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...}

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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!