To Tennessee And Back Again Jiggity Jig

And I'm back again (sort of, this post comes to you from the glorious, and inexpensive, Megabus)!

I decided to spend a long weekend in TN to visit the folks before things get really cray at work.
I of course took no pictures, even though I got some awesome treasures for the house at local garage sales, went to my cousin's 1st Anniversary of her 29th Birthday pool party, got some delish homemade ice cream, and played some nerdy board games.
Here's the only photo I took of some of my mom's records.

 Pretty cool original vinyls right? I got some record frames for EZBZ to hang in his man cave & wanted him to choose the ones he wanted. What do you think he picked? Ohhhh, how I long to decorate the man cave, hang some masculine drapery toppers, organize his bookshelves, and hang cool framed pictures (that I like). I have been told by everyone and their brother to leave.the.man.cave.alone!

Also, did you check this story out? Der. C'mon people. 

My Favorite Subject

Too kind Rita Marie at Champagne n Pizza nominated me for the Super Sweet Blogging Award, and best of all, it's on my favorite subject- sweets. It's no joke, I have a serious sweet tooth (it's the one thing preventing me from becoming a Victoria's Secret model). 

Cookies or cake or both?  Both, although cake might win by a hair. 

Chocolate or vanilla?  Both again (I'm indecisive if you can't tell). I always order my Wendy's Frosty's half and half

Favorite sweet treat? Ice cream with lots of yummy candy chunks, like Ben and Jerry's.   

When do you crave sweet things the most?  After lunch, after dinner. If I get excited or happy and want to celebrate. 

Sweet nickname?  My hubs calls me Boo, Boober, or variations on that. We don't call each other honey, sugar, sweetiepie, or anything like that. 

All this talk of yummy sweets has make me craving some chocolate, so I'm off to find something delicious to eat!

Randomness

Am I the only one that was immature enought to die laughing at teh name of this plant? Amorphophallus titanum, otherwise known as the corpse plant. It was pretty neat, even if it didn't smell like rotting flesh (only at night apparently). According to one of the workers, if we smelled anything it was BO.

It's already starting to die in this picture. It spends it's whole life (like 8 years) getting this big to open up and then die in a few days. 

I saw this lady at my Metro stop this morning. I covertly got photographic evidence. Ewwww.

 

Sorry, you can stab your eyes out now.

How to Make Your Own Headboard

Items needed:

• Plywood that is measured to your bed (I used pegboard)
• 1.5" x 1.5" boards for legs
• 1.5 " angle brackets
• spray adhesive
• foam egg crates
• batting
• fabric of your choosing
• staple gun (fun stuff)
• bolts or brackets to mount to the wall or to your bed frame

1. Take lots of measurements. I drew a picture of what I wanted then measured twice.

2. I bought supplies at Home Depot (about $40 total for pegboard, bracket, spray adhesive). I unfortunately then had to get it home.

3. Begin building. (Probably not a good idea to build on your hardwood floors inside your bedroom, but I didn't have to carry the completed thing up the stairs). I nailed the angle brackets into the legs and then nailed the pegboard into the 1.5" x 1.5" boards.

4. I then sprayed the pegboard with an adhesive spray, then added cut up foam from an egg crate (you know the things you added to your college dorm room twin beds). Then I wrapped it with batting & stapled it to the legs on the backside. Repeated with the fabric.

Note- the fabric and batting I chose came to about $50.

Still to do- wait for my nail-head trim kit to come in the mail ( I could only find it on Amazon) and add the details to the edge.
I also still haven't mounted it to the bed frame because I ran out of time.

Here is what just the fabric looks like pushed up against the wall:

Serious Weekend Shenanigans

My goal for the weekend was to get our bedroom looking a little more finished, but since I am such a spazz, it might be more like the weekend E was ready to head to the d-court.  (Not really, I think he likes my "adventures" ;))

Friday:
I made plans (unbeknownst to the hubs) to buy a carpet for our bedroom after work. E came to pick me up & I said I needed to go somewhere- I might not have mentioned it was 30 min. out of the way. We got a house & E asked where we were. I casually said I found this guy on Craigslist (E does not have an appreciate for the awesomeness that is Craigslist- he thinks it's sketchy & a pain in the arse). This guys was selling beautiful rugs out of his basement. Too bad I didn't have enough cash, so E drove me to the closest grocery for more cash. Strike 1 by the time we got home at 9:30pm.
 
Saturday:
I needed drapes and curtain rods for the bedroom. I got so excited, I locked my keys in the car and e had to stop doing his landscaping to rescue me. Also, since we only have one car, E took a Taxi.
Oops, strike 2.

Sunday:
I went on the crazy train making my own headboard. (DIY is such a satisfying hobby- separate post to come). I made multiple trips to Home Depot and Joanne's (E in tow for some) and many times I hollered at E to help me lift or hammer something. Strike 3 was when we watching trying to watch ESPN and I was squawking I needed his help.

Even though I drove E super crazy this weekend, here's the master bedroom with the new drapes, carpet, and headboard:

 

I ordered 2 more of the curtain panels and I think I'm going to switch up the pillows a bit. 

I'm  undecided if I wanted to hang something in between the windows...

Oh, and we also finally opened out champagne (well, Prosecco, but whatever) to celebrate our first home!!!

EZBZ Day

Yay, I've been so excited for this blog linkup and I think E actually likes to participate. He keeps asking if I have more questions for him. So here's Behind the Boys linkup #2, otherwise known as the day EZBZ took over. 

1. What celebrity would play you in a movie about your life?    

Will Arnett or Rob Riggle (he just thinks these guys are funny- he looks nothing like them- ha)

2. What is your dream car?   

Volvo station wagon (see above- he is a perpetual jokester)

3. Do you have any tattoos? What, where, why? 

NO (this was emphatic. I also have no tats which is good I guess since he's so passionate!)

 
4. Boxers or briefs? 

Boxer briefs

 
5. List 3 random facts about yourself...  

I've never been skiing (water or snow); I can't stand it when people lick their finger to turn a page; I don't really like sweets.  (I'm working on the sweets thing with him ;))

Hump Day Funny

The week is halfway over, so I like to celebrate a bit.

 

 

Tuesday Ten: Familiga edition

I feel like this Tuesday, I have a whole lot to be thankful for. My dad had a heart attack this past Wed., so I have been back home in Tennessee since then. It was really scary, but he is OK now.

Obviously, #1 and #2 (in no order), I am thankful for my pops & mom. They are seriously the best parents a kid could have asked for & I’m so happy they are both healthy and still around. 

#3. Modern technology. When my dad had the attack, the doctors didn’t have to open him up. They can insert a stint microscopically in through the arteries to open them up.

#4. My dad’s resolve to quit smoking. He been cold turkey since the vent & I’m really proud of him for quitting. (All of you out there, quit now ! It’s hard, but seriously imagine trying to wait after 30 more years or after you have something really scary happen with your heath).

#5- #8. (remember no particular order) A super fantastic family that all helps support each other. This includes my 2 brothers, my hubs, and my brother’s fiancé. It’s nice to have people to talk to when times are tough.

#9. A job that lets me leave and I have no fears that it won’t be here when I return.

#10. Skype, cell phones, and the like. Even though it’s hard being far away from my family, we are still able to talk and “see” each other regularly.

I know everyone is always thankful for their family, but it's especially a reminder when something like his happens. So hug your parents today (if you can) and make sure you tell them you love them!

Rollercoaster

Life is full of ups and downs. I've seen this as "happies and crappies" on other blogs, so I'm snatching that idea :)

My downs/ crappies are what are known as #firstworldproblems. Here’s what I’m bitchin’ about as of lately.

• We still have no AC and I’m feeling swampier than Florida when I’m trying to enjoy some hot Indian food whilst watching TV. Not to mention my pores are horrible clogged from all this “glistening.” 
• Since I'm pale and haven't had time to sunbathe, I'm resorting to self-tanner to look like a normal person. However, my self -tanner turns my sheets a lovely shade of urine yellow, so the hubs thinks I am incontinent. 
• I just got a new box of organic spring mix and spinach (first time trying this) and it includes…. parsley and arugula!!! Both of which I loathe with a passion and have to spit it out in my trash can at work.

So, every rose has it’s thorns, so here are my roses this week.

• I got my library card and I’m finishing One Fifth by Candace Bushnell, which is a great summer read. 
•  Speaking of la library, I checked out some CDs and put the music on my iPod- money saved!
•  Have you seen the new selection of special flavors SkinnyCow has? Snickerdoodle ice cream sandwiches and the chocolate covered cherry cones are out of this world good!
•  Lastly, I’ve decided the answer to feral cat and kitten problem is… a dog! (I’ve wanted one since I’ve lived on my own, but they aren’t conducive to 1 bedroom apt. living). A cute, fuzzy friend- yay!

Home Update

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July!
I am been swammed at work and also with the house lately, so pardon my absence.
Here's some of what's been going on at the Brown manor:

 

 Didn't "do this" per say. I just picked out the appliances and a contractor install the cabinet & microwave  :)

I also did not do this, but I pointed it out to E :) I have plans for big beautigful hydrangeas here. 

Also, the past week, a cat has been peeing on our back and front porch by the door. Nasty I know. We thought it might be a neighborhood cat marking since we brought 2 new kitties to the house. I've spotted a black cat in our yard several times and the other day,  she had a little grey kitten with her. Guess where they ran to? Under our porch.
Oh yea, the adorable baby bunnies haven't made an appearance in a while and I also saw them running under the porch too :(
I plan on calling the pound to get a trap, but I feel a little guilty.  The kitten can probably be adopted, but the momma will probably be put down, because no one wants a feral cat. However, she's not spayed and I sure as shizz don't want her having any litters under our porch. I also don't want her to kick our fat, old, toothless cat's butts when they do venture outside.

Updates to come. I'm sure we'll end up catching a possum in the traps.