I Swoon for New Moon!

Thanks to a sweet coworker, I was able to snag 2 advanced screening passes to the New Moon movie for tomorrow night.  I am so pumped!  I can't decide why though.  Could it be that Twilight was a bit too cheesy and I'm hoping for better this go around?  Or could it be that RPattz just gets better looking every day? 

While written on a junior high level, the books are really captivating so I was disappointed that the first movie was kind of a letdown.  And although the Twilight series following is almost as big as the Harry Potter craze, the first movie was made on a very small budget so you could not have anticipated an Oscar-worthy performance by anyone.  Especially, the then unheard-of Robert Pattinson, who undeniably became the hottest thing to hit the planet since James Dean. 

With a huge budget and a somewhat blockbuster cast, New Moon promises not to disappoint.  I'll be sure to update with a critique afterwards!  Until then, I'm leaving you with this yummy photo of my favorite vampire.  Enjoy!

 Courtesty of Vanity Fair 2009.

Out with the old and in with the new. TAKE ONE!

The 2 bathrooms in our new house were not exactly selling points when we were shopping around.  See for yourself:

The master bath (at the top), while small, has potential.  A linen sink skirt in a fun pattern, monogrammed towels and shower curtain, new medicine cabinet, light fixture and some artwork are on the list for a design on a dime weekend makeover.  I'm not crazy about the colors but at least the tile was nicely laid!  Eventually we'll add on a master suite with a nice, big bathroom that will accomodate the two of us and this guy will probably get a major overhaul to accomodate future offspring.   


Sadly, I have nothing nice to say about our guest bathroom.  Except that maybe the original owner of the house might have been a Tide fan given that the wall and vanity tile is crimson and grey.  At first glance, I thought the wallpaper was a pattern of friendly peacocks but after staring at it a little too long it began to resemble one of those Magic Eye 3D posters that was all in the rage in the 90s.  I've always been frustrated by those things (anyone remember that scene from Mallrats?) but I swear I actually saw a sailboat the other day. 

If you can uncross your eyes after searching for that sailboat, you'll notice that the floor is a lovely hodgepodge of grey and pink squares and the toilet and cast-iron tub are a nauseating Pepto Bismol color.  And did I mention that there is no shower?  The room is literally driving me crazy.  

I've scoured House Beautiful magazines, Restoration Hardware catalogs and various websites for ideas.  Thankfully, we've agreed on a theme!  CALM.  Lots of whites and creams with maybe a dash of pale grey paint.  I've put together a group of inspirational photos (see below) and I've got a mood board started at home. 

I just love vintage hardware!  Sometimes you can find really nice period pieces at salvage stores, however, parts are frequently missing and they're very hard to replace.  This is from the Vintage collection at Restoration Hardware.

For the floors.  Plain, white tile can be boring but not when laid in a herringbone pattern!

Also from Restoration Hardware, this is part of the Hutton collection.  Since our budget won't allow for many large purchases at RH, I'm hoping that I can find something similar.

B and I can't wait to break out the sledgehammer and get to work!   

Toodles!

101 Things in 1001 Days

I came across this wonderful idea and had to share! I love making lists and I love crossing things off so this should be fun. I like how it has forced me to get my goals, big and small, out on paper. Surprisingly, the list was easy to create so I challenge YOU to make your own list and stick to it!

The Mission
Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria
Tasks must be specific (ie. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (ie. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why In 1001 Days?
Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

my 101 in 1001

start 11.11.2009 / end 8.7.2012
in progress / completed

1. Lose 20 lbs
2. Start a workout regimen
3. Have a baby
4. Visit a state that I have never been before
5. Take a photography class
6. Read the Bible from beginning to end
7. Create something out of my Hello, Cupcake cookbook
8. Run a 5K for a charity
9. Use my scrapbooking supplies to create at least one scrapbook
10. Write a “if anything happens to me” letter
11. Try surfing
12. Learn to sew
13. Keep a prayer journal
14. Go on a real picnic
15. Read 101 books
16. Buy a French cookbook and learn to cook at least half of the recipes in it
17. Send cards/gifts to all family members and friends on their special day
18. Save up for a shopping spree in Anthropologie and J.Crew
19. Buy a French or Mandarin language CD
20. Take a weekend trip to New Orleans with B
21. Write a letter to someone serving in each branch of our military
22. Make a new friend
23. Create a photo book with wedding and honeymoon photos
24. Backup files on my computer
25. Start and stick to a budget
26. Cut coupons and USE them
27. Create and send 3 Christmas shoe boxes for a missions project at my home church
28. Plan a progressive dinner with a fun theme
29. Run a half-marathon for a charity
30. Wear a bathing suit and feel pretty in it
31. Create a 5 year plan
32. Plan a girls night in
33. Go camping
34. Make a cookbook with favorite recipes from family and friends
35. Find my charm bracelet
36. Find my sapphire ring (16th birthday present from parents)
37. Go horseback riding
38. Take scuba diving lessons
39. Go scuba diving in a tropical location
40. Visit Greece
41. Work in a soup kitchen
42. Donate 3 times to 3 charities (current picks: Humane Society, Children’s Hospital, ACA)
43. Learn how to make beignets with my Mother
44. Organize my closets and keep them organized for 3 months
45. See BFF Rachel get married
46. Help a special girlfriend find a special man to live happily ever after with
47. Join a small group or Sunday School class at church with B
48. Renovate my kitchen
49. See Bama win a National Championship
50. Go on a trip with my brother
51. Learn how to cook my Grandmother’s chicken and dressing
52. Get better at tennis
53. Move to another account at my job
54. Write down all family members and friends birthdays in my date book
55. Renovate the guest bathroom
56. Grow a small vegetable garden in our backyard (tomatoes, squash and/or peppers)
57. Write someone a handwritten letter and send it via snail mail
58. Go to a tree farm and pick out a tree for Christmas
59. Bake a tasty cake and give to someone on their birthday
60. Get a new haircut
61. Donate 101 items
62. Swim with dolphins
63. Spend a weekend in Charleston
64. Donate to the World Wildlife Fund to help polar bears, tigers, elephants, pandas, etc.
65. Simplify my life
66. Run through the sprinkler on a hot summer day
67. Get a massage
68. Develop a yoga or Pilates addiction
69. Earn a raise
70. Make a habit of recycling
71. Donate blood 2 times
72. Cook one new recipe each week for a month
73. Send Grandparents cards “just because”
74. Get a new “fancy” camera
75. Give up Coke and Dr. Pepper for 30 days
76. Organize all of my photos
77. Go to a movie by myself
78. Watch 5 classic movies that I’ve never seen
79. Read 5 classic novels that I’ve never read
80. Learn to drive B’s old Porsche (it’s a stick-shift)
81. Take pictures of 101 things that make me happy
82. Research my family tree
83. For one month, make a daily list of 3 things that make me happy
84. Buy myself flowers 5 times
85. Make Mother’s banana nut bread and give to someone who needs cheering up
86. Purchase 5 of my favorite books from childhood
87. Go on a road trip
88. Rescue a fun dog and find it a happy home
89. Go to a religious service of another religion/denomination
90. Visit the Birmingham Art Museum 3 times (parties do not count)
91. Go hiking without complaining
92. Buy something at a thrift store
93. Do something nice for 5 strangers
94. Hand make 5 birthday cards and send them to 5 sweet friends
95. Clean out my email inbox
96. Go to a play with B
97. Do 5 random acts of kindness
98. Find a devotional and complete it
99. Plan 3 surprise dates for B
100.Host a dinner party and use my fancy china
101.Send care packages to my cousins in college

Here goes...

Here goes... This blog has been started to document our house renovation overload as well as my adventures with my best friend and husband, B, and our two brown dogs, Sammy and Bailey Brown. I'm hoping this will be an outlet for acquiring ideas, advice and fun.

We just sold our charming 1920's bungalow in Crestwood (see below) and have moved to a 56 year-old rancher in Vestavia Hills. While I'm already missing my huge rooms and tall ceilings, I am in awe at how convenient our new 'hood is. 5 minutes to Publix. 10 minutes to the office for me (although B's commute has now doubled - to a mere 14 minutes). 10 minutes to the Summit to some of my favorite places. And less than 5 to a Dollar General where you can buy all sorts of crazy things for just ONE dollar! Getting settled is a huge undertaking. I've never really moved a whole house. Just from my childhood home to a college dorm to various apartments and then to B's bachelor pad below. It's amazing at how much stuff you can accumulate in such a short period of time. I currently have enough Christmas decor to open up my own store. And don't get me started on the clothes (75% of which I cannot fit into).

I hope you enjoy One Hot Mess and I look forward to sharing our adventures with you!