Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Thanksgiving

What am I thankful for... I am incredibly thankful for my family and I am thankful for Mustang Man's family. They had me over for my first Thanksgiving without my blood relatives. I did have my niece for 5 days though, but she couldn't come with us for dinner, so she cuddled up in the blankets and slept while we were away.


When Mustang Man and I arrived at his Aunt's his Ma and Jeffrey were dancing the cooking dance in the kitchen, sampling the dishes, deciding what they  might need more of. 

Everyone else was playing Trivial Pursuit, being protected by Oliver.


 And Mustang Man's Ma brought the center piece straight from her garden. I had no idea she had so many different flowers, and the arrangement was fantastic! Helen made the escort cards on the fly and they looked great!





We all wrote down what we were thankful for... and a few were very moving for much deeper reasons.

Then Helen and I sat and drew Alexander McQueen's shoes... and polished off the bottles of wine...


 It was a wonderful Thanksgiving... amazing family and friends.


Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Festive Styrofoam

Being the day before Thanksgiving, I needed a little push on a budget (we are all saving for Christmas shopping right?). I stopped at the Dunkin' Donuts on my commute to work. The sun rise was BEAUTIFUL and matched Dunkin's colors wonderfully. I thought about telling the Drive Thru operator, but then decided maybe he wouldn't appreciate it. If only I had an iPhone to take a photo I thought to myself. *hint hint Mustang Man* Anywho, I merrily received my Medium Coffee with cream and sugar and continued on my trek. And as I was singing "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" I realized my DD cup had snow flakes on it and a little message to me!
Please notice the creative placement of the Double D.

Happy Holidays to all!!!

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

It's a Vintage

I was lolly gaggin around at Antique shops over the weekend and I just so happened to look at a wall, where there just so happened to be a vintage wedding dress hanging on it, that just so happened to fit me, and I just so happen to be getting married! Well, it isn't the dress for me to wear on THE day, but it is a dress to wear for the event. I thought of a few uses for it. Dye it and wear it for the rehearsal, or have an outfit change at the wedding and wear it for dancing. Who knows what will come of it, but I had fun playing dress up... or just wearing it post-work and putting pearls on anyhow. *photos courtesy of the Mustang Man



The bolero fits, but it is really snug... too snug. 

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Best Day Ever

Friday I was so busy at my place of employment that I was unable to take a lunch. However, bitter-sweetly there was cake for an employee's farewell that helped to fill my gurgling empty stomach. Little did I know, the sugar high was going to be very beneficial for my LONG commute home and what happened as soon as I arrived home. Now, on my stop and go drive, I was surfing the radio stations because my Zee Avi CD was skipping and low and behold, 99.9 had begun their Christmas music marathon. Now, there are many reasons I love Christmas music. 1. Because I know every word to every song. 2. Because it fills my soul with a happiness that only comes for a little while each year, 3. It makes me believe I have an amazing voice because I can hit every note that Josh Groban hits... and the list could go on. I was sang at the top of my lungs and agreed that, yes, it is indeed the most wonderful time of year. I was so looking to arrive home to tell my future mother-in-law and her good friend Jeffery (visiting from their homes for the night) the good news about Christmas music on the radio 24/7! "Good news everyone!" I came in the front door shouting! *WOW* *BAM* *ZAP* *BOOM!* I was stopped in my tracks with a beautiful arrangement of suitcases in my dining area.
I am sure the neighbors were slightly alarmed by the high pitched shouts and slapping sounds from the MANY high fives that were given in the 30+ minutes after I arrived home. These suit cases (found at a yard sale 2 doors down, not to be confused with the band with a similar title.) changed the entire feeling of the room and in turn gave more inspirations than 2 ladies and a Jeffery know what to do with.
This was just the beginning.. Jeffery (an interior designer by trade) set up all the dishes in the hutch for me and they looked amazing. Me, Lynda (My FMIL) and Jeffery decided the room was off balance. As you may remember, large empty walls. Lynda and Jeffery begged and pleaded with me to put the big Mexican Armoire into the room too. I dug my heels in and said there will be no TV in this room, it just isn't going to happen. Well, Lynda, being the brilliant and talented wino that she is created a new purpose for the Armoire, in fact, I think she FOUND its purpose. It was never MEANT to be a TV holding piece of furniture. It was destined to be so much more... A BAR!
Now, this has created MANY projects for the future. The photo above is a rough mock up just to get the ideas flowing, and to house the wine that we were drinking for the night. And it looks so much better at night. Lamp lighting really makes it. And that empty corner, it will not remain that way... the Mustang Man and I are waiting on some wing back chairs from Lynda to place perfectly on either side of the window. It will now be a parlor. (If you have a less old fashioned title please leave a comment, for Lynda thinks parlor is too old a term for our hip house.)
The Bar Project- To be continued with amazing miniature projects to make one BIG beautiful piece. 

*Disclaimer- Lynda is no more of a wino than I am, and so I do not believe I am insulting her, just mentioning one of the many awesome things we have in common.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Empty Walls

Empty walls have always been hard to come by for me. My mom is married to artist John McClusky and the result of that is being rich in art. The problem now is, I have so much more wall space than I ever have before, I am consumed with the pressure of painting location. The paintings that once seemed huge in my apartments, and previously, Mustang Man's town house, now seem quite small. Even my hutch seems to have shrunk in size.
This space in particular has me stumped. It is really big. What does one put in this space. My darling sister suggested a year-round nativity scene... I think she was kidding, but not a good idea to plant in my head.

Pumpkins from Pier 1 a few years ago... Wishing I would have purchased more to have a little pumpkin patch.


My lady guardians.

She means business. Also, the cross is trying to find its home on the empty walls. We have a cross collection that feels much smaller than it once did. Still trying to figure out which room they belong in.

One of my empty walls, mocking me.

Quite pleased with the out come of the bookshelf.

*PUNCH IN THE FACE* Empty walls.

Painting to be hung... but where?

My shrunken hutch...

A Birthday Gift from my darling sister.

Mustang Man's great grandmother's dishes...

I just love the details.

My cat clock...

Our key rack I painted...

Guest Bathroom

My necklace holder...

A girl can never have too many accessories.

My jeans... don't they look AWESOME? I love my walk-in closet.

My bad habit.


Thursday, November 11, 2010

Found her place

Miss Janskey found her common place in the new house... she has always loved sleeping in sinks... among other things...
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Friday, November 5, 2010

Home is where the heart is... and I own both...

So, I am a homeowner officially!! The house closed and the keys are mine!!! We have a delicious blue pool with a little patch of grass, and a fire place to hang the stockings on!!!


2011 is shaping up to be an AMAZING year! I only have 15,000 projects I want to do to make the house scream awesome!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

i heart my family

Some days just make you happy to be at home with your fiance and cat. Today is that day.




In the immortal words of Nora Jones "It's just the nearness of you."