The show

The title of the post doesn't really have anything to do with the topic ... I just really like the song by Lenka, and it was playing on Pandora when I started typing.

Anywho ... didn't my kid look dapper tonight for the meeting? We discovered this awesome store while in Illinois. It's called Zara, and it has some rockin' kids clothes. Sadly, online purchasing is not an option, so I will have to shop while in Illinois visiting my sister, or while in Atlanta during Market (because I have so much spare time then).

So tonight at meeting, Allen wanted to answer. So, during the part on using Good News for People of All Nations (paragraph 2 to be exact), I suggested he say, "We love everyone." (The paragraph was discussing how we imitate Jehovah's impartiality). Allen was called on, and he said (quietly, but not whispering):

"I love everybody. "

 How cute is that???? Boy do I love my kid and all of his sweetness. Frequently I wonder how I was so fortunate to be given this fabulous child. You better believe I thank Jehovah every day for that little man ...

That would be beautiful

Allen has come out with some real gems lately. Like last night, when Nana asked him if he wanted to go potty with her. He replied,

Oh yes! That would be beautiful!

And tonight. We were talking about a box my dad needed to fix. He told my mom he couldn't find the missing piece. In the midst of their exchange, Allen started talking ...

Allen: Well, it's in my butt. 

Mommy: What's in your butt?

Allen: The missing piece.

No idea where that came from.

I also wanted to post a video of Allen "talking" on the phone tonight, but I can't make it work. Anyone able to help me?

xoxo,

leggy

New and improved

Now that the weather is cooler, I decided to darken my hair color. I do this every fall/winter, but this time we went more dramatic. You see, I have this thing about my hair. I call it "Hair ADD." And I'm trying really hard not to cut it short, so that means getting creative with hair color and style.

So last week I went to my stylist for an appointment, and we decided to go edgy -- which means dark and dramatic. I'm pretty sure this is darker than my natural color, though I have no idea what my natural color is since I've been coloring my hair since I was like 15 or something.

Anyway ... here are a couple pictures of it that were taken tonight (after curling it with a curling iron this morning).

A self portrait

A portrait by Allen

I'm not sure you can really get the full impact of how dramatic a change the color is since the background of the pictures are dark, but let me tell you, it's a huge difference. I'm curious to know what ya'll think of it ....

So, now that I have an office, I have modified my morning and evening habits a little bit. Basically, I spend both the morning before the boys wake up and the evening before I go to bed, in the office.

And I'm drinking Sleepytime tea ...

And I listen to Pandora. Which is incredibly soothing and enlightening. I love having the time to myself. I use the time to catch up with friends on Facebook; to write; and to relax.

I feel like I need this time to myself because I've been feeling awfully restless lately ... like I need to expend creative energy. This time alone allows me to explore my writing and to be productive with my work; but in an environment that relaxes me. It's fabulous!

Well, that's all on this topic. Hope ya'll have a fabulous week.

xoxo,

Leggy

Completed masterpiece

The office is complete! Wanna see some pictures??

From the doorway

Reading nook

Bookcase and awesome lamp

Desk

File boxes and bulletin board

Closeup of one of my great lamps, taken by the talented Allen (seriously)

My beautiful owl lamp, also taken by Allen. I love my owl lamp!!

So what do ya'll think? I'm totally smitten with it. I don't ever want to leave. It is becoming my solace.

Hope you enjoyed the pictures. Next to come ... my hair makeover. Let's just say I look like a different person. Hopefully I'll be able to post tomorrow if I'm feeling better (yes, I'm sick AGAIN!).

xoxo,

Leggy

Allen's room

I've neglected to post photos of Allen's "big boy" room (still not being slept in at night).This has been for two reasons:
1) I keep forgetting to take the pictures
2) I am trying to figure out if we're going to rearrange any of the furniture


I guess Allen was tired of waiting, because he took this gorgeous picture tonight, while I was in my office. You can see both the bed (well, part of it at least) and the rug (well, part of it at least). What do you think?

xoxo,
leggy

I choose life

Allen's latest gem:

Mommy: Allen, do you need to go potty?

Allen: No thanks. I choose life. 

This has been his response several times, and for different things he does not want to do. He's borrowed it from Sid the Sloth in Ice Age.

xoxo,

leggy

Murphy's New Look

As some of you know, Brian is not a fan of paying to get his hair cut. Or his dog's hair cut. He's of the mind that if he can do it himself, he should. That's fine with me because it frees up more hair-cutting-dollars for my own locks (autumn reds here I come!).

He cut Murphy's hair once before with his own hair clippers (we won't get into the hygiene aspect of that right now), but human hair and dog hair are very different ... well, animals. So, last night we finally invested in some dog clippers. And Murphy got a brand new look ...

He looks adorable and he's so soft. I do miss his reddish brown coloring though. Hopefully, as his hair grows in, we'll take better care of it and it won't get as matted as it was before.

So anyone want Brian to cut his/her hair? He's taking appointments ...

xoxo,

leggy

Devotion

This is how I blogged for much of the evening. Now that's devotion!

Love ya'll!

xoxo,
me

We should too

Today was a big day. And it was a good day, too.
Allen answered at the meeting. He said, 

"We should pray too." (the small font indicates whispering).

He was very proud of himself. We were too.

He also went pee-pee in the potty twice today. He was proud of that too. And so were we.

We went to Disney On Ice Finding Nemo (the subject of another post), and Allen made out like a bandit. Five over-priced gifts.

For dinner, we went to Dockside. Allen had "yucky fish." I'm still not sure what makes it yucky.


On the way home, he started whining and crying ... he kept saying, "but but but" when we told him we were not going to Walmart to purchase yet another toy for him. So I started to sing, 

"I like big butts and I cannot lie ..."

He told me to stop, and then he said, 

"Mommy and Nana are big butts."

Gotta love him.

xoxo,
me
 

 

Excessive

So, I was a little bit excessive today. When we went to Disney On Ice Finding Nemo, I took um, well ... uh ... about 140 pictures. So I'm busy trying to narrow those down into something that's not ridiculously boring to ya'll. I promise to do a great recap, but it's not going to be tonight.

However, lest you be totally disappointed, I'll post a preview picture ...

xoxo,

Me

Blog Makeover

So, ya'll, what do you think of my new template? I figured since my guest room was getting a makeover, my blog should too ....

xoxo
me
 

Wood Violet gets some friends

Now you get to see the inspiration behind the color I chose for the new office. These curtains from Pier 1. Don't they look lovely with the Wood Violet walls? I think it's a match made in heaven.

First, a view from the doorway, and then a focus on the window  ... 

Next, let's take a look at the file carts that I got. They match the desk which is yet to arrive. Which is why the room looks so incomplete ... we're not sure how to arrange it until we get the desk.

And my reading nook, with my awesome pink lamp ...

And finally, my rockin' rug that I purchased at Pier 1 for $29.99 on clearance. Yay for sales!

The rug is Allen's favorite part of the room, followed closely by the pink lamp.

We also bought this air mattress, which is awesome because it unfolds itself as it inflates, and folds itself back up as it deflates. We'll just do some simple rearranging when guests come, and my office will convert back to a guest room. Thanks in large part to the awesome air mattress.

Can't wait until my desk comes and I can complete my office. Hopefully it will arrive on Monday and we can wrap this up by Monday night.

And stay tuned for a recap of tomorrow afternoon, when we go see Disney on Ice Finding Nemo! Shh ... don't say anything to Allen ... it's a surprise!

xoxo,

Wood Violet

That's the name of the paint color we painted my soon-to-be office tonight. Wood violet. Sounds like a delicious color, doesn't it? And it is ... would you like to see?

Gorgeous, isn't it? I simply adore it. I had planned on only doing a big reveal once the office was finished, but my brother-in-law and sister requested an in-progress post. So here it is ...

Mom and Dad kept Allen for us so we could knock this out tonight. So we did adult painting, complete with adult beverages. Because really, how can you paint without beer?

Sadly, we had a little accident, while cleaning up, and we now only have one of those cute glass lamps left. Oh well ...

Once I was finished and all that was left was the up-high stuff, I had to go retrieve the kiddo. Despite Nana and Papa's attempts, Allen refused to spend the night. As soon as we arrived home, he grabbed the camera to snap a few pics. Here's his best one ...

OK, so Mom helped a little bit with it, but still ... I think he's a budding photographer (like his Aunt and his Papa).

I'm now finally resting in bed with a glass of red wine, so I bid you all adieu. More stories soon!

xoxo,

Foreign

We went to the "Cookie Club" (Publix, our local grocery store) yesterday after school, with Nana. Allen was very good even when the power went out in the store (I think I was more scared than he was). He cooperated and didn't squirm in the cart.

Anywho ... when we were on our way home, the following conversation occured:
Mom: I'm so hungry.
Nana: I know, I'm famished.
Allen: No you're not. You're not Spanished!
Nana: (chuckling, along with Mom) You're right. I'm not Spanish.

Today we had to go to Pier 1 to pick up some curtains for my latest project (to be posted soon, along with the just-finished toddler bed project). Allen used up all of his good and cute genes yesterday, apparently, because the experience was far from pleasant.

First, about three minutes into the visit, he announced that he was, "letting the poopy out." And then screamed and ran away when I tried to grab him to go to the bathroom. Then he ran around the shop touching everything. He nearly broke at least four things. I thought I was going to have a huge bill, but fortunately nothing actually broke (even though he was pulling and bending the branches of a wreath, and pushing a huge glass vase).

This afternoon, he played at the pirate ship with his friend Sara. Sara is from Serbia, and knows only a few English words. She was saying something in Serbian, and Allen thought he understood, and starting saying, "My knees. My knees." It was hilarious!

Those are the highlights from our week so far. I will post pictures of Allen's big boy room and of the progress of my guest room conversion (to a home office) soon.

xoxo,

Joli's first giveaway!

Hey ya'll! Did you know that our shop is hosting it's first giveaway in conjunction with Devine Designs? Stop on over and check it out. Maybe you can win an awesome gift!!!

xoxo,