a little of this, a little of that.

I've got a few things on my mind ...

The post I did yesterday on craiglook has me really stressed. I emailed the seller of the chair this morning, and I called one upholstery shop in Norman and asked around some, and it seems like reupholstering the chair would cost around $300 for labor alone. I'd have to find some really cute, cheap fabric.

The thing is, I think the chair is really good looking. I love the tufted back, I love the skirt on the bottom and it's really functional. I mean, it rocks and reclines!

My thought is that we could buy it now for cheap, then a little later we could decide on fabric and then whenever we are "with-child" {ha!} we could send it off to be reupholstered -- thus spreading the cost of the chair over a longer span of time.

I'm sure you guys will be the second to know {husband first, always!} if that chair is snatched up.

_________________

I read Erin's blog from {I think} last week about going to FitLab and figuring out her resting metabolic rate (RMR) and exercising metabolic rate and how she signed up for thedailyplate.com. It all sounded really interesting and, really, kinda fool proof. I mean if you have all of your information, you should be able to keep track of how many calories your taking in each day.

And, since I've been extremely lax about running, I think it might just be a good idea.

So, I signed up and started tracking my calories today. Wooo! And, I might have made a new goal for myself {Because, if I plan to keep working out regularly, I have to have something to work toward.}:

Run 100 miles in June.

ahhhh! maybe i'm crazy!

Please hold me to this. And, as I did with my half-marathon, I'll probably try to keep an active log on here.

I'm starting on Tuesday June 1. And, yes, I realize this means I need to run more than 3 miles a day. {And, I reserve the right to transfer this goal to July if I can't get myself together...}

____________________

This weekend is Memorial Day {uhh, you already knew this right?}. Usually the in-laws have their pool  ready for this holiday, however, they've hit a bit of a snag, and need a new liner {not cheap!}. The new liner is on order, but takes up to 10 business days to be delivered.

So, no pool for MD. Bummer.

What do we have instead?

A few chores around the house, painting a side table, grilling out and drinking fabulous sangria!

Here's the recipe {courtesy of our friend, Jim Blevins}:

4 tumblers of red table wine {we use Carlo Rossi}
2 shots Grenadine
8 shots Triple Sec
 1 8oz. tumbler of Orange Juice
All kinds of citrus fruit {we usually use oranges, lemons and limes -- but I know you can use grapes and apples, pretty much any fruit you like}
And, if we're feeling extra fun, a little bit of vodka

Mix it all together, and if you're feeling patient, let it sit all night.

You won't be disappointed!!

i'm new to this.

I know people find great thing on Craigslist all.the.time, but I just don't really have the patience to go digging through sucky entry after sucky entry, all the while hoping to land upon a gem.

Enter craiglook.com {thanks emily}.

All the stuff on here has pictures! {Well, most of it, anyway. I found one without a picture, ugh!}

I narrowed down my search to the general area and only wanted to look at things under $75 -- and there was some really great stuff!

Like this:

I'm not pregnant or anything, but couldn't you just imagine this in a nursery {after a good recovering of course}. It reclines and rocks! {oh and sorry about the sideways pic, that's how it was on the entry}

And this:

Give this a good wash or coat of paint {black!} and some bright cushions/pillows and it would really perk up your front porch!

I'm still lookin' around {and trying to convince J we need both of these!}, but I'm lovin' craiglook!

cannibalism.

The newest installment of the Bachelorette started last night. And, have you noticed {of course you have} that for the past 6 or 7 seven season, the "creators" of the show have just cannibalized a contestant from a previous season {they're not really eating each other, c'mon ... } as the newest Bachelor or Bachelorette? I have too.

It all started with Brad {I think -- I didn't watch this season}, who didn't choose DeAnna. Then she was the Bachelorette. She didn't choose Jason, so he was the newest Bachelor. Then, he gave Jillian the heave-ho and she was the new Bachelorette. She thought Jake was a little too squeaky clean, and he was the Bachelor. Then Ali had to quit for work and now, she's given up her life and is the newest Bachelorette.

Ugh, we need some new faces!

But, I guess that'll have to wait for another season cause we know this is nowhere near the end of the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise.

Anyway, I tuned in to Ali's season last night. The first thing I noticed? Her awful hair and make up. When she was on Jake's season, she was so fresh-faced and fun, and now? Ugh, she's trying too hard to be glam. Take a page from Jillian's book and be yourself! {I would put some pictures in this post, but the ones I found on abc.com made her look way better than she did on tv last night, therefor, I can't use them to prove my point. Duh.}

I didn't really pay much attention to the guys -- all of their entrances were too cheesy and terrible. And, I didn't even watch the cocktail party.

At this point, I'm not so sure how much I'll tune in, but I definitely want to see the episodes when they're in Iceland on the active volcano!

Anyway, I've read some of realitysteve.com {he's the one that, somehow, always has the dirt on these shows}, and it seems that quite a bit of drama happens.

So, who's watching Ali on the Bachelorette?

action.

I've been using Photoshop for several years, but not until recently {the last 8 months, maybe} did I realize that Actions existed.

Actions are pre-programmed steps to do different things to a picture -- enhance areas, change colors, sepia tones, 70s type photos, etc. {That's my definition and most likely not the technical one.} Pioneer Woman has two sets -- one with 6 or 7 and another with maybe 10.

PW Set 1
PW Set 2

I've never really played around with these, but I was looking through an Arkansas photographer's blog and it hit me. The different colored photos aren't SOOC, they use actions and other Photoshop tricks and filters! And I call myself a graphic designer, pshhh.

Anyway, I've mentioned that J and I have aspirations of a couple of gallery walls in our house, and I decided to try my hand at some actions of our own photos in hopes that we could put those up in the house.

Here are two pictures -- I'm showing you the before and after.

This one I took of Gus last summer when I was just figuring out our camera and the new lens we'd gotten. I love the SOOC one, but the B&W is awesome!

J and I had gone to a one-day photography workshop and had to get out and take some pictures pre-sunset. He took this one. We did some minor toning, but the action I did on it made it so cool.

Have you guys ever used actions?

weather you believe it or not.

OKC and the Edmond area were pounded with hail yesterday. Here's a crazy video. {it seems long, but trust me, you have to keep watching, at least until about the 1:40 mark}

And, here's the front page of the Oklahoman. The picture looks like it snowed, but that's hail accumulation. 

my attempt at having a green thumb.

I've been on the lookout for some planters for the front porch. Some of the ones I've found are really expensive, but, never fail, Home Depot had just what I wanted for a really good price!

So, on Saturday we picked up everything we needed to put flowers in our new pots. Even though I'm a definite landscaping/planting novice, I think they turned out really great! I can't wait for them to grow and fill in!

Here are some pics:

J and I bought a hanging basket {the yellow flowers} and broke it up in a couple of pieces. I'm really hoping that breaking it up won't kill it. 

{uh, ps, I didn't realize I was using the 18-200 lens, and these aren't the best pictures I've ever taken.}

Happy last birthday in the guantlet!

I'm sad I'm missing it, but this precious gal turns 2 today! Happy birthday little lady and hopefully we'll see you and your big brother {and your awesome parents} in July!

That smile cracks me up!

8 days a week

It's been raining for the last four days, and according the the weathermen, there's really no end in sight.

You already know about the scary weather on Monday, so, I won't bore you with the weather we've been having, except to tell you that the last two nights we've had Lily in bed with us. She hates thunderstorms.

On Wednesday night, I hardly slept {thanks to that cute pug changing positions all night} from 4:30 on and last night we put Lily in the bed around the same time and she slept a lot more.

Ok, on to more fun things. Yesterday I got my hair cut. It had been months since I'd gone in, and even though I usually have much shorter hair, I decided to keep it a little longer for now. She only cut an inch off!

And, before my hair appointment, I did a little browsing. I've had the shopping bug lately, and I wanted to go by Forever21 to see if they had this cute top in the store so I wouldn't have to order it and pay for shipping. No such luck.

It's only $15. Maybe I'll order it anyway. 

Old Navy was also on my list of places. I've been needing some basics and I can usually count on ON to have what I want for cheap. 

Unfortunately, they didn't have a whole lot, but I did happen upon a cute grey distressed jean jacket that was on sale for $13 from $35! I'm wearing it today!

I still have the shopping bug, but I'm refraining for now. But, in an attempt to satisfy my need to buy things, I'm going to post a couple things that I've had my eye on.

Ruffle Floral dress from Pink Ice $35

Colette Necklace from Stella & Dot $138

Blooming Brilliance blouse from Anthropologie on sale for $159

If you've been reading for a while, you know that I'm lusting after more than just 3 things, but I'll spare you. 

For once, we don't have much going on this weekend, just a graduation party tomorrow evening. And, if this rain actually lets up, we might just doing a little work in the front yard.

Have a good weekend!!

Everyone's a little bit OCD

Though you may not be clinically diagnosed with OCD, you probably have a few idiosyncracies. I know I do. Here's a taste of some of mine.

• If I'm eating skittles or m&ms or candy like that that comes in small pieces, I have to have 2 in my mouth at the same time and I must eat them in even numbers. I like to have eaten equal number of pieces on each side of my mouth.

• When I was younger, I had a rug in my bathroom at home, and it had to be lined with up certain tiles on the floor.

• There's a certain way I like the dishwasher loaded -- the cups should be loaded from back to front. And dishes should be loaded with all the dinner plates grouped together and the salad plates grouped together. Although, I have to say, I've become very lax on this one.

Now, that's an organized dishwasher! Can you even see it? That picture is terrible!

I know this is a sad compilation, but that's all I could think of. I know I have more ticks {tics?}. I really had grander plans for this post, but they've crumbled. Whoops!

What are your OCD habits?

Wishful Wednesday

Bochic Diamond and Turquoise Chandelier earrings via Gilt -- on sale for $4,419. Thank goodness someone already snatched 'em up because J wouldn't have been happy with that charge on the credit card.

Well, that was scary

We had scary storm situations in OK last night.

On Sunday night, the news anchors were talking about tornado preparedness and, really, that should have been my first clue. {I have to give props to J, he was well-prepared!}

Then, yesterday, it was really windy and very warm. J kept saying you could "just feel it". Yeah. Right.

We had a few last minute things to finish up on the last May issue of the magazine, so when we were in Norman, we rushed around to finish those last things and get out of there. By the time we left, the clouds looked kinda scary and I was a little freaked out by how dark it was to the North and West of where we were.

On the drive home, the radio had the weather guy on talking about tornados North of us and then one storm that was south of us.

We rushed around and got gas, made the deposit and stowed J's truck so he wouldn't get hail damage {they were predicting 4-5" hail}.

Around 6:00 we lost power {and of course the garage door was up, ugh!} and a little under an hour later, the tornado sirens went off and we rushed next door with the dogs to get in our neighbors underground shelter. And, let me tell ya, that was a pretty terrifying experience.

We weren't in there any longer than 20 minutes, but I was worried the whole time. After 20 minutes, the storm had passed over and, save for some strong wind, it was O-V-E-R.

We were really lucky.

Here are a couple pics of the clouds after the storm passed over. The sun came out and the weather was pretty much perfect after. Thank goodness it wasn't storm after storm after storm.

Today is the day ...

I'm officially changing the name of this blog to {drumroll, please} ...

The Divine Mrs. EM -- it's a triple entendre.

My name is Emily {nickname Em}, my last name is Montgomery {thus making my initials E.M.} and EM when said phonetically, sounds like the letter M {my married last name}!

I think I really love this name, and I have to thank Bette Midler, as that's her nickname.

The new blog address will be ...  divine-em.blogspot.com.

I'm really excited about the new name, and since I have a serious love affair with green/lime green, that color will continue to be very prominant.

So, faithful followers and readers, change your bookmarks!

Oh, just another birthday

Yep, another in the long, long line of birthdays. {We lovingly call it the gauntlet -- have I told you that a hundred times, yet?}

Happy birthday to my oldest brother, Jason!

Four years ago, for a milestone birthday {I figure since he doesn't want his picture on here, he might not want his age on here ...}, we went to the Kentucky Derby. My entire family and {then fiance} John all journeyed to Louisville to celebrate Jason and cheer on the horses. It was so much fun. The weather was perfect and the company was even better.

Barbaro won that year, and really we should have known and bet on him. J got a tip from a bartender at our brunch that the winner of the Bluegrass Stakes is often the winner of the Derby, and in 2006, that's exactly what happened.

We didn't bet on Barbaro, but we had ourselves a few mint juleps and a grand ole time. And even though we haven't kept our promise to "go back every year" we have that great memory and keepsake glasses to prove it!

Happy birthday Jas! When are you taking us to the Derby again??

It's just around the corner ...

Big things are happening here. Big. Huge. {name that movie} 

Keep an eye out 'cause I'm changing the name of the blog and getting a new header {and if I can figure out the html, I want to change up a few other design elements of the blog}. 

And, I think I'm going to change the address of the blog, too, but when I do that I'll do my best to post it everywhere so all my loyal followers {thanks, guys!} can find me!

The state of my tv watching.

You'd think that since it's May and tv shows should be winding down for season finales, that my tv watching would be slowing down too. Well, that's not exactly the case, and really, I'm exhausted from trying to catch it all. {Sorry this post is sans-pictures. I'm too lazy to pull pictures for every show I watch.}

**Mondays**

J and I really love How I Met Your Mother, and were super sad when the episodes we'd dvr'd earlier in the season were lost when we had to get a new Dish receiver. Have no fear, we're back to watching religiously.

I'm still a Gossip Girl watcher. Although this season has been a little lackluster, I'm still with them. I did miss a few episodes when {yep, you guessed it} we had to get a new Dish receiver, but I didn't watch them and I don't feel like I missed much.

Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood just started again about a month ago, and that one is definitely a guilty pleasure. I love Tori {I kind of never thought I'd say that after her 90210 days} and I think she and Dean are really great together.

And, last night Real Housewives of New Jersey started again. I haven't watched the premier, but I can only imagine it's full of b*tchfests, drama and over-the-top indulgences for all involved {I'm lookin' at you Theresa Guidice, and your three adorable daughters}.

**Tuesdays**

J has loved Deadliest Catch since it started. And, really, I love it too. You can't beat a bunch of grown men being thrown around a boat, cussing up a storm and trying to catch crab worth, like, $55/lb. {that's just a guestimate, people, I don't really know how much it costs}

Glee. Not much else has to be said, except, I'm a little miffed that they moved it from Wednesday to Tuesday and that {sucky} American Idol has been running long, meaning my recording of Glee is cut off! Ugh! But, I'm so glad it's back. And, how awesome was that Madonna episode? I've watched it twice!

I've been with The Hills since it started. In fact, I was with LC in her Laguna Beach days. I miss LC, but I really think she made the right decision to get out of The Hills when she did. That show is so awful now, but, yep, I still watch it. And, it's no secret, I'm glad this is the last season. Good riddance KCav.

Ahhh, Whitney. She's that breath of fresh air after the fog of desperation that is The Hills. I love The City and Olivia has just enough great style to counteract her b*tchiness.

**Wednesday**

Surprisingly, I don't watch anything on Wednesday nights.

**Thursdays**

I dvr Vampire Diaries each week, and I'm currently a little over a month behind. For some reason, I never actually want to watch the episodes I've recorded, but once I have, I'm always glad. Hello, there are tons of hot guys and it's like Buffy the Vampire Slayer all over again -- my favorite show from 9th grade.

Real Housewives of New York is on every Thursday. I have loved the RH franchise for a while, but these NY ladies are a little on the annoying side. Jill, LuAnn and Kelly are like the mean girls. They're rude and so judgmental, but when someone else is rude/judgmental toward them -- whoa, step back, because you're going to feel their wrath.

**Fridays**

Nothin' on Frid{ee}ay.

**Weekends**

There are a few shows on Sunday that I like to catch, but nothing that will cause me to lash out if I miss. That sentiment will change once Big Brother returns this summer. Make me miss it and I might cut you.
Right now, I like 60 Minutes, Amazing Race and Kendra.

Ok, that's a lot of tv. It's exhausting just typing it all out, honestly. Most of it is dvr'd and then I catch up over the weekend. I try my absolute best to never record anything on tv 1 so J can watch whatever he wants. I'm a good wife like that.

What shows are can't-miss for you? {Please tell me there's someone out there who watches as much tv as I do ...}

Happy Monday

Mondays aren't always my favorite day of the week, so instead of wallowing in pity for myself, I'm posting pictures of two of the places that J and I want to visit this summer.

Neither of us have ever been to Memphis, but after noticing how close we are, we thought, why not! Just follow I-40 and we're just a long, boring short {maybe 8 hour} drive away. Some things we must do while there: Beale Street, Graceland and the ducks at the Peabody.

And, we want to go to Colorado to visit these two adorable kiddos {and my brother and sister-in-law, of course}.

Do you have any trips planned for the summer?

Nice Little Sunday

We've had a somewhat low-key weekend. Last night we celebrated John's brother's birthday at Seven47. And, as usual, the food and company did not disappoint. But, can I mention that there were some fraternity boys enjoying "Senior Night" on the upstairs patio who were way overserved. We got to Seven47 around 7 and even then those guys were stumbling around and some weren't feeling too well ... if ya know what I mean.

Anyway, we had a great time. 

J and I originally had plans to work in the yard on Saturday, but because of the morning rain we had to move those plans to today. 

So, starting around 1 o'clock I took on the front "flower bed" and J mowed the backyard. I use quotes around flower bed because it's basically two flowering bushes {that actually produce very pretty flowers, but they've taken over everything ... and that just annoys me} and one medium-sized treeish kind of thing. 

I filled four trashbags full of leaves and nastiness and then we removed the wood railroad tie-ish kind of things. Just seeing our front yard look like this gets me really excited about doing some landscaping and finally giving our house a little curb appeal. 

Here are a couple of the after pictures from today. I'm on the hunt for a picture of the front of the house so you can get an idea of what the front looked like before. 

And, we have ambitious plans. We want to tear up the tilework on the front porch and walk way and tear out the small "flower bed" to the side of the walkway and make all of that one big walkway. We want to pour concrete and then stain it. 

I'll keep you posted as we work on our landscaping. And, I have to tell you, I'm kind of excited to be doing this on our own, but I'm really nervous at the same time -- I don't know anything about plants/flowers!

Wish us luck!

Birthday ... again!

Today is my brother-in-law's birthday. Yep, we're right smack dab in the middle of the birthday gauntlet!

Happy Birthday Matt (Vic) from me, John, Gus and Lily! We're excited to celebrate tonight!