.
After searching through thousands of glasses, I finally scored with the perfect sized, clear, slightly tapered glasses. $3 for all four.
I can use them to display my Mary Kay items. Perfect size for eyeliners, mascaras, facial highlighting pens.
Or as a decorative piece with some beautiful fresh cut flowers. And yes, that is displayed on my new window.
And finally my largest purchase was this old mirror with a horrid wallpaper border. It is old and it does have some scratches at the bottom but something about Liquid Plumber will fix that right up. I don't know-I'll have to google it.
ARGH, me mateys-I was off to find me treasure.
Now as you recall, I started out the day with a list.
Below you will see the multitude of picture frames that I purchased. I think I spent about $1.25 on all of these, plus you can see that I bought a door lock. It's in the middle of the middle frame. That was $0.50. All of these frames will be painted, except maybe the metal one on the bottom right.
I also bought this big picture frame-beautiful! Cost me $2.00.
This is a close up detail of the frame.
And I did say that I was going to buy baby stuff...and then I did say that I was kidding-Majorly Kidding! But what I didn't realize was how much fun I would have looking for my friends's babies. I found this adorable outfit-that it is way too big as of yet-but it only cost me $0.50 and one day my adorable friend Bailey's adorable son-to-be will look as cute as you can get in this thing.
Next despite my husband's ridicule, I could not pass this beautiful thing up. Yes, it's a window, and yes it's going on the inside of my house, on a wall. And everyone's doing it anyways, honey! It'll look good I promise-and yes, if everyone else jumped off a bridge.....
It was supposed to cost $2.50, but my darling friend, Dana, who made the trek with me ended up buying its sister, and just gave the man the $5 bill, and wouldn't let me pay her for it. She said she owed me. Basically I love Dana, she was the one who invited me, and I was so excited to go with her. She was fun, encouraging, has a good eye, plus she's tall-which is useful when at an antique store with really high shelves. But I promised her that was just icing on the cake, not the only reason we traveled together.
The following picture shows off the beautiful Christmas decor that I got for....FREE! An elderly lady tried to give me about 6 boxes of free Christmas stuff, but basically I would have just had to have my own garage sale for the rest of it-I mean it was pretty sketchy. The lady was so nice, her and her husband were dumping other boxes so that I could have empty boxes to cart off more Christmas stuff, but Dana and I had to sneak out of there with just the couple of boxes that I did actually want.
And I do mean sneak, I literally ran behind the tent of the people set up next to her.
I'm sorry elderly lady, please don't take offense. I'm sure your 70 years of collected Christmas items will make someone else very very happy.
I bought this lantern for $3-I thought it was kinda overpriced- I should have offered $2, but when we saw other lanterns that were just a little more cleaned up for $15-$30, I figured I must have done ok.
After searching through thousands of glasses, I finally scored with the perfect sized, clear, slightly tapered glasses. $3 for all four.
I can use them to display my Mary Kay items. Perfect size for eyeliners, mascaras, facial highlighting pens.
Or as a decorative piece with some beautiful fresh cut flowers. And yes, that is displayed on my new window.
And finally my largest purchase was this old mirror with a horrid wallpaper border. It is old and it does have some scratches at the bottom but something about Liquid Plumber will fix that right up. I don't know-I'll have to google it.
But I do know that this will look un-frickin-believable at the end of the hallway when I'm done with it. It's about 4 foot tall, including the frame. LOVE it! And I love it even more knowing that I only spent $10. I probably should have offered $5, just to see, but it was worth the $10.
Plus here's a sneak peak of what's behind the wallpaper. Gorgeous, weathered painted oak wood.
Plus here's a sneak peak of what's behind the wallpaper. Gorgeous, weathered painted oak wood.
My comrade in this ordeal, Dana, also made away with some great deals. I definitely know we're doing this next year, and we may even be hitting up some of the antique shops and thrift stores that we stopped at or new ones that we have to discover sometime soon. We did pretty good and when talking to her husband, he said the amount we had spent was not bad-so we know we can up our limit next year as well.
I definitely came home with some extra cash-even after all the snacking I did Saturday. Total, after adding up all my purchases I spent a whopping....$20.25.
After thinking about that, I'm kinda pissy and want to go back and buy about twice that. I mean seriously.
*If you are visiting from the Flea Market Style Party-First of all, WELCOME! I posted this back in September after my first time experiencing a flea market. Check out what I did with the picture frames in this post. And know that I am hooked! and plan to continue searching out all the great deals, and I'm excited to visit each of you and see what you have found, and to learn all the good Flea Market Secrets from you all! Thanks for stopping by!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)