hou.se hun.ters

So, my episode of Hou.se Hunt.ers aired last Thursday (too lazy to find the link to the blog that I wrote about my filming experience, but it's around here somewhere :o). The couple that I helped out had a mini-watch party at their not-as-new home. I've always wanted to be on HGTV. Although not necessarily in this way, but it's a start, right?

I debated on whether or not to announce it b/c I wanted to preview it. After all, I had gotten up early, thinking that I would've filmed my scene first, but fell asleep while waiting for my big break. The things that I thought that they would've shown, they didn't. The things that I don't remember saying while filming, they did. And while watching, all I could focus on were my cheeks. It looked as if the camera added 10 pounds to my face and my hair wasn't as long as it is now to detract from them.

But aside from that, it was fun to watch...especially after 3-4 glasses of wine. My fam kept texting me and ribbing me. It was all good.

Unexpectedly, they ended up showing my loft/office and it looked fabulous. I'm still waiting on Can.dice Ols.en to call and ask me to cohost Di.vine De.sign. They did not show my living room, which I thought, was the money shot. But perhaps that was for the best. I made mention of my emotional decorating in my last post. I recently painted over the red accent wall in my living room that I have been enamored with for the past 3 or 4 years. I remember when I painted it...all 5 coats of it since I didn't buy primer (too lazy to find the link to the blog that I wrote about my painting experience, but it's around here somewhere :o).

Initially, I didn't want to cover it b/c that would negate all of my hard work back then, but it was time for a change. Plus, I needed something to do since J was leaving me. So, I picked up some cinnamon paint to brighten things up a bit.

Ignore the orange blotch. I was trying to see if I preferred something brighter, but after staring at the blotch for a day, I covered it back up with more cinnamon paint. I'm pretty happy with my decision since it brings out the terra cotta undertones in my slate countertop and coffee table. Also, it compliments the other walls that one sees when they walk through my front door.

Now, I'm walking around with a hammer and a screwdriver, looking for other things to do to my house while I'm missing my baby.

fame - I'm gonna live forever

I'm so bad at reporting stale news...

Anyway, if you have followed me for a length of time, then you may have taken note that interior design is a passion of mine. In another life, that might be my path. In THIS life, I enjoy making my home a warm and comfortable haven for me and the kid. With this said, it has been my DREAM to be on HGTV.

Last weekend, I got the chance. Not necessarily how I envisioned it, but once it airs and I bask in my 50 seconds of fame, it'll feel just the same.

A friend of mine (and her man) sent in an audition tape for "Hou.se Hun.ters" and was selected to be on the show. She bought a townhouse no more than 5 minutes away from me. She moved from a nice apartment near my other friend in a county clear across town. The apartment complex; however, would not sign off on the release form to be filmed. Filming your current location is a necessary segment of the program...without it, it's a no-go. After asking a few people (who either lived in an apartment themselves or had Homeowner's Associations that were against the idea as well), she finally found a kind-hearted soul that wanted nothing more than to help her fulfill her dream.

Well, not quite...

She found me, someone who has an HGTV agenda too! Of course, there was some discussion as I did have concerns, but those were soon ironed out. Last weekend, we filmed the first few scenes for, dare I say, MY future episode, lol.

I wore my special flower so that the cameramen had a visual tool to help them remember my "good side". I was ready to do some bargaining...more like, begging. I tried everything. Pitched an idea for a new show, "Design Without a Damn Thing". I even suggested that Canda.ce Ols.en have a shorter, more tan cohost to liven up Di.vine Des.ign. I also offered to film a sweet message for that hot guy with a hammer, Car.ter Oos.terhouse. Can you believe that the producer was not receptive to my award winning (minus the heart winning) ideas?

She wasn't receptive, but she was surely impressed with my humble abode. I think that I have said this before: my house is much like me - small but full of personality. She walked around every room with a smile. I just knew that I was a shoe-in for something. Nope, nada. The cameraman did complement me on my hair...and told me that I didn't have a bad side. Flatterer. He must've known that I was still hot over his boy tracking sh*t on my carpet...the same light shade of carpet that I am particularly anal about keeping clean.

Anyway, I filmed 2 scenes. One of me, my girlfriend, her man, and J standing around my table making snacks and talking "must haves" about house hunting. J even got into the act. He was prompted to say a few lines, but I think that he missed the part where he was supposed to PRETEND to eat the sandwich...not inhale it. I didn't realize just how much "acting" is required for these reality shows, but after my experience, I am certain that the Real Hous.ewives of Any.thing is 60 minutes of falsehood.

The other scene that I was in took place in my neighborhood. I was jogging with my girlfriend. It looked a little weird for us to be following behind a truck with a cameraman hanging out of it, but that wasn't the worst of it. Somehow, I forgot that I am not a jogger. I know that the guy monitoring the mics was catching hell with my ashmatic breathing only after a few minutes in motion. These hills are no joke. As soon as the truck turned around, I collapsed on the ground. Hopefully, that ends up on the cutting room floor. :)

We still have to shoot the final scene sometime...as sort of a housewarming party. I won't get excited about actually being on HGTV until I verify that I don't look crazy, J doesn't look crazy, and my house doesn't look crazy. So, I will have to view the first airing before I give anyone the heads up that my 50 seconds is about to start.

J, on the other hand, told EVERYBODY that he was on TV. One girl wanted his autograph. His other friends were excited for him and 2 even said that they already saw him. Kids.

Anyway, it was a fun way to spend a Saturday. Crossing fingers that this could be the start of something new. HA! I'm gonna be a STAR-UH!

emotional decorator strikes again

I can't count how many times I've glanced over a copy of Archi.tectural Dig.est or watched an episode of Div.ine Des.ign on HGTV and plotted on how I was going to achieve a similar look for less. I even have pictures of homes pinned up on my wall at work. I seem to be drawn to modern chic and sophisticated looks on paper...but for the life of me, I can't recreate them. "Looking at" and "living in" are 2 different things. My tastes diverge from the original plan once I walk into a store and see something bright or highly textured.

I was going through my "HGTVme" archives and taking note of the little things that I've added here and there. And b/c my mind has been heavy, I've been releasing my stress through home decor retail therapy...again. Unfortunately, my job is 5 minutes away from Pi.er 1, Wo.rld Mar.ket, Hom.egoods, and Tar.get. So my sessions have been more than once a week lately.

I FINALLY found a table for my 2 chairs in my sunroom. I have been having these chairs for maybe 2 years now, but struggled to find an attractive table that was the right height, right width, or the right style to complement them. I'm VERY picky. Once I see something that I like, my strategy is to go home, sleep on it, and then buy it once I'm sure that it's what I want. This takes me weeks sometimes. I can't believe that it took me over 2 years to find a table but that goes to show that I don't impress easily nor will I break my bank. After getting a discount for buying the table off the floor and using gift cards, I spent $50 out of pocket. I've been enjoying it ever since. This table has seen many a cereal bowl since I picked it up on Saturday.

Originally, the coffee table was pushed in the corner with all of those vases (pictured in the windows) displayed on top like a collection. It made such a huge difference to actually use it as a coffee table and to display each vase in a window sill for a gallery look.

I just discovered Worl.d Mark.et and now that store has made a lifelong customer. I spotted this cold mini-chest (that I'm using for small trinkets and buttons) in the discontinued section and had to add it to my collection. However, I thought that the colorful ceramic drawers would stand out better against white wood.

So I brought it home and painted it white.

I've made it a goal to step up my accessory game but I needed better organization than the huge Ziploc bag that I had been using before. My goal is to fill up each slot with new earrings and overflow my t-bars with necklaces. I'm a little slow in this area...so that may take me years.

When I went to Chica.go, I saw a poster that I'd seen back home before in my girlfriend's kitchen. I loved the colors and just had to have it. I asked if it were ok to copy her style, but was ready to proceed no matter the answer, lol.



I ordered it in print size and then got a frame for it from Tar.get. I just ordered another print by the same artist and plan to put it below this one. It complements the MANY colors in my kitchen nicely. I still need to figure out what I'm going to do about a backsplash, since the tile company would not break up boxes for the design that I wanted...so back to the drawing board with that one.

Originally, I had pictures of J and his PawPaw on that wall in the kitchen, but they work much better in his bedroom.

While I was in the mood for hanging pictures, I started hanging prints that I'd purchased from the Fr.ench Mar.ket sometime last year. I can't seem to get enough of surrounding myself with images that remind me of home. It has worked to ease my homesickness. (To the untrained eye: that's crawfish on the Liv.ing section of the Tim.es Picay.une).

So much for modern...chic...or sophisticated.

But I guess when you're true to your personality, people who visit your home will take notice. Perhaps that's what makes the difference between having a house and having a home. I want it to look comfortable and lived in (and sometimes quirky)...even though people know how anal I am about keeping my carpet clean and instantly take off their shoes before entering without my saying a word.

Speaking of quirky...

Remember when J and I won this? I believe S23 asked where I was going to put it. Well, here's the verdict. I broke out J's crayons and colored it. I actually sat at my desk like a 5 year old, carefully scrutinizing the lines, a few months ago. THEN, it was ok to put it in the hallway.

My next therapeutic purchase will probably be more wall quotes.



I'll try not to overdo it, but I like how they can transform a boring sliver of a wall.



This one is above my bed. It reads, "Mothers of little boys work from son up til son down."

So adding little accents has been both scratching my artistic itch while J is back home and relieving me of my frustrations. I keep trying to talk myself into another painting project but I must not be THAT emotional. Then again, after having a day like I had today, I should be in the mood to paint 2 rooms, re-tile both bathrooms, do some yardwork, and knock down and rebuild my shed.

the juices part 2

Continuing my artsy fartsy ramble from here...

I performed the "morning after" test...

I looked to my left...



I looked to my right...



And everything was right with the world.

I spent most of today coaching J on his presentation for his science project.



THE SNACK MACHINE

...able to pour snacks and cereal into a bowl...and leap tall buildings. Exciting, hunh? All of the components were found around the house. I think that we (I mean, he) got this in the bag.

So, those home improvement projects that I mentioned a while back...I think that I'm on the move. I called Tee and asked her where she found her backsplash tile. I really love how colorful it is and wanted to do something similar since my kitchen colors are about the same as hers. She was more than helpful and mentioned that she could probably get me a discount since she's an inter.ior de.signer. Score! So, I just need to take some measurements and see what the total damage will be.

I just have to really motivate myself to paint my bathroom...again. I think that I'm going to make it the same shade of green that's in my hallway.

Believe it or not, those art classes helped. Here I was, thinking that everything that I do revolves around J but those classes made me remember my own interests and how therapeutic they can be.

Although the best part was spending quality time with J, I got to spend some much needed time with me.

the juices

Yes, I got the creative juices flowing! Today, was J and I's last art class for the month. The topic? Painting gourds. I wasn't too thrilled but when the teacher said that we can turn them into Christ.mas ornaments, I was in there like swimwear.

But of course, J, had to show off and do more than was tasked.

He chose to make 2 ornaments. The second one from the left is named Pablo. I have no idea why. Anyway, the green and red may actually be visible on our tree, but that last one may have to be strategically-placed, lol. Bless his little heart, he was having fun. I, on the other hand, was scoping out the competition and then decided to do my own thing.

I only did 2, but the teachers were quite impressed. The director of the program got her camera and took a pic of J and I's gourds. It's safe to say that arts and crafts is my thing.

J: Mommy, is that you when you were a little girl?

Me: No baby, we didn't wear scarves in the N.O., lol.

So, I'm getting my mojo back on the design tip. Home.goods just had a grand opening on the We.st End. Before now, I would constantly see commercials for this store...salivate over the stuff that they would advertise...and then get mad b/c the nearest one was in northern VA. Not anymore. I rolled through there at lunch on Friday and it was complete pandemonium. People were practically dropping down from the ceiling tile and scaling the building. It was THAT serious! They had a lot of Chris.tmas stuff, but it's against my religion to buy Christ.mas decor pre-Christ.mas. Anyway, they had so many shiny, pretty things that I was like a kid in a candy store. I believe that I may have even gotten misty-eyed.

Normal women splurge on clothes, shoes, and purses. I splurge on housewares.

So, I'm looking around and I hear something whisper, "LB!"

It was love at first sight. I threw that joint under my arm as if I were stealing it. It was the only one on the shelf. At least 2 ladies stopped me to gaze at the clock. That's cool, but if they made any fast moves, I would've been on the news...over a clock. This isn't a game, lol.

I've already welcomed it to the family...it seems pretty happy on my chocolate wall.

It's not so clear in this pic, but it blends in lovely. If I had a word to describe my taste, I would say "fun". I would love it if I had more sophisticated tastes but I gravitate towards a lot of bright colors...and there's nothing like walking around your house and seeing something that makes you smile. I've browsed at many a "chic" room and admired it from afar, but I can't change what I like. Speaking of that, I slid on over to Pi.er One, my lover, and copped some hotness!

Truth be told, I hate dressing windows. I had these faux wood blinds installed over every window shortly after I moved in, b/c there were absolutely no window coverings. I was good with that, but I recognize that panels do soften a room and can make a wall pop all at the same time. The issue that I have with window dressing is that some curtains are so heavy or solid or serious-traditional, formal-looking. It's hard for me to carry my "fun" theme on to panels. Anyway, my new bedroom...

Leezie (and some of her readers) gave me the side-eye for throwing an orange pillow on the bed with blue walls. So, I understand that my bedroom is not for sensitive eyes. I'm weird...I do not like patterns on comforters (or big pieces like sofas) b/c I know that my taste can change with the wind. But I have yet to put up a solid panel in the house. Anyway, my new panels bring out Leezie's blanket superbly, IMO...although it's hard to tell in that picture. I fall in love with that shade of blue, more and more everyday.

I'm in the middle of trying to hang another curtain in my loft and well...it's not working out. I'm going to have to stare it down for another day or 2, perhaps, before I make a move.

But the juices are back!

let it rock

J woke up this morning and looked out of the window and said, "Mommy, I believe that its finally fall." Well, Captain Obvious was a little late, but how often do we take time to observe the beauty of the seasons.

Yep, that would be leaves on my grass. YES AGAIN, leaves on my new GRASS! (If you don't know why that excites me, then peep the previous hot garbage that was my yard!) So this is all sexy and everything but uh, who's gonna rake this mess up? Now that I have a few blades of grass, I finally emailed a pic of my house to HGTV so that it can be featured during one of their commercial breaks. We'll see if they choose it...I'm still scouting HGTV shows that will actually come to VA and do a free backyard makeover. So far, none. But I shall put my faith out there for Carter...dayum, he's sexy. I can't wait until I'm able to roll out some money to have the siding painted an inviting yellow, my door red, and my shutters white. THEN, my neighbors will really be on my jock.

So I decided to stay home today to get some much needed rest. I had a major project going out of the door yesterday and once that was over, I was ready to crash! Especially since I have been trying to stay drugged all week. I am still heavily congested and am walking around with vaseline on my nose and upper lip b/c of all the nose-blowing, but I'm feeling a little better. I have 3 other projects on my desk and then checked my lineup and noticed that I was signed on to do 3 MORE projects by my-damn-self! Its a double-edged sword, I guess. I got what I wanted but I'm going to be working my a$$ off, all within kissing distance of Christ.mas. Can't complain...won't complain...I got work.

I think that I'm still in shock today. It is a blue-tiful day in VA. I know that the blog world has been inundated with Bara.ck O-blogs (lol), but I just have to say that I have never been as emotional about a win like this. I know that Newsguy is somewhere crying in a corner. **devious laugh**

I have no clue...and he certainly has his work cut out for him...what Obama is going to do for America in the next 4 years, but Black America has been exponentially impacted in less than 24 hours. My J, at 7 y/o, was able to see someone that looks like him achieve his dream. His smile was so big when I told him that "Rock" Obama (as he once called him) had won. You would've thought that it was his daddy making his election day speech. I'm debating on whether or not I'm going to his inauguration on Jan. 20th. I feel as if I live too close to DC to NOT go, but who knows. I may value my warmth more, so we'll see. At this point, I'm just glad that all the texting and calls have ceased. The "40 acres and a mule" text was funny the first time, but around time 20, it was annoying as all hell.

Navy and I are talking again. He apologized and I'm cool. I still have no interest in going to that Gala with anybody, so that might be some saved money staring me in the face.

Well...I'm about to go take some successive naps until its time for me to pick up "Rock" Jr./Baby J.

happy is as happy does

SPRING FORWARD, FALL BACKWARD

Don't you just LOVE fall?! I can identify with the season...we're both straight breezy. The acorns are beating up my roof, while the leaves are falling to the ground. But guess what? My leaves are falling on my NEW GRASS. Hells yeah!!!

**LB singing, "Laaaaaaa, laaa, la, la...wait til' I get my lawn care right. Laaaaaa, laaa, la, la...then you can't tell me nothing right. 'Scuse me, is you saying something? Ah, uh, you can't tell me noth..." Kan.ye snatches mic.**

Of course, the lawn still has a ways to go. But I'm sure my neighbors watch me and J through their windows as we stand and marvel at the sea of green blades for 5 minutes before I unlock the door. I think that we're both in disbelief that after a year's time that this is even possible. But now, we actually have a view when we have our cheerios on the front porch.

I have to make my way over to Micha.el's and pick up some fall/halloween decorations. I'm on a very tight budget, so we may be limited to some styrofoam pumpkins that J and I can doctor up and place on my steps.

YOU MUST PURIFY YOURSELF IN THE WATERS OF LAKE MINNE.TONKA

J wants to be a skeleton this year. I'm shocked, but that's a pretty inexpensive costume so I'm down. It looks like I'm FINALLY going to be Prince for Halloween. I was originally gonna pick up a costume from Party Ci.ty (think Cleo.patra) and just fade into the background like last year...although I didn't really fade into the background b/c I was a Greek Goddess and it drew more attention than I thought it would. But apparently, royal purple must be the new black b/c New.port News has a lot of clothing in that color, so I ordered some velvet pants, a blazer, some boots, and a white ruffled shirt to top it off. I'm going to borrow J's guitar and walk around with it strapped to my shoulder. The trick will be in curling my hair to match Prince (circa '84) on the cover of Pur.ple Rain and doing my eyes up really pretty...oh, and carefully sketching in a light mustache. I'm kinda excited about honoring THE best that ever did it. If only I can convince a dude to dress up as Appoloni.a or Van.ity.

WHO'S HOUSE? HELL'S HOUSE

My old church does a play every Hallo.ween, called Hell Hou.se. It's similar to walking through a haunted house but in each room, there is a different life situation acted out. The purpose is to scare young people straight and to bring souls to Chr.ist. Well, when I participated in it 2 years ago, I was only supposed to be a nurse in an abor.tion clinic. However, (you know how church folks are) I got stuck playing the main character having the abortion. Let me tell ya...that mess wasn't fun. All that screaming made me lose my voice and then I caught a serious cold and was miserable. The only highlight of the play was that I had a scene with Choir Boy, who played Je.sus. I barely remembered my lines b/c he's so pretty. Anyway, this lady from my old church started calling my home and cell phones all crazy b/c she wants me to reprise my role. Had it been anyone else, they would've been met with a swift "HELL NAW!" I told her that I had too much going on for the month but that I would get back to her. Church folks will...use...you. And I don't care how pretty Choir Boy is...I'm gonna pass on this one.

THANKS FOR THE MAMMARIES

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Every year, I participate in a run/walk in honor/memory of my mom. Last year, I did the walk with my cuz and J. Both of them got tired in 5 minutes, so I power-walked to the finish line alone. Only to find them already there, snacking and smiling. They had apparently cut the course b/c 3-5 miles was too much for them. This year, it looks like my team is 5 strong. I'm hoping to recruit some more before the 19th. In the meantime, I look forward to the event. To be surrounded by hundreds of survivors and their loved ones does my heart good. I hope that I can raise a decent amount of money this year. I set the team goal rather low, so we'll see.

TO THE MOON, ALICE, TO THE MOON

Yep, that's right...the honeymoon is over. The company has been in the new spot for about a week and a half now. For the most part, I can't complain. However, they have me sharing a space with this guy, whom I can only stand in small doses. He tore his draws with me when I was on the phone one morning and he had the gall to swivel around in his chair and ask me who I was talking to. I had to blink twice before I politely responded, "Nunya." I forgot about the huge difference between dating someone and living with them, so if left alone, partnah was about to be knocked unconscious with a water bottle...an empty water bottle. Do the math and see how in the hell THAT can happen. I do not like it when people invade my space. I can be the sweetest person in the world...but I can be funny about my space. On top of that, there is this part-time inter.ior des.gner, who moved her computer to my side of the table and then had the nerve to tell me that she may need some of my shelves. This broad works 4 hours a week...you gets no shelves, homie. She got the blank stare as my catalogs STAYED on the shelf in question. And as of today, this guy (who has come out of retirement) brought all of his drawings back in my area. Then I started wondering, "How in the hell did I get stuck back here with a bunch of part-timers and CAD techs.

Technically, we were supposed to wait 30 days before we request to be moved. But I couldn't take the chance of them hiring more people and taking up all of the good cubes. I went straight to one of the principals. Now, I can play the game with the best of 'em. He thought that he had satiated me with his "I'll look into it" response. I decided to become a pest. Then, it seemed as if he wanted to give me the run-around. So, I went to my immediate supervisor...and just in case he decided to brush me off, I reminded his a$$ again that I wasn't going to let this die without a fight. I got the email by the close of business stating, "your request has been approved." Fugging right it's been approved! I didn't bust my a$$ for 5 years to advance anybody else's career but my own...and I've most certainly worked hard enough for 3 friggin' walls. If I didn't get the desired results, I was going to talk much sh*t at my annual review. A lot of times in the engin.eering field, it's a man's world. Well now, I'm going to be in my own little world. I might just have a Ma.rdi Gra.s themed cube-warming. Bustas!

hoe to housewife

I have a day off this Friday, and will probably dip out at noon on Thursday. With the upcoming move, we are dismissed once we pack up b/c we can't do anything without computers. Well, I thought that I'd rest up but Tee is coming over, so that we can get a little drunk and then sober up before its time to pick up our kids...as if we're 12 y/o or something. But our motto is, "...it's Friday, it's our day off and we ain't got sh*t to do." So maybe that's the pre-party before I pillage the streets of DC with Navy, celebrating his 30th on Saturday AND Sunday.

With that said, I was SUPPOSED to be in chill mode this past weekend. So I thought. Me and my girls at the J.O.B. took a sewing class on Saturday. It was so fun...but then again, we were drinking wine while operating machinery, so it was possibly dangerous..lol. No, I didn't learn how to sew a dress yet. We took this class at a cute little fabric store in the city. The lady that owned the shop was all tatted up, which kinda distracted me, as she was going over the different parts of the sewing machine and other technical terms. I've been throwing around the idea of getting another tattoo and I wanted to know who her artist was...but I was there to learn. For our first project, we made little pin cushions. Mine was the best...and that's my UNBIASED opinion. I was so proud of it and I can't wait to learn more b/c I'm gonna do those bistro awnings in my kitchen before I move, dammit! The lady is offering an alterations class, so I may hit that one up too. We'll see how long I keep up this hobby. Sometimes, I can be as unfocused as the pic of me on the bottom right corner of my blog.

I picked J up from my cuz's house, ran a few errands, and then came home to the greatest surprise EVER. Well, THIS MONTH. My yard guy aerated and seeded my lawn! Awww shux nah...ya girl is in bizness! My yard no longer looks like "hot garbage."

I think that I have just entered the "lukewarm debris" bracket.

So, I got the brilliant idea to finally finish one of the projects that I listed in May or June...I decided that since the rest of the yard was creepin' on the comeup, I might as well do that mini-garden around my mailbox.

I was excited. Tee had bought me a sun hat that I was ready to don JUST for this type of project. I THOUGHT that it would only take me a morning. I both underestimated this project and overestimated myself. This mess took me ALL DAY and I had to finish it up after work this evening. When I was done, I was all bit up, scratched up, and my back is jacked up. There was not ONE muscle that DIDN'T ache today. And if I were going to walk around, all hunched over, and bo-legged looking, at least I could answer a "What happened to you?" with a "I was rescuing some kittens from a burning car" or "I showed some runaway slaves the underground railroad" or something!

There HAD TO BE 20 years worth of weeds by that mailbox. Leezie had to blindly identify that I was digging up onions b/c I couldn't figure out what these mysterious radish-looking things were. J said that they looked like radishes and, at that point, I was so weary that I went along with everything that he said. I found a Costa Ric.an coin and half of a mailbox post that the previous owner was too lazy to pull all the way out of the ground before they installed the new one. I had to demo the semi-circular border b/c it was crooked and halfway covered with weeds...and plus, I just didn't care for it. That took forever and a day b/c I had been banging away at those things with my hammer just to get them to loosen up.

I decided to re-purpose some river rock that I had lined up along my sidewalk at the top of my driveway...which meant that I had to walk those things down my driveway, one by one b/c those bammas were heavy! J helped me dig and clean up when he took a break from throwing the football around. His major concern was the comfort of the worms and other creatures since I kept digging them up. I let him have that gripe since I don't think that he has forgiven me for having those trees cut down, destroying the homes of the birds and squirrels.

Anyways, my neighbors were really helpful. The older couple across the street let me borrow their tools and the wife, who has the same name as my momma, brought me some water. The older guy next door just seemed to be amazed at how I have transformed the front yard over the past 6 months...apparently, the previous owners didn't mind the "hot garbage" curb appeal. This one guy that was walking his dog, just wanted to know what all I had done recently and was pretty impressed with the progress. So although, it's not where I want it to be, it's better than it used to be. And here it is:

I saw these mums and loved the fall colors and the leaves of the plants have orange and red hues to them.

REPRESENT, BABY, BABY!!! I've had this flag for over a year and I have been dying to put it out there!

I plan to update it with different seasonal perennials so that I can have blooms at almost all times of the year. My cuz said, "So you're sewing and gardening...are you alright?" I just laughed. She seems to think that once I get married that I won't be doing all of that. I thought that that was a weird statement. Afterall, I'm hoe-ing, not ho-ing. I guess that I better get it outta my system now, before I'm forced to be a one hobby woman...lol.

rainy day randoms

It's raining...it's pouring...and I SHOULD be off somewhere snoring, but I'm not. I knew that Tropic.al Storm Ha.nna was gonna make this weekend a wash. My little "friend" (nobody special yet) is off in VA Bea.ch, in the middle of the storm for his job until Sunday. More power to him b/c I knew yesterday that whether or not I decided to take a shower today was questionable. I went to the grocery store last night, so I was ready to be holed up and vegged out on my couch watching HGTV and G. Gar.vin for the weekend. The only thing that disappointed me was that I wanted to take my baby J to King's Dom.inion for his birthday tomorrow. Since I let go of that idea, I spent my lunch hour on Friday, buying 7 gifts to celebrate his golden birthday, 7 y/o on the 7th.

Its been hard trying to wrap them while he's not looking. I plan to make it a scavenger hunt around the house and write little rhyme clues for him to figure out. It should be really fun to see the look on his face...my only concern being that he'll fall more in love with the boxes than he does the actual gifts. The last shipment that JJ received from PawPaw was in a long box. Initially, he was excited about seeing the toys and games that he couldn't bring back on the plane, but 5 minutes after that, he had cut a hole in the box, drew in a windshield and door handles and made it a car. Those toys and games got thrown to the side somewhere. He is SOOOOO my kid. That's why most of the things that I got him for his birthday are things that he has to build or put together, with the big ticket item being a Wii game that he wanted.

He finished an ice cream treat the other day and looked at the popsickle stick and said, "Mayne, I'm gonna need a whole lot more of these to make the house that I want to build." I almost got teary-eyed. I had never shown him the pics of my popsickle stick house, so this will be a joy to see. For much better results, I'll probably teach him how to draw a floor plan and a few elevations, so that the weight of the sticks doesn't cause a hardcore gangsta lean (like mine did).

I finally got off my a$$ and mounted the fireplace that I ordered for my livingroom. A fireplace wasn't on my "must have" list when I was shopping for a house, but the downstairs stays on chill mode during the winter months. I bought 2 floor heaters last year but they trip my circuit breaker and I've already had an electrician out here enough to last me the rest of the year. So I opted for something more aesthetically pleasing. And that's cool, but since it burns gel fuel, my hope is that its functional.

I love the way that it looks though. I finally bought some frames from Tar.get for the fleur de lis sketches that I picked up in the Fren.ch Mark.et during my trip back home. I really had no clue where I was going to put them when I bought them but I think that they compliment the adjacent abstract print nicely.



Plus, there are fleur de lis(s) at the tips of my cross.

Hopefully, this will be a nice backdrop for a WARM winter night. I think that I may be one green pillow away from my livingroom being complete. A coworker sent me some info about an inexpensive sewing class, since she knows that I want to do the bistro awnings for my kitchen bay window. Once I knock that out (and the backsplash), I will REALLY be in business.

Well aiight...I'm off to channel Dr. Se.uss.

good times

Soon my carriage will turn back into a pumpkin. In 2 days, I will see my baby, whose teeth seem to be dropping like flies. In 2 days, I will give a charbroiled oyster a serious mouth hug. In 2 days, I will be able to see all my partnahs...and I'm excited. In 2 days, I will be back home and I CANNOT wait. But I have to admit, I will miss all of this freedom that I have had for the past 2 and a half months.

This summer was the hotness. I rolled wherever I wanted to without a thought towards babysitters or aftercare fees. Hell, I was ACTUALLY ABLE to roll wherever I wanted to, b/c I just hate asking anyone to babysit for me. My birthday was the sh*t and I've been enjoying 30 ever since. No arguments with my favorite barber while J was getting a fresh line, no races to my J's bimonthly allergy shots, and unfortunately, not as many gelatis after a grueling t-ball game of 2 hits: one in the head and the other to the groin. Nobody shoved me at 6 in the morning to let me know that it was a new day or that the sun was up. I was ACTUALLY ABLE to use the bathroom uninterrupted or without a bystander. No long, drawn out conversations about Spon.ge Bob, Harr.y Po.tter, or The Naked Brothe.rs Band (whoever they may be). Less laundry, no recycling projects to discreetly throw away, a heap of junk food, and not once was I awakened by a foot in my clavicle everytime I fell asleep on the couch (looking like a busted version of JJ and Micha.el on Good Ti.mes).

Yes sir, it was a glorious summer for Ms. LB. But you know what? I can't wait to get back in the groove. I might have to take the boy down a couple of pegs in the process but it'll be all good. He's been claiming that he's ready to come back and was planning his return to VA by the 10th of this month (why he picked that date, I still don't know). I'm sure that when he finds out that his TV privileges and new Wii are to be weekend activities again, he'll be hot with me from the start. And try as he might to yank another tooth out, he is NOT getting $5 from this regional tooth fairy. The block shall be hot again when he steps out with me to walk those hills. I still plan on us letterboxing and pottery painting, but I plan to tag that a$$ when we play his "Hig.h Sch.ool Musical" Playstation game. It shall be Good Times indeed.

But unfortunately, I reviewed my list of projects that I wanted to complete while he was gone...and well, I kinda half-a$$ed them. I never tiled my backsplash, or created that indoor bistro awning for my kitchen. The only things that I DID tackle were painting J's bathroom and cleaning his room out. I have yet to mulch around my now single tree and create that garden around my mailbox; however, I have dumped some money into having a yard man clean up the leftover debris from my MIA trees, bring in some top soil, and preparing my yard for some grass. So there IS progress on that front and I just rescheduled all of that mulching and planting action for the fall (my now favorite season). I gotta create the proper foundation first.

So it has been a helluva summer...not neccessarily productive on the home front, but great all the same. It's about to get real again. And I'm ready!

crushin'

Here's my plate! I'm somewhat happy with how it came out, but I could have done better with the sunflowers.

Unfortunately, it doesn't fit in my cabinet, but it plays nicely with my Target dishes and pitcher-turned-flower vase. But if anyone would like to fill my dusty glass-front cabinets with something...ANYTHING colorful, then holla at ya girl.

Ok, on to the story...

I think that I might have a crush...and this needs to cease expeditiously, lol.

This past week has been a busy one both professionally and personally. I have been in need of some serious "me" time. Maybe b/c I'm an only child, I value my "me" time more than anything...and I can get kinda weird about not calling or talking to people for a few days. I was so excited to find a cheap bistro set at Home De.pot, that I sat outside on my porch today and had some ice cream as I thought some things over.

Honestly, I can't wait until my baby comes back, so we can sit out there and have our Cheerios on a sunny Saturday morning. Did I mention that I miss him?

Anyway, so I was having lunch with Tee on Thursday as we debated on whether or not I was dating Promance vs. just hanging out. I figured that since he didn't touch me, then it didn't constitute as a date. But when she asked, "If he DID kiss you, would you resist?", I just hit her with the dazed and confused look. And I am so mad that I didn't have an answer...or at least, mad that I lacked the ingenuity to properly insert the gas face at this moment regardless of what I was really thinking.

I CANNOT have a crush on this dude for so many reasons and I probably wouldn't even be giving 2 thoughts to it, had Promance not blurted out to Tee and Bruh-coworker (as we were in mid-argument, mind you), "Hey, did you tell them about the movie that we saw last night?" If looks could kill, we would either be spreading his ashes across the Ja.mes River or he would still be in ICU right about now. He can certainly silence a room b/c we were all giving each other the hard 5-second stare down until Tee says, "Oh, so ya'll went on a date?" I was already in pi$$ed mode, so I cut her off and said, "No, we were just hanging out." Then Promance laughs, shows off his dimples, and says, "Oh no, it was a date. We had dinner and a movie. I mean, we've gone out before"...as if that was the right thing to say. I couldn't look at Bruh-coworker's jaw grace the ground any longer, so I excused myself and went to the bathroom. All I heard as I was walking away is "she's embarrassed now."

When I first met Promance, I.could.not.stand.him. He just seemed like one of those frat boys that thinks that the world revolves around him. He's the KING of first dates, but very rarely do I hear tale of a second, as he blames that on his being picky. I always thought that he was kinda cute, as I am a sucker for dimples. But for the first few months, he was so daggone annoying that it wouldn't even matter if he looked like Com.mon. His mic was getting turned off on the daily. But somewhere between then and now, he grew on me. He has shared many personal things with me. Then I started having a couple of naughty dreams about him that I quickly pushed towards the back of my mind. So, I guess we've gotten closer without my even realizing it. We like a lot of the same things, have similar goals and are in agreement on a lot of subjects. The problem is that not only do we work together, the only thing that separates Promance and I is 1/2 of a partition. When no one's looking, we'll whisper things back and forth (like a broke a$$ Tim "the Toolman" Taylor and Wilson on Home Improve.ment) but when everyone is tuned in, we put on a show. I don't think that a day goes by without my telling him to "shut up" or "kick rocks." Yet and still, he was a topic of discussion when I was dating Jes.se...perhaps b/c Promance is actually my age. If only he were black...

And so, we've hung out a few times. But each time seemed so awkward. Most certainly the attraction is there as he has made it known, but he has never given me the impression that he actually liked me in the romantic sense. When we've hung out, he barely touches me. When we went to see "Wan.ted" (which was a very fun and exciting movie, btw), I kept covering my eyes during certain parts and squirming in my seat. And once I finally rested on the shared armrest, I noticed that he started biting his nails. I swatted at him, as I usually do, and he says, "I can't help it, you're making me nervous."

And the thought of my actually having a crush makes me nervous.

But this would never work. I have already filled my quota of dating men at the office. One too many of those and you become the J.Ho of the cubicles. Plus, I'm sure that he has never dated a black woman and I'm also sure that he would have a problem with dating women with children...2 things that I obviously cannot hide and would happily let someone go on their merry way if they had a problem with it. But would I dodge him, if he kissed me? I would go with the flow out of curiosity. But then again, curiosity has bitten me in my hindparts before...a little too recently, if I may add.

So, I'm thinking that he just enjoys my company...as I do his from time to time. If this is a crush, it can't hurt, right? I'm sure that he'll say something rather asinine and I'll be over it by next week.

all over the place today...

...so, bear with me. I've been home long enough to realize that Ty.ra Ba.nks annoys me. I had the TV on downstairs for a little background noise while I read and due to the dreariness of the outdoors and the warmth of my blanket, I wasn't abandoning my curled up position on the daybed in my loft for anything short of a fire. Besides, I loved taking breaks and looking on as the light rain obscured the view through my skylights. I had a dental appointment this morning and I decided to miss my company's summer weekly ice cream truck runs since I was numb up to my right eye...in fact, this eye is still feeling as lazy as the rest of my body feels right about now. I'm sure that I'll hear about it tomorrow as I have gained a reputation for being the smallest person in the office but with the biggest sweet tooth. I'm sure that's precisiely why my a$$ got tagged HARD in the dentist office this morning. I've always been and forever will be a salt lover and can't take large doses of chocolate, but I somehow worked around all those petty details and managed to get cavities. Anyways...

In the midst of reading my book, Dan.ce In.to Des.tiny, my answering machine picks up and I hear Suzie B on the line, telling me when her next available appointment is. I had cancelled for today b/c I just didn't feel as if I had a co-pay's worth of stories to share...that is, until she says, "I hope that you're doing ok with your son gone." I immediately became pi$$ed that she even brought that up, thinking that that was a low blow and that the mental health business must be slow this time of year...I'm kidding, of course. I've been seeing her about 6-7 months now and much like my visits with my Bishop at my old church when I first moved up here, I've run out of pressing subjects to work through. I guess that's a good thing. I still like to go in there and just talk and joke around freely since in the short amount of time that I've been seeing her, she has managed to find out more about me than my best friend...maybe even more than Bishop. But again, since that appointment was short of a fire, I wasn't moving from my cozy position.

Of course, I miss my JJ but lately, I have been feeling homesick. I had a great fourth of July. I went to a cookout, won a dance off, and drank enough wine to see fireworks before the real show! Did I mention that I won a dance off? I mean, I believe that Mich.ael Jack.son came out with that little known song "Bl.ood On the Dance.floor" and THAT day, I felt his gift. But I humbly digress, lol. So, I totally forgot about Ess.ence weekend with all the hoopla up here. Ess.ence is not a big deal to me anymore, but I miss the post-Esse.nce rendezvous. Between the calls from my closest friends telling me of all the C-list celebs they saw and took pictures with, I'd receive calls from my not-as-close friends asking if I had snuck into town and not told them. So, I started missing some of my running buddies. Plus, my old boss from back home called to tell me that her youngest son had been accepted into my high school. You woulda thought that he was MY kid, b/c I was too excited. It had been a while since I had talked to her b/c I thought that she was going to drop the phone when I told her that I had just turned 30 y/o. I guess that its hard to believe that "Lil Bit" is grown...that was the same thing that I was thinking about her son...and I'm missing it all.

I think that I mentioned in a previous blog that I am an "emotional decorator," right? Well, I thought that I'd turn this homesickness around and start on projects that make me feel as if I'm back in the N.O., pinching tails and sucking heads. (THAT'S A CRAWFISH REFERENCE, PEOPLE!) So if you remember, #6 (I think) of my summer projects was to create a bistro-style awning for my kitchen bay window. I want to establish the feeling of being in a Caf.e Du Mon.de, minus the green and white stripes. After browsing a fabric store and feeling totally lost, I sent off for 2 different, yet colorful fabric samples at an online store. I printed off some instructions from the hgtv website, but b/c I have to modify them, I feel a little intimidated by the whole project. But I drew out a mock up, so we'll see how this comes out...especially with my lack of skills in the sewing department. If there's anyone out there that knows a little sumthin' sumthin', throw a sista your email addy, lol. Once I'm done, I'll invite S30 back over to cook up some burnt biscuits and try to suagr 'em and pass them bamas off as beignets, lol.

I also got the idea to paint "Laiss.ez Les Bon Tem.ps Rou.ler" in some fancy black letters on the wall opposite my kitchen bay window. I just want to have fun with my kitchen. Nowadays, everyone is so fixated on granite countertops and stainless steel appliances that creativity and personality is lost. Granted, I would love some stainless steel appliances...not so sure if I would put granite in THIS house or not...but I like little quirky things too. New Or.leans is filled with both crazy and creative people so I guess that I got that honest. Heck, "I'm an artist and I'm sensitive about my sh*t." - Ery.kah Ba.du. I'm gonna get like Pam and do that backsplash one day, perhaps in mosaic tile. My friend Tray and I agreed to tackle our backsplashes together, so we'll see.

I'm feeling especially motivated b/c my boy from back home, G, sent me the first draft of his book and I knew that it was a long time coming. I haven't finished it yet, but I had to call him last night b/c what I read so far TOTALLY went over my head. I underestimated it, thinking that it was going to be some regular, run-of-the-mill fictional story but that mess read like some book-club-discussing, cliff-note-deserving, piece on spirituality and his POV on the state of the world. MAYNE!!! To hear him explaining it for hours over the phone, with such passion and purpose, made me feel a 5-second crush. I heart creative people b/c that stuff just hypes me up. But don't worry about that crush, I'm back to normal.

Well, normal for the most part. I got this overwhelming urge to paint some pottery this weekend. LOL, I probably SHOULD have gone to see Suzie B. today.

keepin' busy

My baby has been back in the N.O. for 2 weeks now. I thought that since my social calendar has been on steroids recently, I’d hardly notice but that is so far from the case. I’ve called home everyday only to find that he was busy either teaching something to or running from his cousin, beating his PawPaw in bowling on his new Wii, or pretending as if he were asleep in the car after swimming practice. And now that his camp has started up, he’s even tougher to catch up with than I am. No matter the situation, he’s so preoccupied that he abruptly ends our telephone conversation with an “I love you too, bye” whether I tell him that I love him or not.

So initially, I thought that I’d make a list of home improvement projects that I wanted to tackle while he was gone. Such as…

1. Tile a backsplash
2. Create a little garden around my mailbox
3. Clean out J’s bedroom (dispose of old workbooks, recycling projects, and toys)
4. Paint both bathrooms
5. Have the debris from the cut down trees removed and mulch around my single tree in my front yard
6. Figure out how to create an indoor awning for my kitchen bay window (admittedly, THIS project intimidates the heck outta me!)

When my dad was here, we got A LOT accomplished.

We stained my front porch…

Seriously, I am doing work on the other side.

And the finished product is...

Unfortunately, the wrought iron bistro set that I wanted from Target has been discontinued. The price was right but it cost $70 to ship and I wasn't having that! So instead, I let it slip through my fingers and now I'm kinda bummed. My porch shall go naked another summer. Anyways...

I painted my bedroom and I love, Love, LOVE this color.

At first, I was looking for a more soothing blue but when I saw this I had to have it. Sometimes I find myself lying awake and staring at it…or that could possibly be b/c it has been hot as Hades in my bedroom lately. So installing a ceiling fan may be #7, but who knows.

And the sight of my chocolate wall from my bedside turns me on even when I don't have a man in there. In fact, I'm getting tingly right now...moving right along.

I compromised with J and painted an accent wall in his room. He wanted all of the walls to be navy blue, but I just wasn’t having it. The rest was done in this "Pita Bread" color.

I am SO NOT looking forward to cleaning this organized chaos that is J's room.

So I was off to a good start and thought that completing these other projects would be a breeze. That is until I get a text or a call and head out of the door. I realized that 30 looks GREAT on me but I can’t hang with young people too much…they about killed me on Friday. I danced with this youngun, who would not let me sit down. I was literally laying over the speaker trying to catch my breath...and this dude JUST had his appendix taken out. GEEZ!!! That's when I realized that I should probably go home and do another project, lol.

I was looking around my country cottage and I thought DAYUM, I got a lot of colors in this piece! My floor plan is a little funny, so you're able to see 10 different rooms when you walk through the door and it's hard to decorate around that unless you do the same safe monotone decorating.

Obviously, I had an overactive imagination as a child!

And I can prove it! Here are a few pics of the dilapidated popsickle stick house that I built when I was 11 or 12 y/o. I am so shocked that THESE pictures were not destroyed by the storm.

I forgot that I made a garage...and the door actually went up by a string, lol. My God, I had too much time on my hands!

This was well before I discovered the wonder that is balsa wood...oh, and the wonder of some architectural training in college, lol.

I even went so far as to go in the garage at my house and try to build the tools that I saw. There is my wheelbarrow, edger, and lawnmower. Geez!

And once again, every room is a different color...and those trash cans by the garage are coffee creamer cups that I "borrowed" from Sho.ney's. Thank God that I work with structural eng.ineers as well!

The red thing in the front is a vacuum cleaner, I believe. And I think that I cut the name brand detergent logos from coupons that I saw in the paper and put them on small plastic bottles that I jacked from one of my Bar.bie houses.

And here is one of the 3 toilets that wreaked much havoc on my clothes and the carpet as I cut up the popsickle sticks.

And this would be the inside of the poolhouse.

So I guess that my son got his desire to make projects out of household trash honestly. Hmmm...I wonder what his house will look like one day. I'm sure that his future wife would be elated to have his decor expertise, lol. Hell, I wonder how I'm going to have to change my style once I get married...perish the thought!