Plate This

Toile Plate found on Ebay (Chinese Village)


Joan of Arc



Great American Poets


Mors Dag (Mother's Day) 1971



Pretty Ebay Plate


I have decided to collect plates. I told Sean this and his response was, "Like Nascar commemorative plates?!?" For a split second I could not distinguish if I heard excitment or disgust in his voice, I quickly looked for reformation by saying "Yes, like the Dale Earnhart one" and he promptly responded "No" (Thank God)

Anyway, when I showed him the pics of these plates this was not really what he was thinking about either. He hates the American Poets one, which happens to be my favorite. I also like the Joan of Arc and the Mors Dag. I guess I am liking plates that can also tell a story. I am hoping to start the collection as soon as possible.

The Early Bird always......

I would like to share a typical morning at Casa de Stellarmom. At first I hated that I was always the one running around like a chicken with my head cut off in the morning while my husband just "relaxed" at work. But, I am beginning to really enjoy my time with the kids in the morning. Every morning the first thing Lu-Lu says when I go to get her out of bed is "Ea Mummie hungwey" (translation: I am ready to eat mother so feed me immediately or suffer the consequences). So we go to the kitchen together and the conversation always goes something like this:

"Lu-Lu do you want cereal?"
"Nooooooooo"
"What about some cereal?"
"Noooooooo"
"How about I make you some cereal"
"Otay!"

She eats her breakfast (most of which she winds up wearing) then we move on to the "duece" (or as we adults refer to it "juice") part of the morning which goes some thing like this:

"Do you want Apple Juice, Lu Lu?"
"Nooooooo"
"Do you want some Apple Juice?"
"Noooooooo"
"Apple Juice?"
"Yesch!"

I feel like a broken record by the time I get to work. Everything Lu Lu does, requires repetition. Thank God the people at work are not like that:

"Do you remember how to log in"
"No"
"Are you sure you do not remember, I showed you yesterday?"
"No"
"Don't you remember clicking that icon and typing in your name?"
"Yes."

Hmmmmm.....maybe working with men HAS made me a better mother!

What do I want to be when I grow up?

A career change has been brewing for a while. I love where I work. I love the people I work with (for the most part....and those I do not love I love talking about them with the people I do love). For weeks now I have had the phone number for Delgado and UNO sitting on my desk. Lets think of the rest of this story like a boxing match:




"In this corner, weighing in at 6,684 students, high accreditation standards and Doctorate education levels, is the University of New Orleans. UNO could offer you a Doctorate of Sociology with a concentration in urban development. You would go to school for 3-4 years and graduate as Dr. Stellarmom. From there you could become a professor of Gender Studies, Drugs and Society, or Woman's Studies."



In the other corner, weighing in at 1,500 students, oldest Community College in Louisiana, and Associate level and Certification programs is Delgado Community College. Delgado offers a 24 month program in which you will train to become certified as a radiologist technician. Once you receive this certification you will be eligible to return for further education to specialize in ultrasounds, sonograms, and even nuclear medicine.


DCC leads with the first punch: 24 months is nothing
UNO follows with a: You can go to school part time
DCC gets back in with a : We are cheaper
and again with a: You will have more options when you graduate.
UNO stumbles with a: You really enjoy Sociology and this would provide an opportunity for you to concentrate on research and writing.
That was a tough hit for DCC I do not know if he can recover. He is trying to get up and he is swinging: More time with your kids, flexible schedule and you can wear scrubs.

IT IS A KNOCK OUT LADIES AND GENTLEMAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Delgado Wins!!!!

I will be a Radiologist Technician when I grow up!!! DCC here I come!

Kicking Ass and Taking Names (subtitled: My weekly cure accomplishments)

Now I purposely did not post until today because I needed just one more night to really get ahead. Last week was my week #2 of the cure and I freakin rocked it.

First, I actually went and purchased a ton of Method Cleaning Product from my favorite store in the universe, Target (pronounced Tarjay). The rehab bag is totally mine. So I attacked my kitchen on Saturday, it was amazing. I went through the fridge, every cabinet, cleaned the cabinet lining. I threw out any appliance we had not used in a year (which was surprisingly our blender). I also tossed the magic bullet (I know what you are thinking but it is a kitchen appliance....we don't get to the bedroom until week 7). I have never felt so comfortable in my kitchen. Then I started taking all the brick-brack and throwing it in the outbox. By the time I finished I looked around and could not believe how huge my kitchen really is.

For some reason a clean kitchen inspired me. I sat down and wrote a meal plan for the week. I marinated steaks, steamed some cabbage, brussel sprouts, and chicken and veggie soup. When I was done pretending to be Emiril (Bam! Bitches). I re-cleaned the ENTIRE kitchen. I did notice that I REALLY need to invest in some new Tupperware. I have never been a phenomenal cook but I can hold my own. So during the week I planned on making garlic-lime chicken, with soybeans and Asian Coleslaw....but everything went crazy. I was late leaving work, the kids were clingy and whiny and I just was not prepared enough. So dinner turned into skillet chicken marinated in Zea's Thai sauce, roasted portabella mushrooms and a blue cheese wedge salad. Total time, 30 minutes. I guess I needed the reminder that it does not take a whole lot to cook a really great meal.

Another factor in my new found cooking obsession may be our....BRAND NEW KITCHEN TABLE. That is right, no more sitting on the sofa and eating off tv trays. We have a table now. It was a steal from K-mart under $300 for the table, 4 chairs and a bench (which was the selling point). Sean and I had a great time putting it together and can not wait to get into the dining room to finish the look.

Last night, we primed almost 75% of the kitchen. After last weeks meltdown about kitchen color - this week I read Maxwell's 80/20 rule. This information would have been helpful last week when I was trying to paint my kitchen bright orange. Anyway, we are hoping to finish the priming tonight and then tackle the painting tomorrow.

I have moved on to week 3 of the cure while Hubby finishes in the kitchen. We should have a pretty easy week 3. Which is good after the stress week 2 caused.

A little note of thanks. To J2, D, and Court, I would not have been able to get through my painting woes without you guys. Also, J2 I do not hold you reconcile for my absence from the UTC last week. It was a decision I made. (In retrospect maybe the wrong decision but mine all the same)

My first drunk blog

Let me start by saying how difficult it is to type after some beers. This should be integrated into my sobriety test because it has taken me a good three minutes to type just this last sentence.

Tonight I had a near death experience. And when I say near death, let me explain. First, I thought I saw someone in my back yard. Then the dog in the back started barking. Shortly after, I heard a noise, like something being drug across concrete. So in my mind, there is definably a serial killer in my back yard waiting to pounce. So now you understand the duress I feel.

Because of the killer lurking in my back yard, I started thinking what would happen if I would be brutally murdered tonight. This is a drinking game I often played while at LSU when a serial killer was really a threat. Then, I thought about who would show up to my funeral, what I would be buried in, and if there would be an open bar in heaven. Tonight, all I could think of was another game. A game my friend Ms. D taught me not to long ago. I will play it now:
Addie & Quinn - You are my life. I never understood unconditional love until 2-21-06. Ya'll are the most important things that have ever happened to me. Ya'll are my greatest accomplishments. I knew there was a God the moment I saw your little faces, screaming, red. I knew there was a hell when I found out your sleeping schedules. I would gladly and willingly give my life for your happiness.
Sean - You are the only person how has seen my most horrid side and stayed (for those that read this and think of how horrible they have seen me behave...this is nothing compared to what my husband had endured.) You are my true love. I respect you more then you will ever know and I am so happy that I get to build our lives together. I could not have asked, wished or dreamed of a better husband.
My K-J and Terry- Ya'll were the greatest parents anyone could ask for. I can not go into my true feelings now but you both know. Mom, I have the utmost respect for you. To you both I am sorry about my college years. FYI mom dad paid me almost $200 to take out my piercings...add it to my tab.
Kyle and Chad- thank you for always making me look good. I love you both...mostly because ya'll have the coolest big sister ever.
Brooke- You are a crazy bitch and I love you for it. You have stuck it out with me even when you should have left without question (Mardi Gras '05). You have always been there for me and I can not seem to find the words right now to thank you for that...wait I need to go get another beer...okay, I am back. I am so glad you found love. You deserve it. You will always be my best friend. I love you.
Steph - You are my reality. You always know exactly what to say and when to shut up. I love that sometimes I find myself a little afraid of you. One of my fondest memories, in my life, is when you came to hang out with me while I was pregnant. I think we are more alike then we know and sometimes I know what you are thinking or feeling before you even say it. I have ESPN though, ask my friends from work I read their palms and I was fucking dead on.
Dru - I can not go into this right now without becoming a crying drunk but you know that I love you and respect you and I am so sorry how things turned out. You did not deserve what I did to you. Thank you for being my friend. (not that you really had a choice because I have a signed contract stating you must remain friends with me for life.

Before I go into the UTC group let me acknowledge a couple of more people that came into my head tonight and I must wright more about later(but they do not read the blog so fuck um): Brian, David, the camping group, My Lee, Kelly, Ronda, Nick, Ryan and Nicole, Lori and Thomas. I promise I will get drunk again and write about you all.

Now on to the UTC-

Courtney- You were the first person I was friends with in the UTC...you also told me about SAM'S brand diapers which is the best gift ever. You are my sanity and my role model as a mother. You somehow juggle to boys, a hubby, a career and a social life....it is amazing to me. I would have never made it thought this pregnancy without you. You were right you know about falling in love with the second child the moment that I saw him. When I grow up I hope to be half the mother you are.

J2- I thought you were a bitch at first because I did not understand your quite personality. You are my treat everyday at work. In another life, I think we may have been related (the more you talk about your sister affirms my belief). For my baby shower, I could not believe how much time and effort you put into it. I mean Cournty and I had that maternal bond but you...well you participated because that is who you are. I am so glad we have had the opportunity to become closer. (not close enough for you to move into my house; but, we will re-install the fountain for you to crap in). I admire our passion for your job. You have inspired me to do grater things. And please know every time I see something shiny I think of you. Ask Court about the Target bowls. (And I know when you read this you will have some head shaking and I love this post even more because of that)

Dante- You are another person, for some reason, every time I think about you to write about I start to cry (others please do not get offended...if you have seen hoe I handle people who cry you know this may not be the biggest compliment). If I had a choice to be re-incarnated, I would come back as you. You positive energy is fucking contagious. Wait, I need a beer and maybe more so give me a couple of minutes, I will be back though...okay, I am back. I really need to pee but thanks to J2 my bathroom options are limited. (We may need to contact Maxwell about this situation) Dante, you have honestly changed my prospective on life. I hope you realize what an inspiration you are. I think that is why that Mendella quote mad me think of you because you do shine. You were the first person, from Design, to come and kick it in my office. The CDs you shared were a major plus on the popularity score as well. You make my day brighter just by seeing your smile.

Little Britt - If I had to pick a little sister it would be you. You remind me of myself (except without the pink hair). I know one day you are going to be great. You have so much drive and such centered morals. You make everyone around you feel at ease. You are an incredible person and I am so glad we were able to become closer. I really think you are the glue that brought this group of misfits together. And for that, I will be forever in your debt. This may not be the appropriate thing to say (aka I can envision J2 shaking her head) but do not stay where you are because you can be SO much more, and I am so glad that you and McWhantever are no longer togther because one day you will find someone who treats you like you should be treated. You make me have faith that my children, with the right parenting, can grow up to be well adjusted adults (maybe?). And a little side note, I know sometimes your parents dealings with Ashley piss you off, but after meeting her please know she has nothing but respect for you and although she may never day it, she emulates you.
Mr. MP- Okay, I totally coped out at Lager's so I will tell you straight now. I am so freaking proud of you. I know Sr. PMs who would buckle in you position. You have always had a gift of making people feel comfortable and important. I can not tell you how great it made me feel when I heard you explain who upset you were that I did not say good-bye. You are such a talented person and there are going to be nothing but great things in your future. I am so thankful we had the opportunity to re-acquaint. And I can not tell you how much it means when you consult with me about your house (note: screw Dante....knock down that kitchen wall). If I had the opportunity to pick; I would follow you to every project you managed because you are so easy to work with.

Okay, I had wanted to play this positive game for a while but I was afraid that some people would get there feeling hurt so I need to add a couple of disclaimers. There are some people (Brooke, Court) who I think I often relay my gratitude toward so your praises may be shorter but that is because I know you know how I feel. But there are others I had to go into more detail about. I love you all and when the day comes that I do have to go and "meet my maker" I request the following: Courtney, Dante, and Jessica (that was alphabetical order) please come and make my house a home for Sean and the kids...they deserve that. Brooke and Britt, please oversee the hair, make-up and wardrobe for the services, Steph, I expect you to make sure that if for some reason Sean does get re-married you totally approve (aka scare the skanks off). And, Mr. MP please oversee the construction of my tomb which will be huge based on how many people love me

I am sorry but I have to go it id too hard to type and I need another beer.

Peace.

My Man

Since I posted about LuLu yesterday...it is the Bug's turn. These pictures suck becuase they are from my camera phone. Anyway, these are pictures from the first procedure. As you can see in the 2nd picture, his feet have dramatically improved with casting but still need some work. I am hoping to have a great "after" picture come Nov. 2nd.

Lu-Lu gets involved in the Cure

Last week Lu-Lu participated in the home cure. Hubby and I were in the kitchen sweeping....well hubby was in the kitchen sweeping I was supervising. I went to do a kid check and the above is what I found. We had already cleaned the floors in the living area so if you want to know what all that debris is I will tell you. Apparently, LuLu does not agree with Gillingham-Ryan about the importance of fresh flowers in the home because those little white things sprinkled on the floor are the petals left from the flowers she destroyed.

Embrace the Environment

So this weekend I was education on this "Live Earth" business. We went to this festival out on a lake over the weekend and one of the big issues was pollution. To me, listening to Al Gore (the inventor of the internet) drone on and on about saving the earth did not have the impact of a 6th grader pleading with me to save the environment so he will have clean water when he gets older. So I decided to get involved. If I change one thing per month, I bet by the end of the year I will have added an additonal hour to Mother Earth's approaching death sentence.






Method brand cleaning products, sold at Target stores nation wide, are natural, environmentally friendly cleaning products. Their packaging is also super cool. Well this month if you spend $20 in method product you win this super hot grocery/errand bag. I am SO freaking IN!!!

Embrace Life

I am getting ready to embark on my second week of Apartment Therapy. If I had to grade myself for last week it would be a C. We did awesome at the beginning, but when it came to tackling the tougher issues we crumbled like blue cheese. So we took a three day sabatical from home improvement.

Our accomplishments for week 1:

• Make a list of repairs (ours filled up an entire legal pad!)
• clean the floors (we skipped vacuuming the kids room and the office because we are lazy)
• Get rid of one piece of big furniture - we parted with a coffee table that we were not using and our rug which was in the den.
• I tried to sit in D-Bugs room for 10 minutes but it made me depressed so I decided to make his room the "Outbox" (Do not freak out he is not in there yet....he is still in the pack-n-play next to my bed)
• Hubby felt up the walls. I will have to go back and check.
• Started experimenting with color in the kitchen....so far not so great.

When I read Chapter One of Apartment Therapy by Mr. Gillingham-Ryan, I found his absurd obsession with a connection between order at home and happiness nauseating. I refused to believe that by throwing some old crap out of my home and cleaning the stuff I had left would alter my normally gloomy disposition. Yet, after some soul searching and home cleaning I have found that by redefining my home I am redefining my self. It is actually pretty cool.

When we threw out our old coffee table it was like letting go of all the horrible memories trapped in it. Even though there were some really good memories the stress it caused over the past year because I could not just "through it out" was really pretty intense. The more I get rid of the more I remember my love for shopping. During my first pregnancy and the months that followed the birth of Lu-Lu I went from fashion forward to fashion victim. And then I just gave up!!! Not just on my personal appearance but on the appearance of everything....except for my kids.

I find myself looking at the things I have collected over the past couple of years and it is sad. This weekend I tackled my closet. It was like the band aid of Apartment Therapy. I needed to rip it off. I needed to purge the closet. I had to. It took almost 5 hours and an entire box of Kleenex but I did it and now it is over. I packed up the maternity clothes, and I gave the "pre-LuLu" pants to charity. For some reason I was under the disillusion that one day they may fit again but I decided to forsake that supercilious goal. By Sunday afternoon I was feeling pretty good about myself. By Sunday night, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror and thought, for having a 20 moth old and a 3 month old I look pretty damn good.

Thank you Mr. Gillingham-Ryan, for not only changing my home, but for changing me!! So last night after checking myself out in the mirror I decided what I really need to start concentrating on is Embracing Life. I like to plan and then I like to think of every negative thing that could happen and plan some more. With all the planning I do I have very little if any time to really participate in anything. So for the remainder of October I am going to try to do something everyday to help me remember the importance of embracing all the blessings I have in my life.

Weird Day

Hubby and I took parenting classes before the birth of LuLu. They went over the basics: washing, feeding, and under no circumstance shaking. But they don't really "prepare" you for what motherhood really is all about.


Today I went to an OR, an ER, an imaging lab, talked to at least two different doctors, a radiologist and countless nurses. The class failed to mention how to handel situations like today and because of this I kindly request my $75 back. First D-bug had the second part of his cord lengthening procedure. Everything is looking great. We left Children's Hospital all smiles only to find out that LuLu's limp, that we thought was just a by-product of being tired or maybe drunk (who knows with kids these days), was still limping and had resorted to crawling as the travel method of choice. So we had to take her to the doctor and then to get x-rays.




They came and told us that nothing was broken of fractured. They failed to explain the limping but at least we know it is not because anything is broken. (please detect subtle sarcasam) So my daughter will spend the rest of her life walking like a hobbit because if nothing is broken it must just be a psycho-sematic limp..... in a twenty month old.




By the time Hubby and I got home we were exhausted. Exhausted, but still dedicated to our A.T. mission. We went to Helm Paint to look for paint colors and our little Hobbit crippled around the store. (I was waiting for people to start throwing money at her). We desided, kind of, on Roasted Seasme for the kitchen. Although after sampling, I am not do sure. I have found, however, the more I drink the better it looks.




So after our paint store experience we took the Hobbit and Cast-Boy home and finally got them to bed. I had prepared a lovely meal for my husband. I am actually kind of proud of it. I baked some eggplant and served it with a red sauce (Ragu from the can) with baby portabella mushrooms and feta cheese.

The Tabloids Stole My Karma

I spent a lot of time in my bathroom this weekend, due to the fact that every germ any child goes to daycare with LuLu brings home to MaMa. (Of course this was not as bad as the time my husband contracted pink eye and had to take a medical leave from work...but it was close). Anyway, so in the little magazine basket in the bathroom is where I stash trash magazines. I know the definition of trash magazine differs between males and females so let me explain. To a male a "bathroom trash" magazine is something with nude, or half nodes models (ie: my Victoria's Secret Catalog .... thank you for ruining my pleasent home shopping experience by turning my catalog into something lewd and disgusting). To a female it is hardcore tabloid gossip...the dirtier, the better.

So as I sat going trough all the goods from "Brittney's Cries For Help" to "Anna Nicole Speaks From the Grave". I just could not stop myself. By Sunday night I was feining the trash....I could not sleep without knowing what LC was going to do to Spencer, why Richie loves Joel, how in hollywood has an eating disorder and ALL of the worst dressed lists. All the trash reading has TOTALLY messed up my karma so far this week.


We had to take LuLu and D-Bug grocery shopping with us. Have you ever seen a rodeo where the rodeo clowns run around after the bull. Well Sean and I were the clowns and LuLu was the bull. First, we had to get the stupid basket with the car attached to the front. They are impossible to steer, and are magnetically attracted to hit everyone and everything in their path. I do not know why they have to keep those carts in plain sight for kids to see, they should be by request only. It is like the candy on the checkout asile, but I digress. So we get LuLu into the cart and start the grocery experience from hell.

She stayed in the cart for 0.32 seconds and then started screaming "out!". We picked up speed but two rows later she had escaped and was running recklessly down the asile. I employed a "grab and go" manuver much like you used to see on Supermarket Sweep. We sucessfully kept her from breaking anything glass, although she did dent a couple of cans (which was fine by me because you get a discount on dented cans). I gathered the food, the babies and my hubby and proudly walked out of the grocery knowing it was awesome we had just accomplished a weeks worth of grocrery shopping without anyone losing an appendgae or any major tantrums. As the slidding doors cowered in my great presence they opened to display a black sky with rain pouring from the heavens. By the time Sean and I got the kids and the food into the car there was not a dry spot on us.



As we pull out we realize at Rouse's there is actually a huge covered drive thru, where an attendent waits with your cart while you drive you car under the shelter to load the groceries in the dry covered area.



Last night we did the Apartment Therapy initial repair walk through and that is when the depression REALLY kicked in. All I could compare it to is the story of David and Golith. The house is Golith. Seans suggestion was to get the kids out and "accidentially" start an electrical fire. We broke each big job into several pieces, which made it a little better but still very OVERWHELMING.




Here are some mantras to hopefully improve my karma:
I am happy. It is normal to have homicidal thoughts. I am intellegent. Much more intellegent then most of the people I work with. I am clever. Clever enough to dispose of the bodies and not get caught. I am humorous. No really I crack my shit UP!

Why kids today don't wrap it up

In this day and age everyone is trying to "improve" everything. Everything needs to be faster, more efficient, cheaper, whatever. Well we have taken it too far. Now I had a problem when my phone, my ipod, and my camera were all rolled into one thing but I at least I understand the reasoning behind not having to carry three different electrical devices in your pocket and/or purse.

For those of you who are unaware of the travesty that has taken place I will let you in on a little secret. The people at Reynolds Wrap who are also famous for making cigarettes (so this is definitely a name brand you should trust) have installed a razor cutter to cut the Saran wrap. There used to be little metal teeth lining the top cover of the box that accomplished the goal of separating the piece from the rest of the roll pretty adequately. Well, after about twenty minutes of trying to get the got damn thing to "slide" back or forth with no freaking luck I just put aluminum foil over the left overs.

This will be added to my boycott list which I am starting tonight. Feel free to join the revaluation!

Why does Mr. Columbus have a day??

I have always been awe-struck by Christopher Columbus day the man "discovered" a land that was already inhabited. That would be like George W. Bush flying to Africa sticking an American flag into the ground and "discovering" a new land....full of people! (And lets not put it past Mr. Bush to try).







Anyway, I had an excellent weekend despite the fact that my kids and I all have some stomach "virus". Friday night we had an impromptu UTC meeting @ Outback Steakhouse and then Saturday Sean and I went to the LSU v Florida game in Baton Rouge. There I almost loss my voice, along with 92,000 other fans in a packed stadium cheering the tigers to victory! The second picture is right after they announced that USC lost to Stanford (by 1 point). The crowd erupted because now LSU is #1 in the nation no matter whose "poll" you are going by!





Today is the first day of my Home Cure and hubby and I plan on walking the house today to make a list of everything that needs to be repaired. We also gave ourselves a dead line of Wednesday to have some "style" pictures picked out. That way we can discuss some project for the upcoming weeks and have a better understanding of what "realistically" can be done in each room.





Lastly, Halloween is right around the corner. This is the first year Hubby and I are really "celebrating". Our first Halloween I was all alone in Austin, I bought 2 huge bags of candy only to find out that NO ONE in our apartment complex went trick or treating. Last year was Addie's first Halloween but so much was going on in our lives that we waited till the last minute and just threw some decorations out. We had some trick or treaters (and one random teenager that showed up without a bag and did not even say "trick or treat" he just put his hand out and grunted). So yesterday we started the graveyard and hung the lights. In LuLu and D-Bug's windows (which face the front of the house) we hung these scary forest w/ ghost scenes. In the foyer we hung these two shadows that look like people being tortured. We also changed the light bulbs in the foyer to black and orange to give it an eerie glow. I started with the cob webs but got side tracked to watch Cinderella with Lu Lu before bedtime. I will post some pics so we can all be on the same page.

My ideas....

So Hubby and I decided to have a sit down on Wednesday to talk about our apartment therapy. We have very different ideas about where we want our house to go but neither of us is very good at verbalizing it so we have resorted to stealing other peoples ideas. We have to some up with some pictures of things we like. They do not have to be room specific just a general idea of each others "style".



When we bought our house it was about 15 years old. It is in an awesome section of town with plenty of kids. I have a front yard and a back yard and the interior, or "the bones" are excellent. The problem that we keep running into is the man we bought the house from was a contractor who loved to do (but was not really good at) home renovations. So our home is filled with cheaply done solutions to problems that are now going to be even more expensive to fix. For example they wall papered over wallpaper which they initially put on top of the Sheetrock. Or that they put up a border in the foyer and then textured the wall. He also redid the kitchen with some questionable choices of materials.



Anyway, I know I can not get ahead of myself. Even though I would like nothing better then to gut the kitchen and both baths I must concentrate on what really needs to be done. I am hoping that by changing the little things that REALLY bother me I will be able to overlook the popcorn ceiling in every room (at least for a little while).


This is my idea for the kitchen. We have a breakfast area that is not quite big enough for a kitchen table. Yet, a lot of our "life" happens in the kitchen. I think the color would work perfectly with our counter tops and cabinets, plus I think we could use this color in the kitchen and in the dining room which are adjoined.

I really like the wicker chairs and the window treatments, which give the room that "natural feel". I am trying to convince Hubby to let me try and paint our Den the color of the cushions on the chairs. We will see how that turns out.




The colors in here are cool but they are not us. I really like the concept here though, using paint on the wall to create a focal point. In our dining area, one side faces the front yard and there is a wall of windows but I never knew how to create another focal point, that would not compete with the windows. So I think we are going to try this. Color selection to be determined.



The picture is a little "modern" but I am really digging the grey wall color. Although the more I look at it the less and less it excites me. I think the only reason the gray works here is because of the wildly vivid accent colors which I could never pull off (nor do I think I really want to)

The interview

First, I would like to say that after some soul searching I am a warm person. I really wanted to be a cool person, but I am not. I have to admot to what I am so I can move forward. I am a warm person.

The Interview

1. List your Favorites:

Actress- Charlize Theron, Ashley Judd, Hallie Barry

Actor- Hugh Jackman, Josh Hartnett, Steve Carell

Artist- Michalopoulos, Canova, Osborn

Writer- Maguire, Chopin, Mellor

Music- Pierces, Kayne West, Incubus

Restraunts- Sake Cafe, Outback Steak House, La Madeline

Automobile- Acadia, Volvo, Scion

Television Show- House, Criminal Minds, Office

Clothing Designer or Store- Ann Taylor Loft, Banana Republic, Gap



2. How would you describe your style?

* A little rock-n-roll

* Pottery Barn-isque

* Simple



3. Where have you lived?

Where you were born: NOLA

Where you grew up: Metairie, Mandeville, New Orleans

As an adult: Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Metairie, Louisiana; Houston, Texas; Austin, Texas; Mandeville, Louisiana



4. Whom would you consider a role model?


My mother


5. What three adjectives describe the qualities that you admire in this person?

* Strength

* Unique

* Sincere



6. What is the problem with your home?

* It is a mod-pog of furniture, clutter, and questionable color choices

* We have no idea how to make this house our home. Since we have been married we have moved so often that we never really have "settled in" anywhere

* We have way too much crap!



7. If your home could speak, what would it say is the problem?


My house would think it was white trash because it has too much lipstick and too much rouge. Like a teenage girl that trys to dress like the celerbities in magazines but looks like a clown because she is unable to make the style "her own".


8. What one thing would you like to do or do more of in your home?


I would like to spend more time living in my home, entertaining, playing with the kids, cuddeling with my husband.


9. Eight weeks from now, when this project is done, if friends came to visit, how would you like them to describe your home?

I would like them to find it warm and inviting, hip and interesting. I would like all of them to leave saying "it is just so Kelli"

Apartment Therapy

It is hard being the only "non-designer" with all design-inclined co-workers. I mean I can barely get my own clothes to match much less the walls of my house. Last Thursday at our weekly UTC meeting it was brought to my attention that one of my co-workers, J2, had received some notoriety on a blog because of her apartment. Curious I went to http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ to check it out. Since then, my whole life has been changing (mind you that is a lot of change for 7 days).

After spending more time then I care to discuss on the website and countless conversation with J2 about "the cure" I decided it was time for me to join the Apartment Therapy cult (please God, keep me safe from corrugated metal). So tonight I went and bought the book that the website is based off of, apartment therapy, the eight-step cure, by maxwell gillingham-ryan. After I got the kiddos to bed I dived right in.

For those of you that are unhappy with your home, or for those that just do not feel like there house is a home I highly recommend this book. I am not even finished and I feel like a whole new person. The basis of the book is Americans need to "consume" and "buy to fix". We buy things and then hypernest, unable to let anything go. Then instead of confronting problems, in our lives or in our homes, we buy something that promises to be a "quick-fix" but winds up being additional clutter.

I will post my journey through this eight-step cure, staring tomorrow with the opening interview.

Operation

Do you remember that game we played as kids Operation? You know the guy with the really big nose and exposed innards. You had to use these tweezers to pick the miscellaneous crap out of the patients body without touching the vital organs (or something along those lines). Well yesterday that game was the only thing I could think of as the surgeon carried my 2 month old into the operating room. I just prayed the Dr. was better at the "operation" then I was or we were in big trouble.

Turns out, he must have been a master at the game, that is probably why he become a Doctor, (Just like my friend who became a skater because he was so awesome at Tony Hawke Nintendo games) because Doodlebug made it through surgery with great results. He had his Achilles tendon on both feet cut to help his foot relax into a more normal position. So now he is back in casts and back at home.

We arrived at the hospital yesterday at 6am and he had not had anything to eat since 2 in the morning so I thought he was going to be irate but really he slept all the way until we were in the pre-op/triage room. When he woke up he was all smiles and by the time the surgeon came to get him he was laughing (I was hysterically crying but.... turns out they do not medicate the mommies, only the babies.) The procedure lasted 43 minutes and the Doctor was pleased with the results. We have a complete correction on the left foot and a "close enough" correction on the right.

So by November we will be out of casts and into braces (YES!!!!) Doodlebug goes back next week and has new casts but on.

These are a few of my favoite things:

Lu-lu's OCD Cleaning habits...
She loves to clean. Give the girl a bleach wipe and she will clean the floor, the cabinets, her brother, the furniture. She is a cleaning machine! I guess why I find this so amuzing is Sean and I completly abhor cleaning of any kind so we are not sure where she learned how to do this (Just kidding K - we know that it is you!)





D-Bug falling asleep in my arms (and usually in my bed....I know, I know I will regret co-sleeping). Lu hated sleeping with her parents. Other moms talked about how hard it was to get their children out of their beds and mine would not sleep in my bed if I dosed her with bedadryl. So I totally enjoy that Bug cuddels with me every morning after his 5 am feeding. For a while we just stare at each other smiling, and then he slowly drifts off. I watch as his little eyes flicker to the back of his head and then I pass out from sheer exhaustion next to him until the damn alarm clock goes off at 5:30am.




Halloween Weather
There is just something about October weather that I love. October 1st I always get all my Halloween Stuff down and my long sleeve shirts come out. Since I abhor summer (and I live in New Orleans so the summers are pretty long) October means that I will no longer break a sweat from simply walking out my front door. Plus it means Halloween is coming and that is by far my favorite holiday of the year, beside St. Patirck's Day and Mardi Gras.

Bumble&Bumble Hair Product
Enough said on this one. If I were rich I would own them all. It is like crack for my hair!!!

My new find: Apartment Therapy (Thanks J2)
So I work with a bunch of hip designers who are totally "with it" when it comes to the latest and greatest interior fashions and I think edgy is Pottery Barn so when J2 told me about this website I was aprehensive to say the least. My concerns grew as the first thing I saw were circle chairs and fluffy light fixtures. But really they have excellent ideas, tips and inspiration. Plus, it has actually helped me broaden my horizon on interior design....I am going to totally request a Crate and Barrel catalog!

My IPod
Ode to My Ipod,
You keep My happy when I am blue
You play Mr. West and Common too
You keep me mellow with Amy and Chrisette
And keep me smiling with a little 50 and the Pierces
At night when I can not sleep
You play my meditation podcast so I can retreat.
Oh ipod, oh ipod what would I do....
What would I do if I ever lost you???

Starbucks Vanialla Latte's w/2 Splenda

Freaking delicious!!!! I remember reading about the manna in the Bible that rained down from heaven. Well, Starbucks made it into a beverage!

Lexapro
Two kids under two. A husband, a house, exteded family that is not familier with "boundries". Fuck, Tom Cruise....this shit is awesome!!!!

8 o'clock PM
This is the magical hour when both kids are in bed and the bags are packed and by the door and I get to sit and watch televison. My house is quiet and still. My babies are dreamind lovely dreams, and it is the time I take my Lexapro!

UPDATE.....Impotrant Information About ME!

One of my new resolutions is to keep up with blogging. I know I have made this promise time and time again, but this time I am serious. I also decided that I needed to start a new blog because now that my Doodlebug came along it is not all about Lu-Lu (except do not tell her that....she is still adjusting.) Family life is as hectic as ever.

Lu-Lu is almost two and we are getting ready to start potty training. This adventure into toilet maturity started out extremly easy. One day Lu came up and said "Mommy, poo-poo". She led me into the bathroom, I helped her disrobe and she sat on her little potty and Viola! she was potty trained. Well, she was potty trained till she saw what had actually occured and started freaking out. Now if you bring the potty seat within 30 feet of her she totally freaks. She has also been spending alot of quality time in time-out for hitting.

Doodlebug, is almost 3 months old and was born with bilateral clubfoot and will be having a corrective surgery for that this week. Bug has been in casts since he was 10 days old. We bring him once a week to Children's Hospital to have them changed. Besides the casts, Bug is a perfectly normal and extremly happy little baby. His new favorite thing to do it lay on a bed and watch the fan spin. It really cracks him up.

Hubby is well.....hubby. He likes to complain that nothing is getting done while he sits on the sofa and watches football. But I love him in spite of his only child syndrome. I gave him tickets to LSU so every Saturday he is Baton Rouge bound to watch the Tigers kick some ass. He is thinking about going back to school to finish his bachlor degree but he can not decide what he wants to be when he grows up.

As for me I was diagnosed with PPD and I am actually kind of excited about it. For one, all the celebrities have it and now I feel totally "with-it". Also, they put me on some very nice drugs to rectify the situation. And finally, I was getting a little worried that I was just plain insane so this helps me sleep at night. Although Hubby did bring up that this diagnosis does not explain my insanity pre-Bug. (I think he may be jealous). I am back at work and I am participating in one extra-cirrucla which has become known as the UTC.