Friday Find

I found this quote while blog surfing today. It's from Mimi + Meg, and for some reason, this really hit home with me.  I constantly struggle with where'd I'd like to go in life and how in the hell will I ever get there.  I'm not a big risk taker, which is part of my problem.  So I sit, content, doing the same thing day after day.  This is mainly regarding my professional career, but this could apply to all aspects of life.  And I know a few people (not naming names) that need to read this, print it out, write it on their hand in permanent marker, and pin it to their shirt.

Also, I'm going to admit that I had to look up J. Pierpont Morgan.  Um, yeah, maybe I shouldn't admit that.

Running through my mind...

I’ve become a runner. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?? It’s shocking to most people. It’s even more shocking to me. I still can’t believe I ran a ½ marathon in November. I’m the girl that hated running. With. A. Passion. When I first started, all I could think about while I was running was running. I can hear myself breathing, my legs are aching, I can’t swallow, why is my knee hurting, I need to spit, where is the water fountain, how much longer, oh my God I am dying, I am dying, I am dying. I couldn’t think about normal things, like what I was going to do that day, what’s on my grocery list, and how I was going to tackle the upstairs closet. Nope, just how miserable I was, which makes you even more miserable. 

Then, something weird happened. I started thinking about other things. Normally this is a good thing, but I have developed Runners ADD. Maybe it’s even ADHD. And now the random thoughts that go through my head make me crazy. They almost make my heart beat faster, which isn’t good. Sometimes I think my head is going to explode.

1. Did I make the right decision by cutting my bangs? Why is this always so hard for me…bangs, no bangs, bangs, no bangs. The story of my life. Do I look cute with bangs? Or do I look young? Or is it both, because if it’s both, I’ll take that and keep the bangs.

2. Holy shit, what am I going to do if that big ass Rottweiler jumps the fence and kills me. Is Lance (the guy behind me) going to save me or run the other way? Is Donna (Lance’s wife in front of me) going to hear me screaming? I am going to be on the news tonight for dying from a dog attack in the barrio. Damn Nicole for not being here today. She could use her new found dog whispering skills and save me. I need to run faster.

3. I think I should go into the office today. Should I? I am presenting in a meeting so I need to be there. Damn, I’m going to have to get dressed. Can I wear my boots again, or did I wear them too much last week? What did I wear last week. Oh wait, I only went to the office twice, so I should be good.

4. How is it that I get up every morning at 5:15am to run and I can’t get my ass to work on time? I’m going to be on time today. I’m going to be on time today. (I wasn’t)

5. Where am I going to find orange velvet fabric that I can afford?

6. Wow, I am the shortest person in the Fab 5. That never happens. I’m usually not even in the middle. Hmmm….it’s kind of nice to be short for once. Well, maybe not. What’s better, shorter and more squatty, or taller and beastly? I need to run faster so I don’t feel squatty or beastly.

7. Oh, good song. I need to run faster.

8. I need to remember to download Empire of the Sun. I’m totally going to forget. I’m going to forget. How am I going to make myself remember?

9. Where am I going to find orange velvet fabric that I can afford? Seriously.

10. I need to run faster.

That was just the first ¼ of a mile this morning. I had 3.75 more miles of this, but I won’t bore you with details. Most of it was about the stupid orange velvet fabric.  And telling myself to run faster, which never happens. 

Friday Find: Jackson Wright Photography

A few months ago, I finally had professional pictures taken of Grafton.  I say finally, like it's a requirement of parenthood, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it before.  However, it seems like it's a nonwritten rule in the Parenting Handbook of the South, so I figured I needed to jump on the bandwagon.

A friend of mine from work is also a photographer, and has his own company, Jackson Wright Photography.  We were chatting at the office one day, and something came over me and I booked an appointment.  This was big for me people.  I had committed to pay money for cheesey photos!

Cory (his name isn't Jackson Wright) came up to Georgetown in November and met us on the square to take pictures.  It was early and cold and I was nervous that my kid was going to have a complete meltdown or tantrum or whatever 2 year olds do when they don't want to be somewhere.  But, Cory was great with Grafton and I think the photos turned out fabulous!  The session was primarily for the kid, but he ended up taking a few of the three of us.  (Note to self for next time:  get a haircut and wear lipstick.)

They were so great that we had him come back during the holidays to take pics of the entire Burleson clan. 

Cory has VERY reasonable prices and is located in the Austin area.  Definitely look him up the next time you need a family photo shoot....or wedding pics...or senior pictures....or whatever you want to take pictures of.

 

Living Room Update

Remember my big sofa jackpot?  Well, I ordered the sofa back in September, and then waited and waited and waited.  For 15 entire weeks I waited.  And after 8 weeks, I started calling.  Each week the calls got uglier and uglier.  And finally, on December 28th, my sofa arrived!

It's everything I imagined.  It looks exactly like the Mitchell Gold sofa.  Folks, I'm in love. 

In other decorating news, we recently had built-ins installed in the living room.  Remember the guy that drank all of our beer?  The bookshelves look great.  Check out the before and after pictures.  Big difference, huh?  I ran out of books, and need to do more accessorizing, but you get the point.   And then there's the big dilemna of what to hang on either side of the tv. 

BEFORE:

 AFTER:

My living room plan (below) is finally becoming a reality.  I ordered the fabric for curtains and pillows.  The rug in the pics above is new.  My only snag is that I want to recover the wing chair in orange velvet.  However, orange velvet doesn't exist.  I am not even kidding people.  Why do I do this to myself??  If anyone has an orange velvet resourse, let me know.  I'm desperate.  I would buy the chair in the picture below, but I can't afford it.  No one should pay that much for a chair. 

Cheers!

The Best Intentions

Can we change New Year's Resolutions to New Year's Intentions?  Because that's what they are, really, right? Things that we intend to do, but rarely accomplish.  At least that's how it is with me.  I should put that on my list this year, but then I'd just be setting myself up for failure.  I am also steering clear of dieting goals.  That's SO 2010.  This year is all about becoming a better person, for myself and for the people around me:

Happy 2011!

Hi friends.  Long time, no blog.  It's been over 2 months since my last post, so I'll play catch up and start off the new year on the right foot.  This might be a little boring, so I won't get mad if you quit reading right now.  I hate housekeeping. 

It's been busy around here.  For Thanksgiving we drove 10 hours to Collierville to see my family.  All I can say is, THANK YOU Toy Story.  Grafton got a dvd player for the car and as far as I'm concerned, it is the best invention eva.  While we were there, we drove to Oxford to see my grandparents, drove to Fulton, MS to see Will's grandparents, aunts and uncles, slept a lot, drank a lot of wine, and played hard with cousin T.  The trip home was less than desirable....  it took 12 hours to get back to Georgetown and Grafton slept 45 minutes the entire trip. 

Grafton turned 2 on December 3rd.  We had a small get together with family and a few close friends, which was perfect.  I was even told that it was the best 2 year old party they'd been to.  Probably because of the pizza and all of the wine.  In a way, I'm regretting the party because we had to tell him that he was 2.  And now he acts like a two year old.  And I'm just going to say that I'm not digging the birthday being so close to Christmas.   

In mid-December, I took a quick trip to Miami for work, then turned around and flew to Charlotte, NC to see my sister-in-law and her family.  We drove up to Beech Mountain for the weekend with 3 other families - 9 adults, 14 teenagers and 1 toddler.  That many teenagers in the same house with me for 3 straight days was slightly insane.  I have never seen so much pasta and milk consumed in my life.  Once again, we laughed a lot, drank a lot of wine, and played hard.  Oh, and my SIL fractured her wrist.  We've been skiing together twice, and both times she has managed to bust her ass walking on the ice.  And both times, it was pretty damn funny.   I'm just saying.  Oh, and Grafton did not like the snow at all.  Damn you, Texas.

After Beech Mountain, we all came back to Texas to have Christmas with the Burlesons.  13 people in one house for 5 days.  I'm a little Burleson'd out, but it was so much fun.  We ate a lot (as usual), drank a lot of wine (as usual), exchanged fabulous $5 gifts on Christmas eve, played Battle of the Sexes (which got a little out of control), got our nails did, did a little shopping, and had professional pics taken of the entire family.  I was in charge of the photo shoot, which meant getting to boss everyone around (what else is new), and coordinating outfits....and no, we did not wear black and denim or khaki and white.  I think I missed my calling yall, but my photographer won't pay me..   (pictures to come)

We had a New Years Eve party at our house this year.  I was a little nervous because NYE is a big night to live up to, but it turned out to be FABULOUS!!  To add extra stress during the holidays, we made it a costume party.  Everyone had to dress up as characters from the movies.  We had Pulp Fiction, Brokeback Mountain, Pirates of the Carribean, Best in Show and Top Gun.  Oh, and Richard Simmons and Jane Fonda showed up.  Our kitchen turned into Dance Party USA, and we ended the night with breakfast casserole at 4am.  I would say that it was a success.  And the recovery lunch at the neighbors was icing on the cake. 

And now it's 2011.  I'm back at work, still taking down Christmas decorations and coming up with my list of New Year's resolutions, which I'll post this week.  Apparently last year, I thought I'd make good on it by posting it for all to see.  Well, I managed to do 2.5 of the 5 items on my list, the 1/2 being blogging more.  It will be on my list again. 

Cheers!