Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Moving Out!

My blogger has been doing some funky things
and since I cannot figure out what is making it sick
I have decided to jump ship.
I have jumped over here if you wanna keep with
toodles!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Guess Who Doesn't Have a Case of the Mondays?

We don't!!
Our Thriving Ivory concert was oh so
awesome.
Here's the list of upcoming artists to play at the Warehouse.
I must admit "Screeching Weasel" caught my eye.
And what luck!
They had a tour poster inside!
Yours Truly thought her gum could pass as a cigi...
Seriously, that weasel reminds me of something...and I just remembered!!
The sloth from Ice Age...phew! I love it when that happens :-)
I had been trying to place him since highway 59 downtown.
Here are the fellers we went to see doin' what they do best.
It was a small concert so we could get super close to the gents.
How can downtown Houston be scary when you've got
your hunny with you?
As we were walking to our car I saw Paul and John hanging out back
so I gave them a wave and yelled " I love ya'll and you rocked!!".
They waved us over and we got to shoot the breeze for a while.
They were so nice!!
Charlie laughed about this picture saying it is very "rock star"...
Tattoos, cigarettes, no shirts; they definitely fit the bill.
They put on a great show and I do not remember any profanity: done and done!
It was just a good time with great music!
Not bad for mixing up a mundane Monday.

Thriving Ivory

Charlie is forever finiding new bands and making plans
for us to see them perform.
Tonight's venture is Thriving Ivory.
I think their drummer looks just like Zach Galifianakis (far right)
maybe it's just his facial hair and the color...
Such a simple soul, he makes me smile.
I shall do my best to be enthusiastic since we didn't
get back from College Station until after midnight last night.
It was a very productive weekend of painting
a rent house for Charlie's parents.
I am feeling very confident and geared up to
start painting our townhouse!
Have a fun night!
{via, via}

Young Me, Now Me

Hope you are having a super sweet start to your week!
Charlie says this is one of his favorite baby pictures of me...
....so much so that he had me try and reenact this moment
from 24 years ago at our favorite generic restaurant, Casa Ole!
I think it's funny that his nickname for me is "Ducky"
and there are little ducks on my little girl swimsuit.

Friday, August 13, 2010

Is it a bad thing...

that I'm jealous for this little girl's purse?
but seriously she is the cutest!
{via}

Victorian Refuge Enchantment

I am completely head-over-heels for little Victorian cottage in the Catskills.
Never mind that my tall husband would have to be
folded in fourths to fit inside...
this former old hunting cabin, has been transformed into a shabby chic cottage
full of charm but lacking a lavitory.
The owners, Sandra and Todd Foster, live in a 1971 trailer across a nearby stream.
In my humble opinion it looks like fairies
could happily inhabit the sweet little abode!
Ms. Foster renovated the 9 by 14 foot cottage on a $3,000 budget
all by herself decorating with pieces from
flea markets and salvage shops.
I can just picture myself
curled up with a lovely book and napping in the
little upper room.
Ms. Foster appropriately calls the place her “refuge.”
{via}

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Feelin' Thrifty

All the blogging about good deals
made me think about my other household
treasures I have found/bough/bartered for along the way.
These two beautes were found on Antelope Lane
when I lived in good 'ol C.Stat.
The 5 drawer tower was a pretty exciting "street find".
The bamboo covers over the drawers
match our laundry basket from the Bamboo Company
from Charlie's mom.
Charlie helped me haul Goldie
in from off the street curb
one night.
This funky girl is a little worn on the arm rests
but I love her punchy color and surprising comfort.
This is my favorite spot in our tiny closet kitchen.
I bought the painting above the stove in Jefferson, Texas
with one of my best friends Kati...she's good luck you know!
I fell in love with the bold frame and the whimsical brush strokes
Then the little marble butter/cheese cover on the stove
was another Blue Bird find.
And finally the sunny daisy tray behind our yellow Fiesta Ware canisters
is from the Charity Guild. 
The date on the back of the tray says 1969...bonafide vintage!
Now, the Flying Dali wasn't exactly a steal but we were meant for each other.
On a Charity Guild run I saw her and immediately thought
of one of my favorite movies Up Town Girls
with Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning.
Brittany's character has a little Dali in her beautiful New York Apartment.
They are suppose to keep your home safe and ward off demons.
But since I do not believe in 'luck charms" etc. she's just a funny little reminder
of a favorite movie and a wonderful actress.
We inherited this silver tray with our townhouse.
Actually it was just left in the attic and I dusted it off.
Charlie and I like to write sweet sayings to each other :-D
Finally, the $10 stain glass lamp was a super exciting find.
 I just love filling my home with meaningful and unique items. 
They may not all be functional but they sure make me smile.
And who doesn't love a good rummage through other people's street trash...
Our guest bedroom is almost ready for it's big reveal!
I am so happy that I no longer dread going into our second bedroom.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Tuesday Surprises

The hubs and I decided to try out a Belgium restaurant downtown.
The art was inspiring and I can wait to pull out
my canvases and try to paint this meadow.
This sweet little country cottage was one of my favorites
and I love how the colors of the house reflects in the lake...
there's something very impressionistic about the pictures.
I could almost see myself picking flurs in the field and then walking
back to my cottage by the lake to read by the window...
Next Charlie took me to a beautiful building downtown
but he was very taken with this Nitrogen cooling thingy.
If you look on the top left you can see a little snow cone
of ice/vapor coming out of the container.
In our wanderings downtown we came across the famous
(at least in Houston terms)
Angelika theater.  They play lots of foreign and Independent movies
here and we had never been before.
When I heard they were showing "The Girl Who Played with Fire"
I knew we had to make this a movie night.
Surprisingly, Charlie enjoyed the movie despite not having
seen or read the first move/book.
I loved the vintage movie posters on display
and the crystal chandelier wasn't too shabby either!
It's great when life throws in the unexpected excursion
on  what would be a regularly ordinary evening.

I dream of Steph

Surprise friend visits are the best!
Steph came over for breakfast Sunday morning!
I whipped up some pancakes and french toast
with mimosas to wash it down.
It was a short and sweet visit so we popped a squat
for a picture...
Charlie pointed out we looked goofy and "one legged"
in our picture pose...
so here we are confirming our "double leggedness".
YAY for childhood friends...
who were once cheerleaders together
who were once roommates
who are now A&M graduates
who are now little wifes to great guys
who are still best friends since 3rd grade!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Fun Blue Bird and Goodwill Finds

I had such a blast with my family and friends
at Blue Bird Circle and Goodwill last weekend!
Just disclaimer if you are ever in Houston on a Saturday morning
and you don't to be haul you off to a thrift store
come and see me after 3 (they are usually closed by then).
Check out my fun treasures...
Aaawwww, yeah for a vintage yeller purse
and I have been on the hunt for a smallish white leather purse too!
Score!
And I am saving the very best for last.
You may notice the flippin' Anthropology price tag
is still on the grey and white skirt.

I got this baby for just 30 bones (down from $148.00) and have already
worn it 5 times since it became mine.
Charlie pointed out how different our philosophies are
on wearing our favorite ensembles.
Charlie takes the "save it for the perfect moment" approach
as opposed to my
"wear that sucker out" or "wear it until people think it's your self proclaimed uniform".
The only time I have ever applied Charlie's motto to my life was on our wedding day for my dress.
And even then I would wear my wedding gown around our duplex in college
when my roommates were out of town...I'm a little wacko I know.

Friday, August 6, 2010

Garden of Love

After making sure Ms. Barbara was all set to go
Charlie and I zoomed off to his wonderful colleague's wedding.
Right before we drove in to their venue I had to pause and give this
regal statue due diligence
Perhaps I could bring Mr. Tobias Funke here for his birthday?
I loved the twinkly lights all over the room and the
stain glass window hangs made for a lovely background.
The radiant bride...swoon!
Her veil/head piece was so classic and reminded me of the glamorous
brides from the 40's and 50's.
Scrumptious cakes!
Katie's dress was beautiful and her new hubby was so proud of his bride!
Be still my heart....they are so sweet!
This picture reminds me of a new quote I found
"One of the best things about marriage is that it gets young people to bed at a decent hour."
~M.M. Musselman
I couldn't help snagging a photo opt with the beautiful bride!
Charlie and I snapped a snuggle moment with all
the love in the air.

Mail Box go BOOM!

This was the sight that greeted me when I drove into my
garage this afternoon after work.
My sweet German neighbor Ms. Barbara said her foot
slipped off the brake as she was driving to get her mail today.
When I ran over to see if she was alright
she kept asking me if anything like this had ever happened to me before.
I told her I had been in accidents before and it's a good thing she has insurance.
It's kind of funny but with the same token it's a blessing
no one was getting their mail right at that moment.
This was the opposite side of the little mail box house
where our mail slot is located.
...and this is the demolition side.
Thankfully the only thing worse for the wear
was the mail box hut.

Schmucky Dinner

Last night Charlie took me out for a lovely dinner
to Outback just to celebrate a good day.
My traditional meal at that particular restaurant
is the lobster tail and sweet potato fries.
M-M-M-M-Good!

Then we headed to The Fountains' Lowes theater
to see Dinner For Schmucks.  We had been holding out
to see the movie since it hasn't gotten the best reviews.
But we were pleasantly surprised!
Of course it was SUPER silly at points
but so are we!
I straight up laughed out loud and clapped my hands multiple times.
I'm a very interactive movie goer.
The main character, Paul Rudd, is invited to a dinner with his executive colleagues where
the goal is to bring the most entertaining i.e. idiotic guest with you to dinner. 
Steve Carell is Paul Rudd's guest and plays his character
in a charming and painful way.
I picked up some Dumb and Dumber vibes...
{via}
The movie is a spin off of the French film
The Dinner Game (1998) and it sounds similar
"There is a game coupled with the meal: each one of them has to bring an 'idiot'.
The game consists in making the idiots talk about their
ideas and passions so the hosts can have a good laugh.
At the end they will choose the 'idiot of the evening'.
The idiot tries to help the main character, Pierre, all the time,
and naturally does everything wrong and aggravates every situation."

Pretty Hilarious!
And Jermaine from Flight of the Concords also has
a sweet little role too!
So if you're a silly gal or gent and enjoy watching
silly, not dirty, films, I would recommend this movie to you.

Sweet sweetness

mmmmmm......
Woo to the Hoo for FRIDAY!
{via}

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Quote of the Day

I loved fencing and dancing
and elocution.”
~ Vivien Leigh
I have to admit I needed to google 'elocution'.
If you already knew what that word meant then you
are too smart to be reading this blog
and for everyone else who needs to learn something new today...
- Elocution -
1 : a style of speaking especially in public
2 : the art of effective public speaking
{via}
{picture via}

Goodness, I love the water

For sure the number one thing I love about summer is spending a whole day by the pool.
Charlie can't understand how I like to spend hours outside but I just love it! 
I love swimming.
I love tanning.
I love Italian Icees.
And now I love this poem my wonderful mother
left as a comment on an earlier post...

Maggie and Milly and Molly and May
maggie and millie and molly and may
went down to the beach
(to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,
and milly discovered a stranded star whose rays five languid fingers were;
and molly was chased by a horrible thing which raced sideways while blowing bubbles;
and may came home with a smooth round stone as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose
(like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find at the sea
--e.e. cummings
loverly, just loverly
image via weheartit