Where black pictures frames go to die

My creativity juices have been flowing lately!
Anyone who says I do not suffer from SAD (Seasonal affective disorder) has clearly misdiagnosed me.
The sun comes out, temperatures go up and BAM, I want to paint the world.

I have been doing several different projects around the house. I wanted to show you one and ask your opinion on it!

As some background information, I have A LOT of wall space in my staircase. And it is one of the first things that you see when you walk into my house.

Front door = 2 sets of stairs staring right at you.
See?!

Please excuse the laundry.

Side note: When Greg and his family were in between houses, they rented a townhome 2 doors down from the one we are currently in. (The layout is exactly the same.) When Greg was little and he walked through the door at the rental for the first time, he looked up the staircase and asked "Is that where God lives?"

If you've been to my house, you can understand. I feel like I need an oxygen tank to make it up to the 3rd floor.

So this is the before picture.

So blah!

And this is the after.

Now be honest! Too much? Not enough? Too much black?

I think it needs one more on the "bottom row", 3 up from bottom. I feel like there is a hole there.

(Can you spot my assistant?

Just like her father.

They both just sit there and watch me do all of the work.

THEY ARE BOTH FIRED! )

I still need actual pictures to put in there, but that is a whole other project!

I would eventually like to get pictures of my grandparents , Greggie's grandparents, both sets of parents, Greggie and I baby pictures, current pictures etc. All in black and white of course!

Also a little sneak peak into what else I am working on....

You'll never guess who they are for!

And the best part.... they were on sale for 75 cents!

I'm kinda like a Wiseman

'Cause I come bearing gifts.

Since I have only blogged once in the past year, I thought the least I could do to show you all I still cared, was to share some of my new favorite blogs with you.

I also want to give you a run - on sentence.

The later I can now check off my list.

You know how I like lists, so let's get this party started:

The first three are in the same category - DIY and home decorating


Thrifty Decor Chick

http://www.thriftydecorchick.blogspot.com/

This lady comes up with some pretty cute ideas.
I have yet to actually do any of her projects, but the ideas have inspired many spin off projects that I have tackled.

Also, TDC has a major obsession with moulding. Like, on every wall obsessed.
This would be my only critique about her style.
Some of her decorating ideas teeter on the line of just enough vs too much.
Sometimes it looks cheap, sometimes it looks like she paid thousands of dollars. So pick and choose the projects wisely my friends.

But she is faithful blogger and thus being the reason she has made the gift list.



Shanty 2 Chic

http://shanty2chic.blogspot.com/

The first thing to grab me was the name. I think that it's pretty catchy shanty ladies.

This blog is a pair of cutie patootie sisters who transform trash into treasures. Very similar to TDC, but just a touch more of my style.

Be sure to scroll down a few blog posts to the entertainment center. I think that this is super cute! Although the color is odd, I think that it works for the room - the playroom!

Again, some of the projects can look DIY- ish, but cute ideas none the less.


Southern Hospitality

http://southernhospitalityblog.com/

This is fairly new to me. I am about 3 weeks in and so far so good.

The first item to pop out at me was the tagline.

Adventures in Decorating, Thrifting, Cooking and Gardening

Decorating: Yes. Yes, I like to decorate.

Thrifting: Check, I like to yardsale.

Cooking: Si. I'm into cooking now.

Gardening: Squealing. I love to garden.

And that was that. I have been visiting her daily.

She is older than I am and I can sometimes see that in her style, but I still get useful ideas from her. Plus I am just proud that a 50 something lady can create such a cute, organized blog.
Cause Jo still can't leave a comment to save her life.

Love you mommy.


Next is a blog that took me a while to warm up to it. But now I am warm and toasty and I love reading about Nie's life everyday. Some of you may have already been to her site.

Oprah's a fan, so that's automatic cool points.

http://nieniedialogues.com/

I don't want to spill too many beans, but this is not a 'typical' blog that I would normally read everyday. I think that may be the major appeal for me. Or maybe its her cutie pies also known as her children. They do not look a thing alike, but completely match when all put together. Kinda like a quilt. And I love that colorful aspect.

And that youngest one. I could kiss his chubby cheeks right off of that wittle face!



Next is http://marriageconfessions.com/

The layout and font of her blog drive me up the wall, but I love her message.

Laugh. Fight. Stay married.

And she and her husband do just that!

Her truthful blogs about marriage make me feel human. They are funny in the right spots, but also make me sit back and think, all within minutes of each other. I think she definitely "gets it" -

A little less than a year ago, they welcomed a little baby boy named Bean into their lives.

And. He. Is. Precious.

This one is a personal favorite.


Another one of my favorites is Matt and Madeline.

http://www.mattlogelin.com/

Here is your warning. If you are pregnant, PMSin, hormonal for whatever reason or just a plain ole crier - grab a box tissues. Because. this. is. one. sad. story.

I am not going to tell you anymore.

I'm zipping my lips. ZIP.

Up at the top of his page is a tab entitled "hadn't been here before?"

Go there.

And call me later to discuss this story so we can cry about it together.

Oh. And here's another warning. He uses the F word.

No, not all of the time. It is very limited - but in my opinion, it's always at the right moment.

Cause sometimes no other word will do.


After Matt's heart wrenching story, you will need some laughs. These blogs will make you laugh out loud.

They really don't need an explanation - they are just plain old cheap laughs

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/



And my last bloggy gift is certainly not least!

This blog is from one of my oldest Ferrum friends.

http://crazylewishouse.blogspot.com/

Wen just hopped on board with the blog train and she already has a professional looking blog. Jealous!

She and Jay just had baby Britten in January - he is a major hunk! I mean look at that hair! I am so excited that she started a blog so that I can watch this little man grow up!

*****


It took some of the above sites a couple of blogs before they got the AJ seal of approval. Don't let one bad blog ruin it for you.

After all, you know every dog has his day.

Lord knows I did.

For close to a year.

Where have ya'll been?

I have been here.

Where have you guys been?

I have been here blogging day after day, pouring out my heart and soul into these posts.

Blood, sweat and tears folks.

And what do I get in return?

Nothing. Nada. Zip.

For this blog to continue we are going to HAVE to work on this. mkay?

Okay. So maybe I am partly to blame in this here blog relationship. But I have a good excuse.

Really. I do.

See.

This is how my laptop has been for a little over a year now.

Remember back when we remodeled the kitchen? Well. We had to move everything around and nothing was in it's normal place. Everything was packed into the living room. And I mean everything. Dishes, groceries, kitchen table, toaster, everything!

Including the kitchen sink.

Literally.

Junk started piling up, laptops ended up at the bottom of large, heavy piles, and before you knew it, a busted screen.

Happens to the best of us.

Greggie and I have been been living with the ink blob by minimizing the screen to fit in the "clean" area. But then it started to spread like the swine flu and, well, we didn't get a flu shot.

Thankfully I married a honorary member of the Geek Squad and he hooked us up.

Once again, literally.

And just like that - we are back in business!

One little problem.

I have a love / hate relationship with electronics.

I love what they can do for me.

Fast internet, wonderful smutty reality shows, power to my coffee pot-

BUT I hate the cords that come along with them.

Hate them.

Detest them.

So what am I going to do about above picture? Ugg.

And I am not talking about the yellow tow strap holding together my grandmother's antique bench.

I have bigger fish to fry people.

Like keeping up with a blog.

LPGA deliciousness

Oh the LPGA.
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.

Or maybe I should do a top ten list like David Letterman.

Either way there are going to be numbers involved.

Numero 10.

There are LPGA golfers playing golf in the backyard. This needs no explanation.
There are vicious rumors of In-Bev not renewing the tournament contract. If this happens, I will shed a tear. Seriously.

Numbero nine.

We usually have a house full of people stopping by over the entire weekend! I really enjoy seeing everyone. I also love being a hostess - just call me Martha.

Number 8.

I get to see these ladies.

Number 7.

The honey do list ACTUALLY gets done.

Number 6.

After watching the ladies for a weekend, they make playing golf look so easy. I really get the "kick ass and take names" attitude from them! Then I play golf the following week and that feeling is gone....immediately.

Number 5.

Thousands of fans make their way to Williamsburg for the weekend. With that, comes major money! With the state of the economy the way it is, tourists can come to Willamsburg and spend all they want! News Flash! There is more to Williamsburg than Busch Gardens.

I know, I know. No one told you.

But I just did - so considered yourself informed.

Number 4.

I get to see this lady. I may have a small crush. Hola Lorena. You play some bueno golf.

Number 3. I get to do some MAJOR people watching.

Number 2. Dear Apool. Next time your brother's girlfriend comes to play in the LPGA, can you let someone know? Thanks. Love, Mayme.

Although Meridith Swanson didn't make the final cut, it was awesome seeing a young lady from Roanoke play with the big dogs on Thursday! She played great and held her own! I now have another name to watch for- I know I'll see her name in these parts again!

Thank goodness that the rule of "It's a small world" is still in play.

I was able to meet Apool's brother and Meredith's fan club, all because of bug spray! Let me give the short version to a long story. The bugs were so bad the week of the tournament because of all of the rain we had prior to the start of play. I noticed the guy next to me swatting at all of the bugs and made a joke about him not having any bug spray. When he asked for some, I noticed his Roanoke College Lacrosse. When I told him I was from Roanoke, the rest was history! It was Meredith's camera guy and the person helping him was Apool's brother! Oh, and I was able to give them some bug spray. Like I said, I love being a hostess.

Number 1. No Pain, No Gain.

Really? You forgot to put sunblock on because Lorena was on Hole 5 and you were in a hurry? Nice Amy. Nice.

I'm sad to report, but I have a nasty case of cankle.

The left inner leg took a major beating from the sun.

And yes, my feet are on my cabinets.

I didn't want to take the picture with my feet on my kitchen floor. You would then see all of the dirt that I have been too tired to vacuum up. I can't have any of that silly.

The way I was sitting while the leaders passed through Hole 6 is quite evident. Even 3 days later.

If you can't watch Kristie Kerr make Kingsmill history by becoming the first 2 time winner, while simultaneously feeling the first layer of your skin fry off, then you can't call yourself a fan.

You can't even see my ankle bone.

With the above picture, I believe I should receive the fan of the year award. Either that, or Idiot of the year. Both are MORE than suitable.

Third time is a charm

I think I love my dog.

But she has tested my love for her, shoe after shoe.

I do NOT even want to think about the money I have spent on Bird Dog's "chew toys".
And then the money I have spent to replace them.

I can not even tell you how many outfits have gone uncutiefied because of the lack of wooden wedges, spiked stilettos, and ripped out insoles.

If you don't believe me, just ask Buddy Bird.
He was sent out solo on the day of my wedding to buy the replacement pair of black stilettos that matched my pre wedding outfit.

Buddy Bird. My shoe size on a scrap piece of paper. The Nine West store.

I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in THAT store.

For some reason, Bird Dog also love the material that crocs are made of. I think it's because she likes how it squeaks in between her teeth.
And it just so happens that I am on my fourth pair.

Bird Dog has become very cleaver about where she hides her addiction though. I have found shoes under the bed, tucked completely under her dog bed, pushed to the very back of the closet - the list goes on. In fact it wasn't until I saw the CROC button in her crapola that I knew she had finished off my third pair.

Folks, I know they are ugly as sin. But OH my heavens - they are like walking on clouds.

There is a point to my story.

As I hope you all know the LPGA was in Kingsmill this weekend. Don't worry, a "tolfer" blog to come. Thousands of golf fans walking all over the neighborhood. It set the stage for some good ole' fashion people watchin'. I, of course, did just that.

This one particular lady immediately caught my eye. She had on a cute outfit perfect for LPGA watching and I was taking some mental notes. As I was skimming her outfit, I finally made it down to her shoes. Simultaneously, I noticed how my feet were aching. After all, I was on hole 14 in Rainbow flip flops. This genius of a lady had found the perfect pair of shoes that incorporates both style and comfort.
Wedge. Crocs.
I was S.O.L.D. - immediately

After all ladies, we all know what wedges do for our calves.

I went online this morning and order these babies. They come in ALL sorts of colors, but I fell in love with this color combo.




Now before you croc haters start getting all up tight, just listen. It's not like I'm going to wear these to Greggie's high school reunion or anything. I think that they will be perfect though, for my marina loving self! Wash the sand right out of them, and they will be dry in no time flat! Or grab a beach towel and head to the pool. Also, crocs are great because you can wash them and odor is kept to a minimum.

Hey vinegar feet - you should try these!

The best part about my summer must-have purchase is that I was able to find an online coupon for FREE shipping! Just google croc coupons, copy and paste the code and you are golden.

I also googled and purchased an electrical shock chip that you can insert into the heel of your new shoes.

Next time, Bird Dog goes after her favorite squeaky pair of shoes, she'll be shocked into next week.

One step ahead of you Bird Dog. One step ahead of you.

Richmond, Ferrum Style

Last weekend, we went to Richmond for Leslie's birthday party and Leslie and John's housewarming party.

Oh how I needed this!

It has been a long, hard, boring winter in Williamsburg.

It was a beautiful spring evening, with some good ole friends in a good ole town.

It really made me miss living in Richmond. I love everything about that city! The people, the atmosphere, the nightlife, the shopping, the attitude, and last but not least - Sticky Rice and Nacho Mama's.

I hadn't seen the Ferrum crew in a long time! But we picked up right where we left off! That just goes to show how our group is :)

We didn't skip a beat!

Here are some pictures from our DELIGHTFUL night!

Of course we Ferrum kids, were the last ones standing!

Jay is in there somewhere - oh wait. I see a foot!

Let's not wait so long for the next time guys!

Love you guys :) Oh and Leslie....sorry about the mess :)

"Tolfers"

Greggie Poo and I had a house full of diapers this weekend. And we loved every minute of it.

Em and the babies came down for the weekend and we had a great weekend full of family time, dirty diapers, and kisses!

Not necessarily in that particular older.

I am proud of my super mom of a sister who made the trip in the first place. Our Mom had originally planned to come with her and help her with all that comes with having two little ones. Plans changed and Mom couldn't make the trip. But this wasn't stopping Em.

On Friday night, we went over to the Soderbirds :) and had a playdate with Ms. Marin! Greggie and the Soderbirds then went to a "young" dinner club in Kingsmill, called First Fridays. No babies allowed at First Fridays, so Em and I decided to come home and I proceeded to make our OWN gourmet meal. For our appetizer we had an English favorite- Potato chips and green onion dip. Many a good stories are told over this little tub of deliciousness. After convincing ourselves not to not consume the whole bag, we moved on to our main course. Frozen chicken patties and tater tots. I have become very good at doctoring up this oldie but goodie thing I call a meal. I must admit, THEY WERE DELICIOUS! Greggie soon came home and made our final course - dessert! A brownie covered in ice cream and magic shell - yum!

What can I say, we operate a 5 star restaurant at 110. We then called it an early night. We wanted to make sure we got our beauty rest for our busy day we had the next day.

On Saturday morning we woke up early to head over to Busch Gardens. I had to pull off some veteran Busch Gardens skills in order to get super star parking. And did we ever!

Stick with me kid; I'll show you the ropes.

It was a beautiful day! It was so cute to watch "Serious" Sammy Bird take it all in. He was not sure what to think of the real life sized Sesame Street characters.

And come to think of it, I didn't know what to think either. We'll have to compare notes Sam.

After we were all sore from pushing the double stroller around, we decided to pack up and head home. I have never seen a 2 year old excited to leave Busch Gardens.

But he had bigger and better things on his mind.

"TOLFERS!"

We told him after he woke up from his nap, he could watch the golfers play behind the house. So right on cue, he woke up from his nap, yelled out for his "Momma" and then quickly followed it, with "Tolfers".

Well hello Mr. Memory.

Nice to meet you.

Sammy Bird watched the golfers the rest of the afternoon. He would wait for them to make it to the green, watch them for a little bit, run upstairs to our bedroom to get the better view, and high five Bird Dog on the way up.

After a few hours of doing this, he grew tired and wanted to play golf himself!

"Tub" (Club) he kept saying. Em and I kept telling him that he had to wait until the golfers were done for the day.

I don't think he liked our answer.

Sam then went to the source where he knew he would get the answer he wanted.

Greggie!

Greggie gave him his "tub" and told him he had to play with it out front. Sam proceeded to shove 100 golf balls out the doggie door, and away he went.

With every good golfer though, one would get bored with the "putting green" and would soon want the real course.

That would go for this 2 year old prodigy as well. Sam kept begging us to go outside (out back) and play "tolf". Em and I had so much to do for our cookout that night, that we couldn't go with him. Plus, there were still golfers on the course.

Kev Fed, I mean Greggie, made up a little white lie in hopes that he would forget about golf and become occupied with something else. Greggie told him that when Bill and Brenda get here, then we can go outside. A few hours passed, and our guest started to arrive, included in this; Bill and Brenda(my in-laws). Sam magically appeared at Bill's pant leg and gave it a little tug. Then "tolf" and "outside" came racing out of his mouth.

When he asked this time, he actually got what he wanted. We all went out back to watch the little "tolfer" himself.

To my pleasant surprise, he was actually good. Em dropped several balls on the green and let him swing away. Not only did he make contact with the ball, he even made it in the hole! After everyone picked up their jaw off of the floor, we just kept feeding him golf balls all evening. Sammy was a dead ringer!

He may have only just learned how to say my name correctly, but the boy can play golf.

Our little "tolfer" is still the talk of the town on Hole 6!

Sammy, I would just like for you to remember your auntie when you win the Masters. By the way, I think you look good in green.

After a yummy dinner, we all visited and laughed the rest of the night!

On Sunday Em needed her Kohl's fix and we did a little shopping - with the kids! Towards the end of the shopping trip, Sammy started to gain tired of bargain hunting. Is he really related to us? He was ready to go and he let us all know it. Em promised that if he was a good boy for just a little longer, that we would leave soon and he could go home and watch the "tolfers".

He was silent the rest of our shopping trip.

Oh she's that good people.

We had such a great weekend! The weekend flew by so fast, that I didn't even get one picture!

After Em and the babes left, I could still see their presence in the house though.

I moved my coffee table to vacuum. This is what I found. Yeap. Sammy Bird was here.

It's a good thing he's so cute, because NOBODY gets in the way of me and my coffee.

"Tolf" ball, Maime's "toffee", Sam do it.

Mind you, I only found the golf ball half way through.

I take my coffee with cream, sugar, and a golf ball please.

Bird Dog barely made it through her dog door before passing out. Sammy Bird gave her a run for her money this weekend.

"Oh Baggie"

I miss you guys already! come back soon.

The "Tolfers" miss you cheering for them Sam!