silly songs

It's Saturday, YAY! We LOVE weekends. We are planning on heading down to this art/craft fair in historic Franklin, TN here shortly. The weather is cool and cloudy, but thankfully it's not raining. The week flew by. I have been frequently requested to sub for an elementary school P.E. teacher, which is SUPER fun. I just LOVE the kids at this particular school-especially the 3rd graders. They are HIGH-larious. Isn't it funny how things continue to be passed down from generation to generation? They were doing this hand game thing that I remember doing around that age (where 2, 3, or more girls stand around in a circle and hit hands in repetition) sing songing different lyrics (kinda like patty cake). This particular one they made up....We hit the balls, we get the balls, Mr. Chandler tells us to get the balls, WE EAT MEAT-BALLS! So I jumped in and we were all laughing hysterically....ohh to be 10 again! Have a splendid day!

ring pops and crab rangoon

Driving around in an ethnically populated area can have a strange effect on a person....so begins the story of the quest for gluten free crab rangoon. Yes, those delectable little morsels almost everyone loves, I have been craving for about two years. On a recent trip to the international market not far from our house, I ran across Rice Paper Spring Roll Wrappers. As excited as I was, I wasn't sure exactly how to use them. After some research, I found they are quite simple. A little water to get them sticky and pliable....cream cheese, imitation crab meat, steak sauce (don't ask me what this does), and garlic powder...pop them into the deep fryer (or fry in a pan with 1 inch of vegetable or canola oil and VOILA! Piping hot gluten free crab rangoon!

And of course, what dinner would be complete without those nostalgic ring pops?

sweet sweet saturday

The results of the poll are in. all 7 of you voted! thanks for reading my blog... apparently, there are a wide variety of home decor styles amongst us. I have been trying my hardest not to get stuck in just one, because I appreciate aspects from many types of decorating styles. So far, i'm trying to incorporate modern and contemporary furniture, with whimsical/vintage pieces. One genre I am particularly fond of is Art Deco. I have dreams of doing an Art Deco room at some point. Anyway, thanks for weighing in on the poll. Another will be posted soon!

I just love Saturdays with C. We took a much needed nap, and enjoyed spending the day taking Moby on a walk and doing some chores (I weeded, while he mounted our ceiling bike pulleys.) It's so nice to have a relaxing day at home TOGETHER! It's been a long time. We needed a laugh last night so we popped in the Ellen Degeneres stand-up. I highly recommend it if you haven't seen it. It's VERY clean, so even kids can watch it! I just LOVE it!

home sweet organized home

A new hobby of mine is organizing our home. I feel so much more peaceful when things are in place....probably a result of my Type A personality...and ocd of course...but it's nice to have things clean. On a recent trip, i purchased some much needed organizational tools from Ikea in Atlanta. One in particular, a magnetic board, comes in super handy and keeps my fridge clear of clutter. The birds above were a thoughtful birthday gift from my lovely husband, and they match my kitchen perfectly! Gotta love Pottery Barn Kids! The magnetic board is home to our calendar with monthly happenings, as well as coupons we collect and art from one of my kindergarten students. We placed it right next to the garage door, where it is visible each time we exit and enter. It keeps us on track and reminds us of important dates.



A few weeks ago, I also painted our master bathroom- with the help of my incredible neighbor! I owe you girl! I guess the motivation came from being tired of seeing all the tan walls in our house. It was nice and neutral for a while, but it's nice to have some color. I know I tend to lean toward the bolder colors, but it's only paint! Plus, I am usually a bright sunny person...so I guess it just fits. As always, teal is a favorite of mine so I chose this from the spring Pottery Barn collection. It's Benjamin Moore Blue Lake. I just love how serene it is! I chose to accent it with brown rugs and white towels with brown accents- courtesy of Kohl's early bird specials!

This morning I got a call from my dad about the 5.2 earthquake in Illinois early this morning. Though we didn't feel it because we were sleeping, it was about 150 miles from us, so I'm sure it could've been registered by seismograph. We had a lovely weekend with C's parents last weekend and we're always looking forward to having more visitors! Next on the list...find patio furniture, and a glider, as well as an eliptical machine. Dad? Any idea when you can get some of these things out here? (hehe)

birthday photo fun!

Our good friends and neighbors (pretty much like family) made me a delightful gluten free dinner, complete with GF apple pie and homemade ice cream! What a treat! I couldn't have asked for a better birthday dinner! mmm...doesn't it look delish?

We also had some drinks.....okay I had some drinks!

C and his Rook cards......I like Rook except when I lose repeatedly!

C and B 4.6.2008

things are sweeter at 27

hi all. thanks SO much for the birthday wishes! Everyone has been so sweet, leaving me messages on facebook, myspace, etc, etc. I feel so loved! 26 was a great year. I can't wait to see what 27 holds. Of course, I still feel like i'm a teenager sometimes...

My dad wrote me the most thoughtful e-mail today. He just kept saying how proud he was of me, and what a joy I am to him. It made me so happy....and it also made me realize that no matter how many mistakes I've made along the way, someday I'll have my own kids to feel that way about. It feels great to have such loving families (both my parents and in-laws!)

Today was the most beautiful day of the week this year! It is currently 73 degrees, sunny, no wind, and not a cloud in the sky. We started the day by going to the RHCC 10:30 service, had lunch at Zoe's (you must go if you haven't!) with my good friend Catherine and her daughter Corinne....then we took Moby to the dog park all afternoon. What a gorgeous day to be outside! I'm missing family and friends in Nebraska...though i got a few voicemail messages and LOTS of birthday cards that definitely brightened my day!
Thanks for making this a very special birthday! Love you all! xoxo

Click here

My friend Sara's blog lead me to post a link to this article. What a great message....something so many of us need to hear! Thanks Sara!

April showers

Hey y'all...I live in the South so I am entitled to say ya'll now! I just wanted to let you know (whomever you may be) that you do NOT have to be a member of this blog community to leave a comment :) If something you read on my blog moves you, you can comment or respond, and it will prompt you to enter your name before you can leave your comment for me. I LOVE hearing from you, so leave me messages!

It is SO rainy. We've had 3-4 inches of rain in the past 3 days. Each morning before 5, I have been awoken by the clashes of thunder....thunder so loud it shook the bed! I guess the rain is a good thing, seeing that I just planted.....i should have lots of May flowers!

It's supposed to be sunny and 74 on Sunday....I'm SO happy about that!
lots of love, b

the santeelah war.....will it ever end?

I'm so annoyed by our pets! We currently have four pets (three cats and a puppy.) As with all animals...they have to establish a hierarchy before being able to coexist peacefully. Unfortunately, we have not reached that point.

Let me begin by telling the story of how we got to this point. A year and a half ago (2006), C and I were living in our 2nd apartment in Lincoln. We had no pets, but had briefly thought about getting a cat. My brother, AJ, was in college at the time and had purchased a pure-bred blue point Siamese from a fantastic breeder in Nebraska. He had asked us to watch her a few times, and each time we did, we brought her to our place. She LOVED it. I was home quite a bit, since I was still pretty sick after being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in January 2006. So in the Spring, we had been watching his kitty, Soco, on and off for a few weeks, and I absolutely fell in love with her. When he took her back to his apartment, I cried because I missed cuddling with her and having her around. So, Chris and I decided to get our own kitten from the same breeder and we promptly put our deposit in for our very own Siamese boy, Ami. Once again, my brother asked us to watch Soco. Since he was gone so often, I felt it was unfair to her to keep moving around (cats need routines!) and I said I wouldn't watch her unless he agreed to let us adopt her. After some thought, he agreed it was in her best interest....so in July we got Soco, and in August we got Ami. It took a few months for Soco to get used to having another cat around, but now they are best friends and they cuddle ALL the time....


So, how did we get from two to four you ask? Well, we moved to Nashville in June, 2007 and I had always wanted a puppy. After we'd bought our house, and I asked Chris if I could adopt a puppy from a shelter. He wasn't very enthusiastic...but he let me do it....(I think he gave in because I'd wanted one for so long.) I adopted Moby, supposedly a dachshund/chihuahua mix...though we swear he's a portugeso pequeno, in August, 2007 from P.A.W.S. shelter in Anna, IL. He definitely has some baggage coming from a shelter, but he's also come a long way. Then, in November, my friend Sally was visiting from Knoxville and we were down near Hillsboro village getting coffee and shopping, and I saw this little kitten laying on one of the jewelry cases in a local store. The quirky lady that owns the store partners with a shelter and adopts kittens out. I fell in LOVE with him. He is a huge cuddler....so I called C and he agreed to let me adopt him. The cats all took to each other quickly, and they get along just fine.....but the story does not end here.....

Soco is #1...top cat, top dog, top everything. Sometimes we have to remind her she's not a human. She runs the house, but she's quick to cuddle or settle any squabble....


Ami boy is at the bottom of the totem pole. He's the submissive one...and he rarely fights back or stands up for himself. He's so handsome!


Arthur and Moby............well, they are fighting for position #2. Unfortunately, this war has been raging for the past 6 months! When will it end? I am so sick of breaking up the fights between them. Nothing works. We've tried it all...from strategically placed water bottles, to keeping Moby on the first floor. Inevitably, Arthur makes his way downstairs to torment Moby...and the war rages on.....