Archives for June 2010

le home tour of moi ~ dining room

June 14, 2010

Now that I have this new couch residing in my garage, I’m antsy to find a way to bring it in my home…but, since I just made some changes over the last few weeks I am trying to take a moment before I make any hasty decisions.

Like um, buying a couch from a thrift store when I already have a couch…but whatever.

So.

I was thinking that maybe I should attempt to clean up around here so that I can finally show off some of the changes, ya?

First of all, can I just say I SUCK at taking pictures? Or maybe it’s my cheap little camera, but either way….I am NOT at all happy with how any of them turned out. I need a professional ’round here, and I’m not talking about Jimmy.

Anyway, today we’ll start with the dining furniture in the dining room.

I wish I had a before picture with my old furniture, but after a lengthy search, I found nothing. So, just imagine a black pub height table, and a matching buffet table, with a beige and tan floral area rug underneath. And while I loved the table I used to have, it just wasn’t the safest thing to have with three clumsy kids…It seemed that at least one kid at every meal was falling off, so that wasn’t too much fun. Plus, with it being so tall, I felt like it blocked light from coming in off the back patio.

First I found this desk/buffet table at my thrift store for um, $15!!!

I know!!!

It’s hard to see back there…but you can see that the top of it didn’t really match the rest of it.

But when I saw this picture on a blog somewhere (was it yours?) I knew I’d found my solution.

So I….

And then I saw this picture of Sarah Jessica Parker’s dining room and again, I was inspired.

So, I set out on a search for five different chairs. So far I’ve found two from Ikea, and two from my thrift store for $3.75 each!!! I die. Lit-er-ally.

And now, things are complete…

{table: 1/2 off in the As Is section of Ikea, clock: Dutch by Design filled with scrapbooking paper, owl bank: Target, vase: West Elm, flowers: pink gerber daisies – my favorite ever}

And when I say complete, you know I don’t really mean it.

I still need one more chair, and I’m considering an area rug.

Should I go round, not round, pattern, plain?

Oh the dilemma.

Tomorrow we’ll visit the living room.

See ya then.

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a good deal gets me every time

June 10, 2010

So, I just went to my round of thrift stores searching for one last dining room chair….and instead I ended up plopping down my credit card for this:

The moment I saw it, I had to wipe the drool from my chin….because I couldn’t believe that I had found a couch almost identical to the Chloe one from Macy’s that has been in my To Buy One Day When I Have Money folder for the last 6 months.

Now, here’s my issue. I have a couch. A big comfy one, so really there is no room for this little beauty. Unless I sell what I have….

But the other problem….

I just painted a mirror and a table for my current living room…

and it clearly doesn’t match my new baby.

But, I can just see the possibilities…

A black-ish damask rug…

Big white mirror….

ahhhh, black, white and that yummy yummy shade of blue.

Jimmy is going to kill me.

My sister may too.

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the cure for my heartache

June 9, 2010

Lord you have my heart,

and I will search for yours….

~~~~~~~

My heart has not been my own since I made the decision to live for Him.

Yet, why do I continually forget to connect to His in times like this?

Why must I constantly try to go it alone,

figure it out,

fight the battle,

all by myself….

when He never intended for it to be this way?

Because I am human.

My instinct is to see what’s here,

what’s in front of me,

and become focused.

Or….more accurately,

distracted.

And I forget to reach out to things unseen,

and truthfully,

at times unheard.

He can be silent.

But there is wisdom in His silence.

And maybe if for once I could be silent too…

I could hear His loving whisper.

So I guess that’s where I am right now,

reaching and grasping and trying to find a way to be silent.

Because my heart is aching,

and it’s an ache that can only be calmed by letting it go,

and instead searching for His.

I give it all to you, Lord.

All to you, I surrender.

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all your free tracy anderson video links here!

June 8, 2010

Tracy-Anderson-Any-Woman-Can-Have-Madonna-s-Body-2

You guys know by now that I have a mild obsession with the Tracy Anderson Method. In fact, I posted on how to do her method here, but I know that her videos {Tracy Anderson Perfect Design Series Set, The Tracy Anderson Method Presents Post-Pregnancy Workout DVD, The Tracy Anderson Method Mat Workout DVD} can be a tad expensive to invest in, especially when you’re not even sure you’ll stick with it.

So.

I am here to help.

Sometimes it’s good to sample the goods before buying the cow.

Isn’t that the saying?

But of course, let’s be clear….it only pertains to the Method.

Not, um, other things.

Anyway…I have this great little bookmark folder on my computer where I store all the links for different Tracy Anderson workouts. I’ll go to them when I feel like I need a change from the videos, or when I feel like I need a little sumthin sumthin extra to work off that Symphony Bar I ate over the weekend.

{pretty sure that’s not a part of her diet….}

And because I love you guys, and I care about your thighs almost as much as I do mine, I thought it might be good to share them all with you guys.

Now, let’s get started.

I’ll categorize them all by body parts so it will be a little easier to refer back to.

And trust me, there are enough here to mix and match so that you can get a full workout.

This way you can start to see that you WILL love her method, and you’ll have enough time to save up for her full videos…

{tracy, feel free to hire me anytime!}

We’ll start with a cardio warm up:

Goop Dance Cardio

Treadmill Dance

Thanksgiving Dance
Beginners Dance Part 1
Beginners Dance Part 2
Trampoline Cardio Part 1
Trampoline Cardio Part 2
Trampoline Cardio Part 3
Trampoline Cardio Part 4

Now moving onto legs:

Goop Legs

Gwenyth’s Iron Man leg routine
Leg Webisode

Arm time!

Arm Webisode (I add this one on to the end of all her videos except Mat)

Arms with weights

Goop Arms {for more of a workout, do this twice!}

Don’t forget your abs…

Ab Webisode

Standing Abs
{combine the two for some good ab work!}

And if you just need a lil something extra for all those parts,
here are some quick videos that target everything:

10 min everything

8 min everything

Kitchen Workout

Beach Ready
Marie Claire
Arms & Abs
Arms & Legs
Cosmo Workouts
Hamptons Webisode {If you do 20-80 reps on each side for legs, 20-40 reps for abs, and the arm section twice, you have a complete hour workout. And, I promise, you WILL be sore. I actually took screen shots of each move and saved it to a folder on my computer so I could just look at them to know what to do next, rather than stop and pause the video over and over again. Then put on an awesome play list, and you’re set to go!}
3 moves for 3 parts
Tracy in Central Park

~~~~~~~

So, there you have it!

All my links.

There may be more out there, and if you know of some, please leave them in the comments and I’ll add them in!
It’s nice to have a go to place to find them all for those times we just need a free push in the workout department.

And if you are going to get her workout videos….and aren’t quite sure how to arrange them all for variety, head over here and I’ll show you how I started.

Now that I’ve been doing it awhile, I change up my videos (I have 4 of them) every two weeks and alternate the cardio dance videos (I have both, The Tracy Anderson Method Dance Cardio Workout DVD, Tracy Anderson Dance Cardio II [DVD]) whenever I change to a new workout video.

It kinda helps to keep things new and exciting for a girl who gets bored easily.

One other tip….
I have found that doing cardio three times a week gets better results rather than five.
Too much cardio can burn away muscle resulting in skinny fat.
So, for example, I do Mon/Wed/Fri, workout + dance cardio…
Tues/Thurs, just the workout.
I especially think this is best once you get to the maintenance part of your weight.

Anyway, hope that helped, and if you guys have ANY questions, I’m here.

Always.

~~~~~~

Other health, fitness, and other body stuff links here:

What supplements should I take?

What should I eat?

Everything in moderation

A new me in the mirror

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will it ever stop? yo! i don’t know….

June 6, 2010

Whenever I think my redecorating is almost complete, I happen upon new items that make me rethink an entire room.

This seems to be happening with my bedroom at the moment, the room that I was actually somewhat satisfied with.

But when I saw these amazing sunburst mirrors (they look fabulous over headboards), I realized that my bedroom may need a bit of updating as well.

CSN Stores are really making the whole process of completing what I started a little tough….and now that they’ve asked me to do a REVIEW! (and eventually a giveaway for you guys I hope) I’m even more baffled as to what to choose, what to choose.

The nice thing is, I GET to choose…so it will actually be a review of something I swooned over and loved deep within my (shallow) heart.

lol

And while I may end up putting one of those mirrors in my shopping cart…

I am thinking that for now I better stay focused on accent pillows and dining room chairs before moving onto another room.

It’s always good to keep your ADD in check, yes?

No?

Well, okay then…..I guess we’ll have to wait for the review to see.

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fashion friday

June 4, 2010

Top: XOXO, Plato’s Closet and yes I have been stalking their store as of late….and I’m so glad I do, because suddenly I am realizing that all my favorite tops and jeans are from there! It also seems that I tend to buy most of the owners clothes, and I think from this point on she should just call me before she puts them out….

Pants: So old, the tag is unreadable….I have had these pants for mmmmm….close to 9 years? Over the years they’ve fit, not even come close to fitting, and maybe a couple times (anxiety related) they’ve even been too big. I tend to use them as a measuring stick, and as of today….they’re a bit tighter than I’d like to have them. Time to get back on track….goodbye gluten and sugar. Again.

Shoes: Also a beloved and well worn pair….from Target years ago, and my go to comfort shoe. And p.s. I will never get tired of the mary jane style. Ever.

Bracelets: Walmart, $3. Dying, right?

Watch: La Mer

Sunnies: F21

Ring: Tiffany

~~~~~~~

On a non related fashion note….

but on my mind:

This weekend our foster son is going to stay with friends for a couple of nights, and it will be the first time in MONTHS that we will back to what used to be our “normal” family. I have such mixed emotions about it…as he’s blended in so easily that I have forgotten what my life used to be like. But in the really crazy moments, sometimes I wonder if I miss that life I used to have. Yet when I see his sweet face….his trusting brown eyes, and I hear him randomly tell me that he loves me and that he loves living in my house…I know that no matter what kind of missing my old life I may be feeling now….it may never amount to the missing I’d feel if he left us. I always said, long before he came here, that I’d rather it be hard for me, than hard for him.

I mean it still…..

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it’s in the bag

June 2, 2010

While I was online looking at dining chairs,

(have it narrowed down, I think!),

I happened upon the mark site (whoops!),

and now I feel that along with dining chairs, I need this bag….

{find here}

and this dress…

{find here}

And then really really, I will be complete.

{Ya right.}

Oh wait, I forgot about throw pillows…and cushions for my picnic table….and….

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and i just can’t pull myself away…i just can’t stop

June 1, 2010

I am a focused girl, and when I have my sights on something, I work hard to get it.
I rarely quit until success, (unless, of course, I think I suck),
so you’ll have to forgive me for neglecting you guys as of late.

It’s just that I started this redecorating thing, and now I just. can’t. stop.
It’s taken over my life, and it won’t let go until I finish what I’ve started.

No matter how good my intentions are to write, blog, work out, eat healthy…
or um,
actually work on my actual work projects that pay for this habit of mine….
it just doesn’t seem to be happening!

Tsk, tsk.

In fact, those last three paragraphs?

Ya ummmm, took me 20 minutes to write.

No joke.

So, this weekend was insane.
On Saturday I started working/cleaning/sorting first thing in the morning and didn’t stop (or sit) until close to 10 at night.

I even shampooed my carpets all by myself, and people, I have the calluses to prove it!
I meant to get to my couch and chairs as well…but then decided that I would much rather pay ANY amount of money, than to continue that god awful horrible chore.
What the heck was I thinking???
I was not meant for manual labor.
{yes, you’re thinking “duh”…I hear you…}
Anyway….

So now just as soon as I get chairs for this table…and repaint the top of that desk back there….

{searching for 5-6 different black chairs, all for under $250}

…I should be able to return back to life as normal, which I promise, does include this blog and you.

In the meantime…you can vote for me again here (and again and again, every day until Friday….),

cause third place isn’t first place.

In case you didn’t know.

And if you’re really missing me…

I have some good posts if you care to search my past.

It gets a lil juicy back there….

Oh, and if you have any cute throw pillows with some black (or pink) in them…

send ’em my way….

It’ll help me to get back here to you all faster.

Always about you.
Always.

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