Put A Bird On It

A friend sent me this hilarious video that pretty well sums up my love for birds. Of the fake variety, that is. Enjoy!

He he.  Isn't that too cute?

Have a lovely day! 

The Hardest Button to Button

Last night I worked out for the first time in months.  This is sad, people.  I want to give you excuses about the holidays and our crazy, busy schedule but they all sound lame.  Which brings me to my next goal for 2011.

Goal number 3: Get in shape - have fun while working out.

This, my friends, is the hardest button to button.

I want to be healthy but I lack motivation.  Hence the "have fun" addendum of my goal.  I hope that by keeping a smile on my face I can convince myself that working out is an enjoyable hobby and something to look forward to.

While Eric and his friend Owen hit the weights, I went to a spin class and did, in fact, enjoy myself.  My bum is rather sore today from the seat and I feel a proud sliver of accomplishment each time it hurts.

My favorite way to have fun while working out is to hit the great outdoors.  And when spring finally arrives, I plan to do just that.

{Eric and I at Edward's Point in Chattanooga - a long time ago}

Why then, do I wince in sharing this with you?  

Do you have any goals you're afraid to share?  

You're Killing Me Smalls

My name is Stephanie and I'm addicted to Craigslist searches in other cities.  Recently, the keywords "vintage" and "retro" led me to the following finds in Nashville, TN.  I don't think I'm ready to buy a new chair yet.  Searching is too much fun. Enjoy!

{Modern Retro Sofa - $195, Vintage Theatre Seats - $120, Tufted Violet Armchair - $100}

I promise promise I'll post something other than chairs and the color purple this week.  

Purple Power

Speaking of purple, it's pull is most powerful in deep hues and rich textures.

This chair, from World Market, is beautiful and on sale for $140.00.  

Maybe this could be the "the one"!

It's Baaack!

Remember the debacle that was the sold-out blue pillow?  Well, folks, it's back.

Of course, the original price of $32.00 is back , too.  I'm going to sit this one out for a bit.  Keep my eye on the sale page and wait for it to drop to $9.99.

Heck, I may even grab the purple one if it goes on sale first.

  

Purple is starting to call my name.

Music to My Ears

During our New Years trip to Nashville, we visited Grimey's and Third Man Records to drop a few dollars on new music.  I found The Ettes on vinyl and Eric purchased two cd's of my new favorite band: The Greenhornes.

 

The Greenhornes - 4 Stars

You may remember two of these guys from The Raconteurs, where they joined forces with Jack White to create two hip and rocking albums.  We saw them in concert at the Ryman a few years ago and I smiled the entire time (this may have something to do with the fact that Jack White was wearing a gold jacket and pants with proportionally correct bone placement painted on the front and back, which totally cracked me up).  

 

Garage rock mixed with "oooh's" and "aah's", a droning keyboard or twangy guitar make for an endearing sound that draws me in each time Eric hits play.  I'm washing dishes or reading a magazine and can't keep myself from saying, "I really like these guys!" over and over.  Good thing we are going to see them in Chattanooga in April where they will follow an amazing opening band, Hacienda. Below is a video of one of my favorite songs from their latest album. It's acoustic and different than most of their songs, but a lovely way to introduce you to them.  

 

Get Me Out of Here - by The Greenhornes, 4 Stars

I must admit, however, I am currently addicted to one of their older albums, Dual Mono.  Be sure to check it out for yourself as I couldn't find any good quality videos to share with you.  Two of the songs feature the lovely and peculiar voice of Holly Golightly and all of the songs are my favorite.

Happy Thursday!

Craigslist Chair

Check out this vintage lounge chair posted on Craigslist in Birmingham, AL (cost - $95).

It reminds me of this beauty from Urban Outfitters (cost - $248).

I am doing a daily craigslist search to find a new chair for our living room. The original one was moved to the dining room to make space for the Christmas tree and there it shall stay. Now, when I'm cooking dinner, my honey sits in a cozy chair nearby to play his acoustic guitar or chat with me about our day.

This chair isn't "the one" but I thought you'd like to see it any way.

Have a lovely day!

Nine Lives

Our war on clutter concluded this weekend with the dreaded guest bedroom.  The (thankfully) enormous closet busted at the seams with outdoor gear, old books, unfinished projects, a desktop computer and much more.  We pulled out every box, emptied and refilled, made trash piles and new thrift store piles and purposefully organized the contents back into their (now spacious) home. 

During the process, I came across the Nikon camera I received for Christmas many years ago.  So long ago that 3.2 megapixels was nice.  I remembered that it does not turn on anymore and the SD card is stuck.  I tossed it into the "would anyone want this for parts?" pile and went about my work.

Eric got the SD card out and turned the camera on.  What?!

This camera has nine lives.

During a backpacking trip with our dear friends, Sam and Rebecca, I took one picture and then dropped it in the sand on the bank of the creek.  It was toast.  Eric's dad took it apart and it functioned perfectly.

Then, Eric borrowed it on a trip to North Carolina with his friend, Wes.  Ice tools in hand, they climbed a 250' frozen waterfall on Whiteside Mountain.  Once at the top, Wes dropped the camera.  In slow motion, it fell all the way down and lodged itself in a deep mound of snow.  Eric rescued it, set it in front of the car heater on the drive home and it thawed out nicely. (Below are a few amazing pictures from their trip, including the mountainside the camera was dropped from).

See?  Nine lives.  I'm so excited, though, because it made for such a nice segue into my next goal for 2011.

Goal Number 2: Take more pictures - bring a camera along!

We now have Eric's Canon, my Nikon and my new Polaroid Instant Camera.  No excuses.  This year, we are making memories and taking note of them. 

Please share - what are some of your goals for the new year?

A New Year

This past fall I traveled to Chattanooga for work.  Finding myself alone in my most favorite of places, I browsed Frasier Ave like a regular tourist and brought home a few inexpensive treats. 

One such treat was an tiny, old-school journalist flip-top notepad.  I have always wanted to be the woman who jots down ideas and thoughts as she goes throughout her day so she can actually remember them later. 

Finally, it has a job.  Storing my 2011 goals. 

I've never written resolutions before.  I am not much one for setting goals.  But I have this notepad now and it is begging to be used. 

It works like a charm.

Goal number 1: Keep a clean, organized home.

Simple enough, right?  As soon as our feet hit the cush apartment floor Sunday afternoon, we made a beeline for the bedroom closet and organized to our hearts content.  We have since organized the kitchen cabinets (even under the sink!) the bathroom and laundry room.  Old, unused items are sitting in garbage bags awaiting their ride to the thrift store.  Everthing in it's place.

My mom helped us in this endeavor with the cute-as-pie owl letter holder she gave me for Christmas.  Mail seems to make its way into every nook and cranny in our apartment and I'm sure it feels special now that it has a home.

In closing (seems like the right thing to say at the end of such a long post), this blog needs more lovin' and I intend to show it how much I care, starting today.

Happy 2011!