Total Eclipse of the Heart

Eclipse has finally arrived and I'm just not as

excited about it as I was for the last two flicks.  

I'm not sure why the excitement has dwindled.  

Maybe it's because I read this last night

and it was terrible.

Terrible. Terrible.

Seriously.  It was bad. 

Almost as bad as the acting in Twilight.

Or maybe it's because wizards will always trump vampires in my world

and I'm growing increasingly impatient for the arrival of this:

(you'll have to pause the playlist down below)

Whatever it is, I don't care.

I'll still be at the movie theater at midnight, popcorn in hand, squealing just

like the 12 year-olds that make up the majority in the room.

And in case you were wondering, I'm still

via EdwardCullenlsMine

Toodles!  

Rachel Getting Married

My BFF, Rachel, got married this weekend

in the sweetest of ceremonies.

I've been to a lot of nuptials and this

one will go down in my book of faves.

It was short but oh so lovely.

And so very Rachel.

Rachel & B

I apologize for no pictures of the flowers or ceremony.

I was too busy running my mouth apparently.

But here's a mental glimpse of the night:

Pre-wedding BFF hug.

A sunset cocktail hour on the rooftop

of this historic downtown hotel.

Wine flowing.

Tears welling as she walked to the alter.

More tears as her sister read this and her brother-in-law read this.

More wine flowing and the yummiest of yummies from the

The Fish Market (the best Greek food evah).  Fresh snapper, crab claws,

giant shrimp, taziki (my love), hummus and fresh pitas, lamb, gyro bar,
peasant salad, olive salad... Ok.  I'll stop now.

It truly was fabulous.

Just look at how much fun we were having!

Weezie & Leigh

And I'm super jealous of their

upcoming honeymoon in where else?

The Greek Isles.

Travel + Leisure

So.

Very.

Jealous.

Songs: "Love Like a Sunset Pt. 2" by Phoenix & "Dance All Night" by Ryan Adams

Oh, what a night

I am dying right now from sleep deprivation.

Dying!!

Girl can't handle late nights anymore.

I'm getting old.

But I did have a fabulous girls' night out with the lovely

Katye and Elizabeth at Grace Potter & the Nocturnals at Workplay.  

Fabulous show!!

If you ever get a chance to see her, jump on it.

I heart her.

And her band!

We actually ended up hanging out with them

(sadly, sans Grace) and the band that opened for them, Hacienda. 

They weren't too shabby either.  Check them out here.

They were all really fun.  And funny.

It made me wish I was cool.

And in a band.

photos found here and here

Song: "Apologies" by Grace Potter & The Nocturnals

Zzzzz.....

I would LOVE to be at home napping right now. 

Doesn't this look nice?

Sam and Cheese deep into a Sunday snooze

Song: "California Stars" by Billy Bragg & Wilco

The TOMS Challenge

I know I keep talking about getting back in shape and

losing the ol' muffin top but I wanted to let everyone know that I am really

getting serious about things.  And now that my doctor has given me the

a-okay to start exercising again, B has presented me with a proposition.

The TOMS Challenge

If I run for 5 days in 1 week and stick to my

"Great Weight Escape" eating plan,

I can order a pair of TOMS wedges.

I'm thinking that if I can do it for 2 weeks, I should get 2 pairs.

After all, I'm going to need a pair for game-day this fall.

And this pair is very Roll Tide.

Not quite sure how I'm going to survive in this

furnace we call summer but I really want need these shoes. 

I mean, c'mon.  Someone has finally produced a genuinely comfy

pair of heels for the vertically challenged.  

And it would benefit a great cause other than the

reduction of my BMI: a shoe-less kid gets a free pair!

So in honor of bringing the world together and

the World Cup (USA, USA!!),

I'll leave you with this little montage.

Ahh... Are you smiling, too?

I think this song might be my new battle hymn.  

Song: "Wavin' Flag" by K'nann

Today's Favorite Things

I'm having a RUFF day.  Scratch that.
A RUFF week.
And I'm not doing a good job of holding it together.


So much sadness in the world.


So I'm trying to have a Pollyanna moment
and think happy thoughts.


Like my favorite things!


Here's a totally random and short list
of what I'm loving right now:

(1)

Smith's Rosebud Salve

There's a special spot in heaven for the person who invented this stuff.

This pink goo smells divine and works wonders on severely chapped lips.

I also use it around my eyes each night before bed to keep the wrinkles at bay.


(2)
Air Conditioning

photo found here

Another fine invention. 

This Alabama heat is suffocating.  And it's just June!


(3)
COCO mademoiselle

This stuff is so yummy!  I've been wearing it for years.
And a little goes a long way!  


(4)
The Black Keys

photo found here

B introduced me to them 6 years ago. 

It's been a month since Brothers released and I can't stop listening! 

Rubber Factory is equally amazing.  Check it out here.

The Lengths is my own personal lullaby.

(5)
Lunch Dates

Urban Standard = Favorite Lunchery
photo found here


I don't know how I would get through the
workweek without my lunch dates.
Barrow and Jen - you're the best!


Okay.  Now I'm feeling better.  


Toodles!


p.s. B successfully removed the wheelchair ramp and we are on
our way to a nice little courtyard area.  Can't wait to share pictures once
we get things going.




Song: "The Lengths" by The Black Keys

No Complaints

I woke up feeling like total crap today.

But then I came across this 

via holykaw.alltop.com

and whaddya know,

the pain isn't really so terrible anymore. 

I need to tattoo this on my hand as a

daily reminder that things

really

aren't

that

bad.

Song: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" by Sufjan Stevens

Random Thoughts

(1) 

Thanks for the feedback yesterday!
I hopped on over to Anthro after work to try on a few things and
sampled almost 20 dresses but nothing seemed grand.

So in pure frustration and hopes dashed, I consulted the catalog
and ordered the Crystal Lake dress.

I'm praying that it looks good on b/c I am in love with this guy.

And it would mean I could purchase these.

(2) 

I am still loving the new Black Keys album,

I recently discovered Grace Potter & the Nocturnals

and I can't stop listening to old Mazzy Star.  

Remember her?

I was 14 when this hit the airwaves and I wanted nothing
more than to have a cool name like her.  

(3)

It's a hot day and it's got me wishing
that I was somewhere tropical.

West Indies




(4) 
I feel like this sums up my day.
Also, I wish I worked with Parker Posey.
Because I kind of want to be her BFF.

Wedding Dressing

One of my dearest friends is getting married.

In an outdoor, semi-casual ceremony that will take

place at sunset on top of a hotel downtown.  

In like 3 weeks.

And I have nothing to wear.

And I've been avoiding dressing rooms like the plague.  

So after a little lunchtime window-shopping at Anthropologie,

I discovered these promising little numbers:

Arribada Current

I heart the sea turtles!

Sketched Danios 

I'm loving the fish and rope details!  

Castle Lake

Again, with the fish and rope!

Knotted Poppies

This is a bit grandmotherly

but I'm a sucker for sashes!

Monukka 

Not sure how I feel about the grapes.

But I can't get enough black in my wardrobe.

Tell me what you think!

Do any of you own one of these?

Have you tried any of them on?

Or does my fashion sense get an F? 

all images from anthropologie.com

Weekend in Review

I am happy to report that we survived the weekend!

Barely.

It was 96 degrees and incredibly humid.

At one point, I thought B was dying on me.  But the mailman saved the day!

B's corn-hole bags arrived.  Finally.

I've never seen anyone drop what they were doing so fast.  It was like watching a kid chase down an ice cream truck.  So for the rest of the day, all the boy could think about was beating me at his beloved game.  He's been working really hard on his custom boards for a couple of weeks now and they're officially game-ready.  After carefully inspecting each bag, a second wind had him energized and back outside to finish up digging holes and planting our new shrubbery, roses and gardenias while I made a third trip to the Home Depot.

I am so proud of our almost-complete front yard
and I can't wait to watch everything grow!

 

We didn't get everything on my list checked off but who was I kidding?

It will happen.


Eventually.

We still need to work in the small bed surrounding the lamp post and laying the flagstone walkway.  We've also begun the search for a new front door. Our current one is pretty awful.  And our house screams 1950s so finding a pretty front door that also fits the current aesthetics is going to be quite the challenge.

Right fern has some catching up to do!  

Yesterday was another full day but thankfully, we were able to spend most of it indoors.  After a long overdue church visit and a delicious lunch at Surin, we popped over to our old neighborhood to see our friend's new lil' muffin, Eloise.

Omigoodness.  I am in love.

And my baby fever has soared to a new level, which I

didn't think was even possible.

After an hour of oohing and ahhing, B treated me to ice cream and
we discussed our imaginary baby which B declared would be a boy also named Brad. 
And he will be a perfect child, just like his daddy. 

Meanwhile, I was secretly daydreaming of one of each in matching monogrammed onesies.

We spent the rest of the afternoon snoozing with the A/C on full blast.

Seriously - what did people do before air conditioning?

Hope everyone has a lovely week!

Toodles!