Book Review: Bossypants

Pretty much have been laughing myself to sleep at night reading this book. Tina Fey 's dry sense of humor combined with pop culture scenarios has me rolling. The book has started being very auto-biographical with her days at Summer Showtime getting acquainted with theatre and gay friends. She also tells of her parent's "parenting techniques" and this alone makes me die with laughter.

In a chapter I read last night she talks about her dad and how he makes such a impression on all who meet him. She begins talking about how she was so scared of him when she was younger and had to come to realize that that is just the way his face looks. This was hysterical because earlier in the day Neeley and I were talking about how scared of our mom's we were adn sometime still are.

What is it about a parent's ability to literally scare the tar out of you?! They can just give you a look and sends chills down your spine.

I remember being so scared of my mom and aunts. The Blanton women have an ability to come flying out of the door with a distinct look that will send you in sheer terror. It is ironic though because I RARELY got in trouble. I was always very scared for the person they were going after, whispering desperately in my head for them to run away from what was headed their direction.

I remember the just about ONE AND ONLY time I DID get in trouble. The Schmidt's were living with Nana and Grandy on Bent Tree here in Amarillo and the twins had just gotten a go kart. Neeley and I FINALLY got our turn to take it out for a spin. It was slightly drizzling that day (which is probably why we got to drive it, the boys didnt want to get it wet) and Neeley was in the driver's seat. She told me to grab the wheel while she pulled her hair back or some girly nonsense, we hit a wet patch and BAM! right into the new neighbors drain pipe. We both got out looked at it for a minute and decided to take off. We went straight home acted like nothing had happened and got into Nana and Grandy's jacuzzi bathtub. By this time we were laughing and playing in the bubbles thinking all our troubles are far far behind us. Then they came... the ANGRY mom's. Ohh man the look on their faces. TERROR! Needless to say we got us a big case of trouble that day.

I remember one day not too terribly long ago, maybe a couple of years when I finally realized I wasn't "scared" of my mom anymore. Maybe I never was... I have come to realize that I am worried I will disappoint her and as I have grown up I realize that is much worse than getting in trouble.

Just a random thought I had while reflecting on Tina's book.

Can't get it out of my head... crafties!

It is Monday... yet AGAIN! Why does this day come around what seems like all the time and Saturday/Sundays are one in a million?! Am I the only who feels this way?

Anyway, as you may well should probably know this week is what we like to call MOVING WEEK! So excited to move and ready to be in a bigger house with more of life's modern conveinences. But if you came to my house you would not be able to tell that I was excited as there is still YET to have packing done... yup totaly PROCRASTINATOR! Doesn't help either that my buddy is the same way. In fact Neeley once wrote at paper on Procrastinating in college and she didn't even start it till hours before it was due. So needless to say this week is going to be a little chaotic! Sadly I do believe our sweet boyfriends will have it the worst as they will be moving all our furniture and surely to come half packed boxes of "who knows whats in there."

And tonight as I should be packing something, anything at least! I am thinking I would rather be making one of these fabulous crafties...


This Nautical Dress

Found awsome tutorial here and found some jersey knit fabic HALF OFF at Joann's perfect for this!!

I am also responsible for making my friend Bailey's birthday present this week...

I am thinking an infinti scarf with some other awesome HALF OFF fabric from Joann's.
Also wanting to make her an awesome lamp shade for her new apartment. Using this lamp as inspiration...



and am going to cover an adhesive lamp shade in seafoam/turquoise fabric then add fabulous fabric flowers. We will see how it turns out!

I am also really wanting to make one of these...


I think that is sooo cute!  Love the spring feeling it gives!

I am also going to make some more of my feather earrings and headbands. Keep in mind people... I SHOULD BE PACKING :)


HAPPY MONDAY!!

unsucessful/sucessful night

This has been the LOOOONGGGGGESSSSSTTTTT week ever!

I  must admit my patience did not go over very well yesterday... I was struggling big time and about 1:30 a headache the size of Texas hit me. The kind where any kind of light is like sticking nails in your head and noise makes you want to scream. I am still carrying a little bit of it with me today.

However last night I had ALOT to do and sadly did not get it all accomplished. Our landlord is showing our house today since we are moving NEXT WEEK!

1. Finish skirt
2. Finish yarn wreath
3. Take out mountain of trash
4. Clean dishes
5. Glue on tiles that have fallen off bathroom walls
6. Clean House
7. Get wax drippings off floor from candle
8. PACK PACK PACK!

I did NOT finish my skirt but I did break 3 needles. So frustrating because I am 90% done and now I am out of needles.

Wax drippings were stuck I mean STUCK to carpet....whoops.

And no packing to be done with all my frustration going to my sewing machine.

However I was super thrilled to have finally finished a yarn wreath I had been working on. I had seen the idea over here and was not sure how I felt about them but decided to try out my own.

I kinda LOVE it! I had chosen some mutli-color yarn that I thought would give it a little UMMFH but it turned out looking more like easter :( So I rewrapped the sucker in turquoise with some gold cloth and added my felt flowers and presto. My Sweet friend Bailey is getting this sucker but I am so pleased with how they turned out I am sure I will be making many more!!

Two Weddings this weekend!! See you Monday!

Patience and Light

Today I walked into my office immediately asking God for PATIENCE.

Patience with the people I encounter today.

Patience for my job and the sometimes dreary task of selling insurance.

Patience for the incessant questions I encounter everyday.

Patience so that I do not roll my eyes or tune out when someone is telling me something I think is completely irrelevant.

Patience when it takes someone longer to do something than if I just did it myself.

Patience for when people take advantage and I choose to do what is right.

And then I open my Jesus Calling. I know I quote/talk about this devotional alot but that is because IT GETS TO ME! Days like today when I need God beside me more than usual or I feel like I can just not make it through the day, I open it to read a message that seems hand selected for me and my need for THIS day.

Today it read " Look at other people through lenses of love; see them from My perspective. This is how you walk in the Light and it pleases me."

Couldn't have hit me harder or at a better time!

So today instead of answering every call with disgust already, or not paying much attention to anyone who walks in the office, instead of getting short with my coworkers... I will show them that I live in the LIGHT of HIS LOVE!

Singer

Last night as planned my sweet peas Kelsey, Neeley and I had our selves some tie-dying fun! I got WAY to much Papa Murphys pizza (I couldn't resist their 2 for 1 sides and Kelbell wanted her own pizza). We each did 2 shirts and covered the driveway and my legs in dye. Pictures to come! We were all very disappointed to learn that the shirts had to sit out and dry over night for the color to set. MAJOR LET DOWN!

We spent the rest of the night chowing down and watching Valentine's Day (Kels' pick of course!)

There was a little crafting going down while watching the movie as Kelsey wrote notes and Neeley scowered the internet for deals. I had seen a DIY for making a cake stand from Emily's blog and absolutely LOVED the idea. I have been looking for the perfect plate to use and while at TJMAXX yesterday with my Auntie and Kelbell I found it. A sweet little salad plate with two birds on it for $2.99. Then I ran by Goodwill and for a single $1 found a perfect brass candlestick. Hot glue the two together and what do you get...

Sorry for causing a crink in your neck... once again cannot figure out how to turn the photo from this program :( But you get the point. Now I have an adorable little dessert serving piece.

We also set up Kelsey on her own blog last night so I am sure as soon as she has time she will be posting like a mad woman! No doubt she will have interesting and lovely things to say about life, love and her everyday adventures as the assistant manager of Starlight. Ill keep you posted.

Finally... Last night just after Kelsey left my house I had a surprise visitor. Drew showed up telling me I needed to get something out of his car. After my incessant questioning I finally took his keys over to the back of the truck terrified of what I might find. (He doesn't ask me to do much so when will I learn that when he does it is usually a good surprise?!) Anyway I opened the back of the car to find my very first and very own Singer Sewing machine!!

I am not sure if it wasn't just a distraction for me so he could watch the Mav's game but it totally worked. I opened that sucker right up and watched the DVD that came along with it and found out the my fears of using a sewing machine were ridiculous... this thing was super easy with it's automatic threader.

He is a good man and knows how to win me over that is for sure! I am cooking him a delish dinner tonight to thank him.

Today on my lunch break when I should have been going to the grocery store I went to Hobby Lobby and got fabric for my first project! So excited to whip it up tonight. Stay tuned to see what it is...

I Heart Elephants

Gowing up I hated when people would ask me what my favorite animal was. What a dumb question I thought, there are so many great animals in the world! I would often answer whales because they were my mom's favorite and I knew I couldn't go wrong with Mom's favorite animal! In the past 5 years or so I have finally decided upon MY favorite animal...the Elephant. After traveling to Thailand in college, land known for their love of elephants and then to Africa upon graduation, where the elephants roam the wild I came back with many many elephant memorabilias. I was enchanted with their size, loyal nature, and soulful eyes. Seeing Elephants on an African Safari was by far my favorite part ahead of the lions and hippos and I desperately wanted to ride an elephant in Thailand (one day I will!) So upon announcing my favorite animal to my family I have been given some really awesome elephant decor. Everything ranging from figurines, piggy banks, wall hooks, incense burners, note cards, bags, frames, lamps, jewlery, and ground standing elephants. But everywhere I go there seems to be more elephant decor to add to the collection. I have been told the my room decor is a little safari like now so I have to be selective about what I add.  Here are few of my favorites and a few of the most ridiculously priced elephant fun to be had right now.

Elephant Hook from Anthropologie: $20 (Definitely on my Wish List)

 Elephant Dreaming art from Urban Outfitters: $29


Monkey & Elephant tape dispenserform Iomoi: $158

 Table Lamp from World Market: $79.99

 Teapot from Pier One: $19.99


Cake stand on sale on Ebay: $200


Banana Republic Elephant Canvas Bag


Fabric from Housefabric.com for $18.95 a yard.

Kate Spade Elephant purse: $325


Calypso St. Barth for Target: $12.99

Jonathan Adler figurine at Nordstrom: $145

 Earrings from Urban Outfitters: $12

Elephant Bottle opener at Perpetualkid.com: $8

Bossy Pants

It has been a little while since my last post.... Apologies for the tardiness. Life has been busy busy busy round here. Wedding season has begun and it is fast and furious every weekend. Add  Friday and Saturday weddings this weekend  to the fact that we are trying to move into our new house by next week with absolutely NO packing done yet and  you get a very frazzled and stressed person. I tend to be a HUGE procrastinator though and I doubt any more time could have made this situation any different.

In my attempt to take my mind OFF of moving I  have been searching for my next book to read. Since reading Heart of the Matter I have failed at finding something to suck me in to the 'cant put it down' state. After reading reviews though I have finally settled on my next book...



I  really like Tina Fey, I think she is hysterical and at this point in my life I felt like a light-hearted funny book was a must! Following my Nana's book reading philosophy of mixing fiction with non fiction and biographies I decided after reading a fiction I needed something more real. I ordered it on Amazon yesterday and it should be here tomorrow. So I will let you know how it goes.

Very excited for tonight... I am tie-dying t-shirts with Kelsey