Let There Be Light...Maybe

As I have previously mentioned, I played Design Star this past weekend, but I was not finished.  Part of the plan for redecorating my room was to upgrade my lighting.  I had a mis-match assortment of lamps and had decided to at least find some lampshades that I liked that went together.  I had an idea in mind of what I wanted, but so far the price to upgrade was, well, let's just say "unpleasant".

I have my eye on a footstool at Bed, Bath, and Beyond that I really want.  I took my sister to show her and get her valuable input a few days ago.  On display next to my footstool was the absolute most beautiful lamp.  A nice, bronze color with marble accents that reminded me of swirling coffee.  It made my hearth sing.  That is what I wanted!!!  My mouth started to drool as I realized the exquisite lamp was part of a set:  one floor lamp, two table lamps, and a smaller lamp.  Amazing!  Imagine my joy when I then looked to the price tag and discovered the lamps were on half-price clearance!!!!!  Needless to say, they came home with me.

I could not wait to get home.  I opened the box and began to assemble my precious lamps.  After a few moments, though, I realized something was terribly wrong.  I only had three lamps in my possession.  Three lamps, not four.  No smaller lamp at all.  I dug back through the box, frantically searching for the lamp I must have overlooked.  I called in my youngest sister, desperately hoping I had just missed it in all the excitement.  My heart dropped to the floor as the sad realization that it was absent set in.  I had managed to receive the shade, but not the lamp.

What was I to do?  I pulled out my receipt and called the store.  How was I going to explain this bizarre event?  Would they even believe my story?  Or would they assume I was another thief trying to rob them of a small lamp?

As you can see from the picture at the beginning, my melodrama has a happy ending.  The manager asked me to bring in my receipt and they gave me the small lamp from the display.  My joy was restored, and my room is now beautifully well-lit!

Do not despair, my footstool!  I will return for you soon.  And do not feel unloved because the lamps came home first; They were much less expensive than you are, and there was only one set left.  My sincere desire is that you join me next week...

HGTV Inspired!

So, as ya'll all know, I am a huge HGTV fan.  I drive my family crazy by leaving it on all day long.  Even when I am not in the room watching, I love just listening to the shows.  And no, there is nothing wrong with that!  All this obsessing over paint techniques, furniture arraignments, proper displaying of accessories, and wall demolition has payed off this past weekend.  Well, all but wall demo-we rent; but one day.... 

For eight years I have lived in my converted garage "apartment".  No kitchen or private plumbing, but a nice sized open space that was just big enough for one car and maybe a lawn mower; the downside was that it was crowded with furniture.  For a while I just tried to ignore it; the only time I spent in there was when I was sleeping.  Then I got rid of a lot of unnecessary things, which made it better but still crowded.  By now the claustrophobia was really starting to get to me.

Two weeks ago I had an idea:  move some of the larger pieces of furniture around.  So I started studying my living quarters.  I decided to leave the bedroom side alone.  There isn't anything I can do about that area.  I turned my attention to the other side of my space.  Years of planning, collecting, and dreaming had given me an assortment of furniture; you don't even want to know what is in the attic!

I measured my room and mapped it out on a grid.  Then I did the same to my furniture.  A very smart woman once told me to move furniture on paper instead of in the area.  Paper furniture is so much lighter.  I came up with a design that looked good, and then spent a few hours putting my plan into action.  It is amazing how much of a difference taking a small couch and switching its home with an armchair.  Pull the rocker next to that armchair for a nice, intimate conversation area, and perfection!  The room feels so much more open and spacious, the claustrophobia is gone!  Thank you HGTV!!!!!!!

I am in college for accounting, but after surveying the results of a few hours' work the thought of changing over to interior design did cross my mind.  But hey, I've only got six more classes to go.  I'm too far in to start over now...

This is the Stuff...

"I lost my keys in the great unknown.  Call me please, cause I can't find my phone.  This is the stuff that drives me crazy; this is the stuff that's getting to me lately.  In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed."  Francesca Battistelli-This is the Stuff

So often we focus all our attention to the things that are causing us stress:  family, job, school, ...  The list could go on and on, but that would be defeating the purpose of this particular blog post.  I don't want to call attention to the stresses in life; I want to call attention to the blessings!

Just like the line from this adorable song, we so often forget about the many blessings in life when surrounded by all our mess.  Our focus is in the wrong place. 

What are my blessings?  Well, for starters, the same people I listed for causing some stress:  my family.  Don't get me wrong, I love my family!  They are the best!  And I am not just saying that because they will be the first ones to read this.  They are super supportive and much wiser than I.

What else?  My room.  I live in the converted garage, and I just redecorated it a few days ago.  Now it looks like one of those "luxury" one room apartments I see on HGTV, and I mean that in a good way!  All I need is a tiny kitchen and bath in there and it would be perfect.

Next would have to be Zaboo.  My spoiled-rotten kitty brings a smile to my face when she runs to the front door to great me as I return from the great beyond.  And while she abhors any public displays of affection, when it is just the two of us she showers me with love and purrs.  She is also a decent help with Accounting homework...

Don't forget about the little things, either:  hot water for inside showers, indoor plumbing, air conditioning (it is a MUST in the hot and humid South!), a fridge full of food, a car that has been payed for and still drives like new,...  These things truly are blessings!

"And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.  Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."  Phillipians 4:8 NLT  Look around.  What are your blessings?

Pretty, Pretty!!!

So it's Easter time again, and it is tradition for the ladies to arrive at Easter Sunday services with brand new dresses.  Thankfully, I am not a member of the churches that go for the matching hats and gloves (I do NOT look good in any kind of hat!).  Not that there is anything wrong with the hats and gloves, mind you.  I am just not a big fan.

For the last three years I have been without a brand new Easter dress.  Not for lack of looking, but the selection of pretty, comfortable dresses in the fat ladies department has been sadly lacking.  Seriously designers, not all of us are professional supermodels!  Some of us have desk jobs.  And there is no way I will ever be caught wearing a Mu-Mu in public.  Although lately one of my problems has been the length:  yes long dresses are nice, but I am just over 5 feet tall and the dresses are dragging the ground by a foot and a half on me!  I did find one I liked this year, but of course, my size could not be found.  Bummer....

As I said before, I have been sadly deprived of a new dress.  It really is no big deal, and I have never lost sleep over it.  But this year will be different, for this year I have a new dress!!!!!!  And not just any new dress:   a beautiful, bright and colorful green dress that looks amazing on me!  The color is perfect for my skin tone and dyed reddish-brown hair( I was a natural gray at 14).  The length is absolutely stunning for my short self, and the cute little jacket is just adorable!  And I look absolutely adorable, if I do say so myself!!!

It is an amazing feeling of prettiness that came over me as I critically studied my reflection in the mirror.  A pretty, well-fitting dress is magical.  It can transform an ordinary woman into a beautiful princess.  Yes, I am 30 years old, but I still want to feel like a princess.

The search for the perfect Easter dress is over.  Now I just need to find some matching shoes.......

Simple Things

My windshield wipers have been on my car for over two years.  This past winter, however, they decided to disintegrate.  For a few months I was driving around with strips of rubber wipers flapping on my windshield.  It was no big issue, though;  the weather had been nice and clear.

With the arrival of spring comes the coating of yellow pollen all over my red car, especially on my windshield.  So I go to pull the lever to wash off the windshield, and then I remembered my destroyed wipers.  Needless to say they didn't do to good a cleaning job.  But hey, I'll deal with it...

It has been raining steadily for the past two weeks, and here I am trying to drive down the road at 60mph, in the pouring rain, with practically no wipers.  I finally broke down and asked my dad for the money to replace them (I am, unfortunately, still unemployed), to which he gladly gave me $20 and sent me down to Advanced Auto parts.  Thanks Dad!!!!!!

In five minutes, I had payed for the wipers with frappuccino money to spare (Dad said I could have one), and they were installed on my car by someone who could reach over and take care of it.  I have never been so glad to see raindrops on my windshield before!  Gone were the flapping, scraping and screeching noises; gone were the gaps where the wiper was not present to take the water away.  In their places were silent, efficient, perfectly choreographed movements of the new blades.  Like two fluid ballerinas they flew perfectly over my windshield.  I was thrilled!!!

I know wiper blades are not hugely important.  They were a simple thing that I usually took for granted, until they fell apart.  But, I think the simple things can bring us the greatest joy:  new, functioning wiper blades; a tall enough person to install them; a dark chocolate Snickers bar; a Java Chip Frappuccino; my favorite song playing on my radio; and Zaboo keeping my feet warm at night.

Celebrate the simple things, and don't take them for granted.  The simple things make me smile!

My Informative Speech!!

Here you go Katrina.  Hope you enjoy reading it!  To the rest of the world, this is a copy of my Famous Dog Speech that I had to give in my speech class this past week.  Hint:  It really helps to hold on to old English essays, as they lend themselves so well for a speech...

Choosing a Dog

            Dogs are one of the most popular pets in the United States.  According to a 2009-2010 survey by the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association “there are approximately 77.5 million owned dogs in the United States, with 39% of US households owning at least one dog.”  Dogs have a reputation of being man’s (or woman’s) best friend.  Many people aspire to become dog owners for that reason alone.  But before running down to the local animal shelter or pet store, potential doggie parents need to decide what kind of dog they want.  Most of the time this decision is based upon breed, size, temperament, grooming needs, or slobber quantity.  While these are things that need to be taken into consideration, they are not the most important factors in choosing a dog.  The decision of which dog to bring home should be based on what an individual owner needs or wants a dog to be:  Perfect Spouse, Personal Trainer, or Private Security.

            First up is the Perfect Spouse, also known as a companion dog.  These are typically the smaller breeds or couch potato dogs, such as Yorkies, Peinkanies, and smaller Bulldogs.  It need not matter whether its owner is a man or woman; it will fulfill the basic desires and expectations of an ideal mate.  From a woman’s point of view, a dog often makes a much better husband than a man ever would.  Her dog is always attentive to how her day went.  Hubby, as she has named her Yorkie, listens with rapt attention as she describes the trials and victories of work.  He does not complain when dinner is late or maybe a little too overdone.  He understands that she is mentally and physically exhausted and needs a quiet night of watching her favorite chick-flick movies.  He shows his support of her decision with a wag of his tail as he hops up next to her and settles in for “Pride and Prejudice” with Keiera  Knightly.  A dog could also be a better wife for a man than a woman could ever hope to become.  He knows that his bulldog, Lady, will not berate him for coming home late.  There will be no questions of where he has been or why he didn’t bother to call.  Lady is always pleased to be seen with him no matter what he is wearing.  She is incapable of nagging about chores and loves to watch football and old John Wayne war movies.  Her favorite place in the world is snuggled close to him as World War II era aircraft battle the skies for control of France.  Hubby and Lady really are the Perfect Spouses.

            Second, after the Perfect Spouse, is the Personal Trainer.  Gym membership fees are costly, and to hire a human personal trainer is a monthly expense that is getting harder to afford.  An active breed makes the best Personal Trainer.  Dogs that were originally bread for farm life, such as Boxers, Shelties, and Border Collies fall into this category.  Why go to the trainer when he/she is already at home?  Zack, the Australian Sheppard, keeps his owners on a strict, active schedule.  He pulls them out of bed at first light with his intense stare and a few short yaps, and it is go, go, go from there.  First, he shows them how to stretch, preparing all the muscles for what is to come.  Next, he starts his trainees off with a brisk walk to get their blood pumping and legs moving.  If they do not move fast enough, he may possibly slow down some to encourage them.  Then, Trainer Zack pushes for the run.  There are no excuses, no shortcuts, and most definitely no whining allowed in this workout program.  Zack is an expert in uphill jogging and long distance running.  His main goal is to prepare his owners for the next Boston Marathon.  After an hour of intense workout, Zack finally relents to take a break and leads his owners back home.  But the rest is short-lived, for in a couple of hours he will start the workout all over again.  There will be no couch potatoes in Zack’s house.  He will not accept a half-hearted workout, no matter the circumstances.  Running in the pouring rain builds endurance, and the thunder overhead just gives his owners more of an incentive to run faster.  Why go to the sports center and pay to be yelled at by a semi-complete stranger when a Personal Trainer dog is perfectly happy to be paid in kibble and head-rubs?

            Lastly, there are the dogs of Private Security.  German Sheppards, Rottweilers, Dobermans, and most other larger and imposing looking breeds are the bodyguards in this field.  Home security systems offer burglar protection while the homeowner is away, but any good action movie shows how a respectable criminal can bypass the system.  Employ and train the right watchdog, and there will be no way to circumvent this security.  The massive eyes would be enough to scare wannabe burglars away.  The deep, loud barks of bravery are definitely going to make the intruder pass on to the next house on the street.  A homeowner is never going to have to worry about a power outage causing a short and disabling the system.  He will never wake up in the middle of the night wondering if he remembered to turn it back on after coming home from work.  Private Security dogs can also be good walking companions.  Sally Singlewoman will have no fear of an attack while on an evening walk with Bruno the Rottie by her side.  His large head and alert ears are always scanning the terrain, looking for possible danger.  He is ever vigilant at her side, and will warn any unknowns approaching his position to keep their distance.  A criminal lurking in the park and watching for potential victims will quake in fear at the sight of Bruno.  His monthly salary is a couple of doggie treats and a dish of kibble twice a day.  Compare that to the monthly bill for a human bodyguard and one will find the Private Security dog is the way to go.

            In closing, choosing a dog is as much about the owner’s lifestyle and needs as it is about the type of dog, and it requires some personal reflection and research. Animal Planet.Com has a dog breed selector questionnaire that will aid any unsure potential owner in deciding what they need.  A marathon runner would not be happy with a Peinkanese or Pit bull.  A jumpy woman living alone would not feel as safe and secure with a Shitzu or Sheltie.  While a Bull Mastiff might be a passable companion dog, he would definitely take up too much of the couch on a bad-day movie night.  Dogs come in many different shapes and sizes, but it is important for the owner to remember that they all fall into one of three categories.  Dogs can be the Perfect Spouse, a Personal Trainer, or Private Security.  The happiness of both the owner and the dog depends on knowing what is needed and who the best candidate to fill that need is.

Zaboo!!!!

See this face?  Isn't it adorable??  This face belongs to my spoiled-rotten child, er, cat.  Her name is Zoboomafoo and she is my baby.  I call her Zaboo for short; Zoboomafoo is only used when she is doing something naughty and she knows it.  Zaboo is quite an unusual kitty and has some interesting habits, such as a monstrous dislike of closed doors, especially if you are on the other side.  She plays fetch better than most dogs.  And she will obediently run to my (our) room at night when told to "go to bed".  Of course, I have a massive southern accent, so it comes out more like "Zaaaboooo, go to bey-ud".

While she is daily deserving of a post in my blog for keeping my feet warm at night, drinking water out of the sink, playing with pound puppies, or just being so darn cute, I try not to write about her because I do not want to sound like a crazy cat lady just yet.  However, last week she did something that I feel is worth telling the world.

I had decided to buy her a new toy.  Why, I do not know.  She prefers to "stalk" the toys from my youngest sister's room.  Anyway... this particular toy came with a pouch a catnip, which I had decided not to give her.  Someone had once referred to it as "marajuana for cats" and I am determined not to raise a druggie!  However, I made the crucial error of leaving the small pouch out in the open where she could find it.  The next afternoon, I noticed something strange going on.  My precious yet mischievious child was croutched on the floor, with a glazed look in her giant green eyes.  She was continuously rolling around on the same spot of the floor, practically rubbing herself into the carpet.  After a few moments of watching her odd behavior I noticed small flakes of a foreign particle covering her soft, thick furr.  I stooped down on the carpet to see what was so interesting to her, when I saw it:  A small, torn plastic bag of what used to be catnip!  My little snot had found the baggie, drug it under the couch, and proceeded to rip it open.  Catnip was all over the floor and all over her.  I called her by her full name, which only brought me a quick glance.  "Whattt???"  she seemed to innocently ask.

I cleaned her off as best I could, and vaccuumed up all of the offending particles, fussing her for her poor choices.  For the next three days she would come to that same spot, croutching low and sniffing, as if looking for any trace amounts for her next kitty high.  All of my hard work and carefull parenting, all for naught!  But I have finally forgiven her (after a long 3 hours), and she has promised never to do it again.  At lest that is what I enterpretted that "mrrrow" to mean.