Tile Decision 2011

We have been talking about re-doing our shower since we bought our house in 2004. We had some guys come over and give us a quote last week and it came in where we expected and we're pulling the trigger! The next step was to pick out our tile. To prepare, we stopped for a lunch beer on the way to Home Depot. John's beer was "Brewed for Good Times," so how could we lose?
Awesomely enough, we agreed on everything. John took pictures so we had the SKUs and we were done! Off for a victory beer to celebrate our success...
OK, maybe 2 victory beers.
One the way home, we stopped to pick up a couple shirts at the dry cleaners. Alas, it was closed. But since we were already parked, maybe one more drink. On the way out, we met this guy being all cute and friendly.
It was a gorgeous night and on our way home we saw all of these birds hanging out on the power lines outside our house.
So we made them popcorn.
Then we watched them as we sat outside on our step on sipped some wine. in our sweats. in January. How awesome is that?

Fashion Friday

I had an animal print theme going but wanted to be more discreet than rocking my long animal scarf so for this first time ever, I tied this small one around my neck and I liked it! I also love that my reversible stocking cap shows the hint of its pattern when worn black side out. but obviously...
this outfit was about the boots.

Wordless Wednesday: trumped by John

Wordless Wednesday

Tress-olution

My New Year's Resolution is to be a better, more creative, hair fixer. The great thing about long hair is that you can do lots with it. Still I find myself, day in and day out, throwing my hair into a makeshift bun and clipping it, or looking in the mirror at said bun and thinking "good enough" while I run out the door. I've added some headbands and barrettes and various weird claspy things to my arsenal and I'm doing alright. I still have to rock the old faithful bun for dance and running, but I've refined it a little for everyday use, and use it now as one of my styles, not the only one. As I was complaining to myself that it took a lot of time I was reminded of a couple years ago when I thought it would be fun to get braids in Mexico. It took forever. ...or so I thought
What really took forever was taking them out. Once I decided to tackle it, it took me 5 hours. and then I had this...
This is not going into the 2011 hairstyle queue.

a lovely 54 degree day in January...

Saturday was gorgeous! We had to get some supplies for an upcoming adventure and walked to the store and back in our hoodies. no coats required! Later that afternoon, the lovely Jens came over and we hung out and drank champagne. It was also warm and dry enough that I finally got to put my new bumper sticker on my car! Yay!
After the Jens went home, JJ and I danced around the living room for a bit and then decided to go visit our neighbors, Noel and Irina. John tries to snack on the baby....
I watch to make sure he doesn't actually eat the baby...
Fashionista in training..
He tries again with the sneak attack.
I taught 8 year old Maddie how to stand on her head. a side note: Going back and forth between headstands and your drink may not be the best idea. It ensures that all of the alcohol goes directly to your brain.
After a super fun and longer than expected night, we took it easy on Sunday but did make a stop at our regular haunt for some hair of the dog...
weekends are too short.

*photos from Noel's house shamelessly stolen from Irina.

Fashion Friday

This Fashion Friday is brought to you by last week. I had grand illusions of doing outfit photos of all my outfits for SKO this week, but it didn't happen. Not even once. For one, it was mostly early mornings and late evenings and the last thing I wanted to do was get busted by some newly met co-worker rocking my poses in front of my tripod.
So anyway, here's one of my warm outfits from last week.. Leggings and skirt with legwarmers, booties, coat, scarf and headband. I was also awesomely warm in the office as I had planned my outfit around the scarf and legwarmers. It's surprising what a difference they make.

Work is fun.

As I mentioned earlier, this has been our SKO week at work. It is full of meetings and networking and ideas and plans. I love it. It is also full of drinking and snacks and more drinking. Tuesday was our holiday party... This is me and Husband, who is also my co-worker!



This is my beloved team, known around the office as Charlie's Angels. (OK we might be picking our own nickname..)


I love my job.

Wordless Wednesday

(from Kim's camera)

I would totally wear my cheerleading outfit...

This week is our SKO (Sales Kick Off). It's like Spirit week at work. Go Team!

Cubemate

I always like to have a Betta. Sometimes they live in little tanks and sometimes I just put one in my regular tank. I recently lost Bob the Betta, who had been living in my smaller community tank since his house was lost in the unfortunate Christmas tragedy of '09. I picked up another betta to replace him (also, Bob the Betta. It's just a good Betta name) and put him in my community tank. Well, Bob the Second was not nearly as tough as Bob the first, and got his little fish ass kicked the first night. I put him in a vase and as soon as I got back from Mexico, moved him into my office. Since then, his stubby little tail is coming back and he splashes at me when he wants a snack.

Kitties vs Fish: A night at our house

It starts with the analysis of the tank and it's inhabitants, and then there's an attack...


Backup arrives. You can see the wheels turning in that simple little head..


WHY CAN"T I CATCH YOU!


and then she gives up...for an hour or so. Both cats do this and it is awesome.

Fashion Friday

RED! As I made a quick trip through the Buffalo Exchange last weekend hoping to stumble upon a great brown skirt (you are becoming the bane of my existence, brown...), I saw this beautiful red number for $8 and loved it when I tried it on. The awesomest part? It's homemade. Whoever made this did an amazing job. I can't believe how light and twirly it is....
I knew right away that I would wear it with my fancy red shoes that I got for K-Tite's wedding. I wore this on Tuesday, the super cold day this week. I have two pairs of tights on and wore my boots to work and then switched into the awesome shoes. I didn't expect to wear my scarf all day, but I love the extra cozy look it gave the outfit and I felt fashionable and warm on this very chilly day. To be figure flattering in the cold is hard, so I was proud of this. Lastly, a 2011 resolution is to be better about my hair and this is the first time I rocked it with a headband, and I liked it. Maybe because it was red glitter? Maybe.

PS: Husband took my pictures this week and boy, that is so much easier than using the tripod. I'm beginning to think the issue with my tripod photos is that the timer just can't focus as well.

"What happened in Mexico?"

Said by Erin the first day she learned this routine and by Carrie the first day she learned it :) Apparently, I come back from Mexico with some spice. It's probably just margarita salt.

Wordless Wednesday

Catpiles

They go between this and chasing each other through the house. adorable.

Weekend Photo Assignment: Sidewalk Sightings

Popcorn.
Chickens.
Smiley Face.
Why do people do bad things..like graffiti?
Homeless husband.
random.
OK this wasn't from the sidewalk, but it was delicious.
The party's over.

Fashion Friday

As I mentioned here, I've wanted to wear this little gem with jeans. It's satin-y, so its a little bit fancy. Luckily, a New Years Eve early evening drink is a perfect opportunity to be a little bit fancy! I added the rhinestone belt, necklace and earrings and was ready to go! I really love this piece. It gives me more curves than I actually have because of how beautifully it's made. For as figure enhancing as it is, there's no boning and because it's a leotard, it never moves around or needs adjustment. It's super comfy. I felt pretty elegant in this simple black/denim/rhinestone combo and will definitely wear this outfit again.

January 6.

January 6 is a big day at our house. This was surgery day two years ago. Between December 3 and January 6 we talk a lot about how we spent that time between finding out John had cancer and the surgery to remove it. The surgery was by no means the end of that journey, but the very crucial step that allowed there to actually be a journey. I'll never forget how hard it was to leave my husband that morning and how happy I was to see him that night. Nor will I forget the time I spent in between. John goes in tomorrow for the results of his two year scan and we look forward to it being clear and having something to celebrate. I love you, JJ, and am proud of how much you are committed to this fight.

Wordless Wednesday

Happy New Year!

A couple weeks ago, we heard about a masquerade party in Pendleton that we wanted to attend for New Years and then found out that JJ had to be in town for work. Luckily, the stuff he had to do got moved to Thursday and we decided at the last minute to head out to Pendleton! It was a beautiful drive through the gorge and we arrived in Pendleton for a late lunch and a couple beers....
We grabbed a bottle of champagne on our way to our hotel and chilled it in a snow filled garbage can while we watched a movie... Classy, right?
We went out for an early dinner and came back to get all masked up for a night on the town!
It was a super fun party with good music and good food and lots of masked folks wandering throughout Hamley's giant upstairs bar. We had a blast.
Happy New Year!