Bombay Again

I'm looking for a hall table for my tiny foyer. Which do you like more?

Why I Should Go To Church... More

The Priest who married us has a blog. If anyone would have ever told me 5 yrs ago that a priest would have a blog, or that I would occasionally read it I would have laughed and laughed.

But here it is. This one post made me really think, of so many people. Father V. has a gift of writing as well as being an excellent priest. He is my favorite priest by far.



Another great post here.

Compare & Contrast

Bombay Harvest Wreath VS Bombay Outlet Autumn Wreath











Top: $69.00
Dimensions: 24.00"dia

Bottom: $24.95
Dimensions: 24.00"dia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bombay Burgundy Paisley Euro Pillow VS Bombay OutletParisian Euro Pillow











Top: $39.00Material: Polyester
Accents: Piping
Dimensions: 26.00"w x 26.00"h
Fill Materials: Poly Filled
Care: Machine Washable

Bottom: $29.95
Material: Poly/Viscose Blend
Finish: Hand finished
Dimensions: 26.00"w x 26.00"h
Accents: Embroidery
Fill Material: Poly Filled
Care: Dry Clean Only
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Compare & Contrast

Bombay Ascott Side TableVS
Bombay Outlet Hampton Side Table











Top: $99.99
Dimensions: 16.00"l x 20.34"w x 28.50"h,
Finish: Vintage Mahogany

Bottom: $99.95
Dimensions: 16.00"l x 20.75"w x 28.75"h
Finish: Mahogany
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bombay Vintage Side Table VS Bombay Outlet Sydney Side Table











Top: Sale $149.99
Dimensions: 16.00"l x 22.00"w x 30.00"h
Finish: Vintage Mahogany

Bottom: $129.95
Dimensions: 14.50"l x 24.00"w x 29.00"h
Finish: Plantation Mahogany
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bombay Montague Mirror VS Bombay Outlet Cora Panel Mirror












Top: $99.00
Frame Finish: Gold
Dimensions: 9.00"w x 46.00"h

Bottom: $49.95
Frame Finish: Antique Gold
Dimensions: 9.00"w x 57.00"h

Pregos?

I saw this blog and this card.

Ahhh, A Girl Can Dream

In a perfect world, our homes would be filled with fresh flowers and gourmet dinners would be served by candlelight every night of the week.

The Secrets of Stagers

13 Ways to Make Your Home Look Like a Million Bucks By Leah Hennen, special to HGTV.com

Ever walk into a Sunday open house or a model home and notice how...well, inhumanly perfect it looks? If so, chances are the property is "staged"–in real estate parlance, dressed with paint, furniture arrangements, art and accessories that are all carefully designed to highlight the home’s strengths, downplay its weaknesses, and appeal to the greatest possible pool of prospective buyers. Whether you’re designing to sell or designing to dwell, here’s how the home-staging pros get that "I have to have it!" look–and how their tips and tricks can make your own humble abode look like a million bucks.

1. Make an Entrance~
You know the saying: You never have a second chance to make a first impression. "The outside of your home is the first thing guests see," points out Christopher Breining, owner of HomeStagers, Inc., (www.HomeStagersInc.com) in San Francisco. And like it or not, it speaks volumes about what’s inside–and about its owner. A quart of glossy paint in a bold, cheerful color for the front door, new hardware (or a little elbow grease applied to clean and polish the existing knocker, lockset, porch light, house numbers, and mailbox), a fresh coir or seagrass mat, and a trio of seasonal potted plants on the landing will dramatically brighten and refresh your home’s entry and make visitors feel welcome, Breining says. Bonus: This small investment pays personal dividends, too, giving you an emotional boost and a dose of house-pride with each homecoming.
A welcoming entry, such as this one designed by Pamela Berstler, helps to set the tone for the rest of the house.

2. Conquer Clutter~
Admit it: You have too much stuff. "The most important thing most people can do to improve their home is to clear out, clean up, and get rid of clutter," says Lisa LaPorta, cast designer on HGTV’s hit Designed to Sell and owner of Lisa LaPorta Design in Los Angeles. Be ruthless as you go about purging your belongings. If you haven’t used it in three months, stagers say, box it up and store it away; if you haven’t used it in a year, get rid of it. And make a house rule that for every new item that comes in, an old one has to leave. Any mixed feelings you have about tossing life’s accumulated detritus will quickly be replaced with a sense of relief and appreciation of your Zen-like new surroundings.
Sound daunting? Take it one room at a time. If your bookshelves are bursting at the seams, for instance, "clear them off and start over," suggests Michelle Yackel, owner of Divine Redesigns in Atlanta. "It’s okay to have empty space around your books and knickknacks." Inexpensive baskets make great hiding places for unsightly paperbacks, and add texture and visual interest. Books stacked vertically serve as pedestals to show off prized pottery or other objects d’art. You can even remove the dust covers from hardbacks and group them by color, turning a busy jumble into a decorative addition to the room.

If you simply can’t part with your collection of Architectural Digest or your kids won’t let you anywhere near their 300 carefully assembled Lego creations, it’s time to get creative about storage and organization. Retailers like the Container Store and Target sell handy rolling bins designed to slip under a bed and house everything from household supplies to kids’ toys. And if you can’t get rid of it and can’t hide it, flaunt it with style: "Places like IKEA sell colorful and inexpensive fabric, cardboard, or melamine magazine holders. Lined up on a shelf, they look a lot cleaner than stacks of magazines everywhere and add a unified visual element to the room," says Michael Friedes, owner of Nest Home Design in Oakland, California.

3. Make "Less is More" Your Mantra~
Don’t forget, too, that a cluttered look can also come from too much furniture. "People tend to line their walls with furniture–one piece after another," laments Christopher Breining. When professional fluffers descend on a home being prepped for market, they often whisk away as much as half of the owner’s furnishings–and the house looks miles better (not to mention bigger) for it. You don’t have to whittle that drastically, but take a hard look at what you have and ask yourself what you can live without. "You really only need two pieces of furniture per wall: A bed and a nightstand, say, or a dresser and a chair," Breining advises. Another rule of thumb: If you don’t use it regularly, lose it. While you’re doing this sometimes-painful pruning, remind yourself that every square foot you free up is prime real estate.

4. Float Furniture~ If your couches are clinging to your walls, you’re not alone–it’s a typical decorating mistake, stagers say. "There’s a common belief that rooms will feel larger and be easier to use if all the furniture is pushed up against the walls, but it’s simply not true," says Lisa LaPorta. Instead, furnish your space: Float furniture away from walls, reposition it into cozy conversational groups, and place pieces so that the traffic flow in the room is obvious–in most cases, this means keeping the perimeters clear. "When you place furniture in a room, envision a figure-eight or the letter H in the middle, with clear pathways around it," LaPorta suggests. Not only will this make the space more user-friendly, it will open up the room and make it seem larger.

If you’re nervous about doing something that can seem a bit radical, "Try an area rug on an angle first, then move the couch and see how it looks. But just try it," Christopher Breining implores. If the new arrangement doesn’t strike your fancy, you can always put things back the way they were. But chances are, you won’t want to

5. Mix It Up~
You’d never consider donning the same clothes for days on end, would you? So why force your home to endure the same tired decor year after year? "We get used to our surroundings, but they can become stale and stagnant. If a chair has been in the same spot for five years, move it!" admonishes Barb Schwarz, owner of StagedHomes in Seattle, Washington, and Concord, California, and coauthor of Home Staging: The Winning Way to Sell Your House for More Money (John Wiley & Sons). Think of your digs as a nesting superstore, with the added bonus that everything in it is free. Give yourself permission to move furniture, artwork and accessories between rooms on a whim. Just because you bought that armchair for the living room, for instance, doesn’t mean it won’t look great anchoring a sitting area in your bedroom. Or try perching that little-used dining room table in front of a pretty window, top it with buffet lamps and other accessories, and press it into service as a beautiful writing desk or library table. And as for that now-empty dining room? Flank an ottoman or cocktail table with a loveseat and comfy chairs for an instant conversation nook. "When you move things to new spots, you appreciate them again–and give your house a whole new look for nothing," Schwarz says.

6. Rediscover "Lost" Spaces~
"A big part of what stagers do is create fantasy spaces: An exercise room, a meditation space, an art studio, a family game room," says Linda Russell, owner of HouseDressing in Montclair, New Jersey. "We take that unused space on the third floor or in the basement and turn it into something you’ve always dreamed about having." So if you have a room that currently serves only to gather junk, repurpose it into something that will add to the value–and your enjoyment–of your home. Move those boxes to a rented storage space (or better yet, have a yard sale or donate their contents to charity) and get to work creating the space you yearn for. The simple addition of a comfortable armchair, a small table, and a lamp in a stairwell nook will transform it into a cozy reading spot, Russell suggests. Or drape fabric on the walls of your basement, lay inexpensive rubber padding or a carpet remnant on the floor, and toss in a few cushy pillows. Voila! Your new meditation room or yoga studio.

7. Let the Sun Shine In~
"We almost always take off old, heavy drapery and put something light, airy, and gauzy in its place," says Russell. This ushers in natural light and makes a previously closed-in space seem larger. Simple sheers on a tension rod are great for screening an unattractive view and providing a bit of privacy but still letting in lots of light and visually enlarging a room. If you have lovely vistas from a set of windows, try doing away with treatments altogether. If privacy is paramount, top-down, bottom-up Roman shades will block the neighbors’ view of your bathtub but still let you gaze at the sky while you soak. Lisa LaPorta favors bamboo or parchment shades and simple curtain panels made from fine cotton twill or translucent linen – all of which let light stream in during the day, provide privacy at night, and add touchable texture to a room. Or consider investing in Christopher Breining’s favorite window treatments: Sheer fabric shades with built-in blinds (Hunter Douglas offers several options). "They look great and offer so much versatility," he says.

Other window-treatment tips: If windows are narrow, extend curtain rods a foot or so on each side to suggest width. If your ceilings are low, hang rods right at the ceiling line and consider window treatments with vertical stripes to create the illusion of height.

8. Light the Way~
One of the things that make staged homes look so warm and welcoming is great lighting design. As it turns out, many of our own homes are improperly lit–either we have too few fixtures, or our lighting is too dim or too harsh (or all of the above). To remedy the problem and make your home more inviting, increase the wattage in your lamps and fixtures (aim for a total of 100 watts for every 50 square feet). Then install dimmers so you can vary light levels according to your mood and the time of day. This is a relatively simple project for a do-it-yourselfer, or you can hire an electrician for a couple of hours to do several at once. (And while you’re at it, be sure to replace those dingy, almond-colored light-switch covers with crisp white ones. New covers cost less than a buck apiece and are a quick, easy update.)

Don’t depend on just one or two fixtures per room, either. It’s just as important to layer lighting as it is to have sufficient wattage, Breining points out. So go for ambient (general or overhead), task (pendant, undercabinet, or reading), and accent (table and wall) lighting. "A combination of overhead, floor, table, and accent lighting creates great ambience," the San Francisco stager says. "Having lights on different planes provides good illumination and makes the room interesting." One thing that’s always in Breining’s bag of tricks: uplights. "You can buy one for as little as $5 at home-improvement stores and hide it behind a potted plant–it creates incredible drama." Another hint: Place mirrors, silver or glass bowls, or other reflective objects near lamps to bounce light around the room and make it glow even more.

9. Make a Splash with Color~
"Painting is the cheapest, easiest way to give your home a new look," says Designed to Sell’s Lisa LaPorta. Even if you were weaned on off-white walls, take a chance and test out a quart of paint in a warm, neutral hue (you can always paint over it if you don’t like the effect). These days, the definition of "neutral" extends way beyond beige– from warm tans and honeys to soft blue-greens.

Even deeper shades–long verboten for interiors–are enjoying a renaissance. "Don’t shy away from dark colors in a powder room, dining room, or bedroom," says Oakland stager Michael Friedes. "A deep tone on the walls can make the space more intimate, dramatic, and cozy–and surprisingly, it can even make a small room seem bigger because there’s no delineation of the corners."

How to start? With a pillow, textile, or piece of art you love, LaPorta suggests. "The background color is often great for walls, and you can pull out the other colors for accents around the room." You could also try painting an accent wall to draw attention to a dramatic fireplace or a lovely set of windows. Either paint the wall a contrasting–but still complementary–color (such as a rich red flanked by taupe walls) or a more intense version of the paint used in the rest of the room (say, a deep butterscotch that will play off the soft camel walls surrounding it). If you have built-in bookcases or niches, experiment with painting the insides a color that will make them pop–a soft sage green to set off the white pottery displayed within, perhaps.

If you’re too timid to whip out the paintbrushes, add punch with richly colored accessories, pillows, and throws, LaPorta says. Bonus: When seasons change or you’re ready for something new, these couldn’t be simpler to switch out.

10. Paint It Black~
Using white-painted furniture is a tried-and-true tactic for freshening a room, but don’t forget its opposite: A coat of satiny black paint can revive tired furnishings and lend a chic, dramatic flair to just about any space. "Painting an old piece black immediately updates it," says Michael Friedes. "We use black in staging all the time. It’s a great punctuation–it has a graphic quality, provides contrast, and makes a real impact." And not only does black work with every other hue, it makes the colors surrounding it pop and melds with most any décor, from vintage to ethnic to modern. They key, as always, is moderation: Use black as an accent in picture frames, lampshades, accessories, and small pieces of furniture. "The big black leather couch of the ’80s is black gone awry," Friedes warns.

11. Make Your Art Sing~
If your home is like most, art is hung in a high line encircling each room. Big mistake: Placing your pictures, paintings, and prints in such stereotypical spots can render them almost invisible. "Art displayed creatively makes the art stand out more and shows off your space," Friedes says.

So break up that line and vary the patterning and grouping by hanging a row of art diagonally–with each piece staggered a bit higher or lower than the next (great for directing the eye toward an architectural feature like a window or arched doorway), triangularly–with one picture above, one below, and one beside (a nice accent for a table-and-chair vignette), or in a vertical line (perfect for accentuating a high ceiling). "Hang pictures on different planes so that your eye goes up and down as it travels around the room–it creates interest on your walls," says Friedes. Try hanging things a bit lower than you’re used to, as well, so that wall art relates to furniture groupings rather than floating (and getting lost) in its own space.

12. Accessorize with Flair~
Now that you have your furniture placed, your rooms dappled with color, and your art hung, it’s time to layer in accessories for the finishing touch. When it comes to eye-pleasing accessorizing, three is the magic number–though one and five work well, too. And rather than setting your trio of accessories out in a row, imagine a triangle and place one object at each point. Scale is important, too, so in your group of three, be sure to vary items by height and width, with the largest at the back and the smallest in front. "On a side table, for instance, you might have a lamp, a plant or flower arrangement, and a book or a small box," Barb Schwarz explains. For impact, group accessories by color, shape, texture, or some other unifying element, stagers suggest. Another hint, courtesy of Monclair stager Linda Russell: The eye naturally "reads" the room from left to right, so putting a striking object in the far right corner will automatically draw your gaze there and make the room seem bigger.

13. Bring the Outdoors In~
Staged homes are almost always graced with bountiful fresh flowers and pricey orchid arrangements, but you can get a similar effect simply by raiding your yard. "Take clippings of branches or twigs and put them in a large vase in the corner of a room to add height– it’sa great structural piece that doesn’t cost anything," says Michelle Yackel, the Atlanta stager. It’s also an easy way to incorporate seasonal greenery. Budding magnolia clippings or unfurling fern fronds herald the arrival of spring, summer blooms add splashes of cheerful color, blazing fall foliage warms up your decor on chilly autumn days, holly branches heavy with berries look smashing in winter, and airy feather-grass plumes add elegance and texture any time of year.

Above all, "Get creative! Don’t be scared to try something different," Yackel says. Indeed, just about every stager has tales of home sellers who, upon seeing their once-tired abodes transformed, were so blown away by the results that they decided to stay put. Who knows–you, too, may just find that you love your "new" home so much you’ll never want to give it up.

15 Things To Know About Me and Why I Am Crazy

15. I don't believe anyone can do anything for you better than u can do for yourself in these areas, mani-pedi, hair styling, make-up, cooking spaghetti, painting your house, decorating your house, and psycho-therapy.

14. I am an Italian-American. My paternal grandparents immigrated to the US from Sicily as did and my maternal great grand parents.

13. Some of my favorite books are: The Godfather, Gone With The Wind, The Fortunate Pilgrim, The Villa, Pride and Prejudice and anything by Julia Quinn.

12. Some of my favorite movies are: Frosty the Snowman, The Peanuts Christmas Special, Dirty Dancing, the Godfather, Legally Blond, Along Came Polly and Office Space.

11. I love turtles. I love turtles because they are underestimated, under appreciated and they don't give a shit about that. I have a turtle named Grazia.

10. I am short and petite. I weigh about 105 and I'm only like 5'1. Steve on the other hand is the perfect height at 5'11 and built perfectly so that he will never look "fat".

9. My Grandmother is my absolute favorite person alive. She is so kind and generous and sweet. She is something to aspire to.

8. I am most afraid of losing my security. I don't really know how to explain that.

7. I have never really finished anything I have ever started.

6. When I was 17 I thought I knew everything there was to know because I worked at Fashion Bug, watched TV, hung out with my friends, had a boyfriend and a car. Now I look back and laugh at that girl.

5. I went to Ursuline College and majored in Public Relations, with a Minor in Italian Language and Culture.

4. I went back to Ursuline College and earned a Master of Management Degree.

3. I don't have many close friends.

2. I married the only man alive that can drive me crazy, make me laugh, make me cry, make me smile, make me feel good about myself, or make me miserable. I can honestly say that my relationship with Steve is one of the things I am most proud of.

1. Steve and I have the most wonderful puppy. Looking back in my life it is my dogs that I feel the most connected to. I have been blessed with wonderful animals.

My Husband Won't Drink My Coffee

I made some for him. I asked him, as he lays in bed, but he said no. It's kinda sad for me. Maybe I'll take mine outside on the front porch...

Frenemy

Steve asks me all the time why I still talk to HER. All of these thoughts have run though my head but I didn't know how to articulate them to him. So this is why SHE is still my friend, or at least until our argument, she was.

Frenemy-So why do women put up with fair-weather friends? The reason is simple: If a woman has invested a lot in the relationship, she is likely to work to salvage the relationship, despite the rocky moments, says Jan Yager, a relationship coach in Stamford, Connecticut

Ask yourself this question right after you have spent some time with someone:"Do I feel better or worse than I did before?"
The reasons can be varied but probably some if not all of the following emotions are coming into play. Once you’re aware of why you might be hanging on to destructive relationships, it can be easier to finally let them go.
1. You Want to Help
It's human nature to want to help people whenever you can. There's a fine line between helping and being a co-dependent for someone. For example, if you have a friend who just calls to tell you how bad her life is and never wants to hear how things are going in your life, this is most likely a draining and unhealthy friendship for you. You may also start to resent that they never have time to listen to you. And even though you want to help, you’re not because you’re only giving them attention for their negative attitude. If you are able to provide them with constructive steps which they listen to and do attempt to change their situation, then you should feel better after talking to them. You have helped them. If you’re just listening mindlessly to the same thing over and over, you’re not helping and you’re bringing your own mental attitude down. Be aware of whether you're helping or enabling someone.

2. You Want To Feel Needed
Everyone wants to feel like they provide value to the world. If we are there for our friends, it makes us feel like we’re valuable. After all, they need us, right? But as in the above post, we may not be doing a lot of good. And if that feeling of being needed is dragging down our positive mindset, then it’s a problem.
It was a hard lesson to realize I’d been used by someone who I thought was my friend. There's a fine line between being helpful and being used. And, when the situation is that you've been taken advantage of, it's far more damaging to your self confidence than any feelings of being helpful you could have had.
That's why it's important to pull the plug on any unhealthy friendships where you are just being used for what you can provide whether that's material objects, your time, or even just a listening ear. You deserve a relationship in which both give and take occur. If that's not happening then it may be time to move on.

3. You’re Afraid You Won’t Have Other Friends And You’ll Be Alone
It is better to be alone than to spend time with someone who is destructive to your self esteem. Unhealthy friendships can do enormous damage to your confidence levels without you even realizing it. Don't worry though. Once you dump the negative friends, you'll find your own attitude changes to be more positive and you won't be alone for long because you'll now be attracting upbeat people into your life. Once you attract those people who are sincere in their desire to bring out the best in you, you'll keep attracting even more friends. True friends who will be there for you, no matter what.

4. Regret
You worry that you might regret your decision to move on. Once you dump unhealthy friendships, you can't get them back, right? Maybe things will change and you'd regret dumping that friend. You just don't know. All you know is, you don't want to do something that you might regret later. Ever have these thoughts? Being protective of your own mental attitude and even your time, is not something to have regrets over. If you think about it, you'll probably regret that you didn't get rid of the unhealthy friendships sooner. By losing the negative, you then open yourself up to allow the positive to enter your life.

5. Desire To Be Liked
Did you know it's a fact that cults who want to recruit members play on this desire? They know it's human nature that you want people to like you so you’ll do whatever it takes to get someone to like you. Even if that means sacrificing your own self esteem. It's just not worth being liked by someone who isn't bringing out the best in you. The most important person for you to like is yourself and if you're hanging around people who don't want the best for you, you're not going to be liking yourself very much. Unhealthy friendships are definitely not going to make you happy which is what ultimately will attract others to you.

6. It’s Hard To Break Up With Friends
It’s hard to break up with friends even when they're unhealthy friendships. What do you do, have the “it’s not you, it’s me" talk? Seriously, it’s not always easy. They call, you talk them, they invite you somewhere, you feel it’s rude to say, “No”, so the cycle continues. You know they're unhealthy friendships but you just don't know how to end it.
First thing is to be strong and to believe in yourself that you deserve the best in relationships. Then, just start saying "No" when they call. It may be tempting to just not call them back when they call but you wouldn't want to be treated that way, so don't do it to someone else. The best policy would be to be completely honest with them and tell them how you're feeling. It may not be easy to be so honest but it's the best way.

7. You Feel You Have To Out Of Loyalty
You’ve been friends since high school. How could you break up with someone you've been friends with so long? Or they're your brother's friend so you feel obligated. People change a lot over the years and start going in their own direction. If you decide to change to become more positive and confident and your friends are stuck in old thought patterns, you're keeping yourself locked into a way of life you no longer want. You need to ask yourself, why do you keep the friends that are no longer helping you to achieve your goals? To be the best you can be, you need to move on from the unhealthy friendships.

www.life-with-confidence.com

Today

I'm Tired.

Illustrations

I have found some adorable illustrations that I will be using in my blog, in case you haven't seen them yet.

I Hear It Calling Me

Can You?
It calls my name, my fingers start twitching, my nose runs, butterlies start fluttering in my stomach, my feet begin to tap. I think of ways, I think of days, excuses, ideas, maybe even a few lies... I hear it calling me. Can you?

it's...the...mall...

Hello!
Damn I need clothes!

God's Angels

Dear Dear Little One.

My cousin gave birth to a beautiful baby 3 weeks ago. Not only is my cousin a full time hair stylist, a wife and mother of 2 other children she was also a bridesmaid in my wedding. She found out during her pregnancy that her child would be born with Trisomy 18. Babies with this don't live long and 50% die inutero. My cousin chose to carry her baby to term and take what God has in store. She never complained, never was angry, and still at 8 months pregnant was a bridesmaid in my wedding. She has always been so strong, but her strength has doubled and she is truly a wonderful mother. God Bless her, and Liam

Would I? Hmmm...

What Kind of Guy Will You Fall For?

You would fall for the frat boy. You like to have a good time, and you want someone who's not afraid to go all out to have fun with you. Your man may belch at the dinner table, but you know you'll always have a crazy night ahead of you!

Soooo funny, because its kinda true, except Steve was in the Marines which is kinda a frat I guess.

Don't 'Cha Wish Your Birthday Was Hot Like Mine...Don't 'Cha?

How low can u go.

There is a point that one should not cross if one wants to remain credible in the future. You, however have gone way past that point, and not just with me, with almost everyone you come into contact with.

I was watching "Celebrity Feuds" and they highlighted the feud between Eminem and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, where Eminem took the "dog" way to seriously and threaten to beat him up! Forgetting of course that the rest of the world thinks he looks ridiculous arguing with a dog puppet. Never the less, people like Eminem don't really care because they look ridiculous all the time. Such like someone else I know.

So I got into an argument with a friend today. I won't go into the background information, but I will say that this is a person who gets into altercations with everyone she knows. She embarrasses herself constantly with her crazy suggestions that the rest of the world give a damn about her--first. Never realizing that she only makes people dislike her more, and want to stay farther and farther away from her.

So our argument was over her birthday, in which because how dare I have other plans this past weekend, even though she never made any attempts to do anything for my own birthday, and nor did I care. At this point, birthdays are not top priority, as we are past the celebratory ages, and have not reached the big 3-0. So she proceeded to tell me that I am selfish because I had other plans over "her birthday weekend" and didn't reserve time for her. I informed her I didn't think she expected this of me, as my own birthday came and went with out notice. She of course told me it was "tit for tat" with me, and she put "countless time and money into my wedding". Which please do not let me go into it, because I will have to explain what a jealous bitch she was during the whole entire process and how she attempted to ruin my bachelorette pty.

Obviously this is not a friendship I feel comfortable nourishing any longer. But I will say this... What she did was lower herself to the Eminem-Triumph level. Fighting over a birthday like a 6 year old and then quickly logging off to get the last word. As my mother always said "when you leave you only have to show me your back, but when you return you will have to show me your face".

So friend, its gonna be hard to show your face around here again, Don't 'Cha Think?

Hooks

Aren't these cool?

Fall, Falling, Fell

This inspires me. As Fall quickly approaches I look forward to decking the house out with pumpkins and halloween decorations...Then it just gets damn cold. boo


















*images from Pottery Barn

Lets End This Little Tea Party

Now take off your dress off, and lets end this little tea party.
No one gives a fuck, if your sad in this world.

Funny Funny Stuff by Dane Cook. I dont even like him, but this is exactly what Steve does when I cry.
Hey whats going on, why do you sound like a bablling brook.
"oh I don't know I was just having a tough day"
Oh ya?, your having a tough fucking day, I was in Korea, I'm having a tough fucking life. You dont' even know how may tears I could cry. I could grow crops with my tears. No one gives a fuck, if your sad in this world.

Soooo what Steve would say.

A Bronx Tale

I LOVE The Bronx Tale! Some of my favorite scenes below.

I guess I love it because of the swearing and the fighting with a lesson around it. In some sense that is how I grew up. My parents swear and yell and fight, but I turned out damn good if I say so myself AND I know how great of parents mine are.

The bronx tale is just straight up ode to Italian-Americans of yester year. Love'em.

Calogero "C" With His Parents
Anello family eats steak once a week


Now Youes Can't Leave Scene
Sonny: That wasn't very nice. Now youse gotta leave.
Satan's Messengers: I'll tell you when the fuck we leave alright. Get the fuck away from me.
Satan's Messengers: {the bikers laugh at Sonny as he walks to the door} Go watch the bikes eh!
{Sonny locks the front door. All the bikers look and curse at him}
Sonny: Now youse can't leave.



Quotes:
Sonny: Alright, listen to me. You pull up right where she lives, right? Before you get outta the car, you lock both doors. Then, get outta the car, you walk over to her. You bring her over to the car. Dig out the key, put it in the lock and open the door for her. Then you let her get in. Then you close the door. Then you walk around the back of the car and look through the rear window. If she doesn't reach over and lift up that button so that you can get in: dump her.
Calogero 'C' Anello: Just like that?
Sonny: Listen to me, kid. If she doesn't reach over and lift up that button so that you can get in, that means she's a selfish broad and all you're seeing is the tip of the iceberg. You dump her and you dump her fast.

Collar Me Bad

This is it! The Coach Dog Collar Sofie Wants!!!

ID In Style

I want this too when Sofie gets older. With a pretty colar...maybe coach, I don't know. I'll post a pic when I find one.

Sofie Sooo Sweet

Isn't this cute! Now I just have to measure Sofie, Casey, and Diva's Belly Circumferences.

You can get it personalized with whatever you want. I'm thinking...
I'm Sassy Frassy, Who The F*@k Are You?!

Measurements Top Line Bottom Line Belly Circumference
X-Small 7 ¾" 6" 10 ½"
Small 9" 6 ¾" 12 ½"
Medium 10 ½" 8 ¼" 15"
Large 13" 9" 18"
X-Large 16 3/4" 11" 23"

Those Monks...

Are sneakier than I thought.


I now know what they REALLY used Tibetan Terriers for!


Paper Shreding.


I'm sure of it.

Children

What kind of child were you?

I am not trying to say it matters, this late in life, but well, Yes...maybe I am. We baby sat last night. Which it shouldnt be called because they arent' babies but they act like it. They are 5 and 1/2 and shouldnt' be drinking out of sippy cups or wearing pull ups to bed. But they do. They didn't want to share the box of crayons I bought or the coloring book. They had no idea about why dogs noses are wet, or why they sniff or why Sofie wanted to play with them. They didn't say please and thank you, or hello or good bye. They ordered me around like I was their waitress, and they wanted Blue Berries for breakfast. Not to mention they threw their wet pullups on the bedroom floor and complained about the smell when I told them to carry them downstairs and throw it out. Now...I'm trying to calm myself down here... What kind of child were you? I ask again.

I shared, even though I hated it, I gave my sister everything, it was fun coloring in the same book. I ate whatever people offered me, never asked for food at someonee else's house {thats just bad manners} and I never pissed in my "pull ups" when I was 5 and 1/2. They didn't have them over 20 yrs ago and that was a GOOD THING! I certianly didnt drink out of a sippy cup. Plastic cup yes, but sippy cup, I think not. I enjoyed the freedom of being a big girl. And I certainly knew about dogs, it helps that I had one, but I knew why they sniffed, and why their noses are wet and how they played. My world was a lot larger than I thought it was all these years.

All I can say is thank you mom and dad.

Something Of My Very Own

Do YOU have it? Something of your very own, that noone comes and infringes on? That noone comes and touches, moves or takes. That noone feels they can freely run up and manhandle? I don't.

We got a puppy last sunday, which is why I haven't been blogging, I've been pretty busy with our little baby. And I LOVE her.

When I write that I don't have something of my own, it is because Steve has excessively had friends over ~again. They come in {with out knocking} they grab the puppy {offering unsolicited advice} I mean it's not like I have had 3 dogs before this, eat, drink, fart, burp and piss all over the toilets, when ever they like.

I'm not going to go into this {I do it over and over} but I am truely sick of their faces, their names, and them touching my shit. But the icing on the cake was this morning when I had the puppy out trying to pee and poopie when I saw his cousing 'rounding the house for his gas cap! UGH the nerve. Is nothing sacred, nothing alone time, nothing mine?