Tuesday, March 24, 2009

a challenge












I am on the hunt for a comfy couch for the sunroom. My challenge is that is MUST match my new buffet....well, its not new. It's probably 50 years old, but new to me. And the formality of the cherry certainly did not fit well into the sunny porch decor - so I painted it (it holds the summer outdoor entertainment neccessities: cocktail glasses, serving platters and pool towels). I always tend to do things backwards. Most people would buy a couch and then paint an old piece of furniture to match .... but not me! I guess I like
the challenge, the hunt, finding the impossible. Oh, and did I mention that I only want to spend a few hundred dollars - and it must be new! I will find it - I am determined!


UPDATE; Jan 1, 2010: This was one of my first posts. Ironically, I never found the couch, but rather bought a new home. I sold this buffet in a garage sale.

Monday, March 16, 2009

8th grade

I teach middle school (sympathy, please) and my students have a vocabulary that always amuses me. The other day, Kevin, grade 8 (probably 16 years old) was on the computer completing an assignment on calorie intake of fast food. All of a sudden I heard some kind of head-banging music coming from his computer. I reminded him, "only one screen opened at a time, Kevin, close out of the music screen". That's when he created a new word (that will probably be in Webster's in a year or two). Kevin said " Miss, I "minisized" it! Now I know he tried to say minimized, but I liked minisize so much that it became the "word of the day" (I was even corrected by a student when I said it later in the day!). It might have even been the connection of our prior "supersize" discussion on fast food.... whatever, it is one of my favorite words to use now. Last year it was "bell scheduelle" - that was a spelling error by my PRINCIPAL!!

Mission accomplished: the baby shower is planned at Olive's Eatery and the invitations are being stamped and assembled....no fuss, no muss....my type of event!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Baby shower 2


I found the cutest little place today. Olive's Eatery is in Baldwinsville, NY and I am contemplating having the baby shower here. Not only is the menu fabulous, but the rest of the house has the most unique little gift shops, selling jewelry, clothing and home decor. Each room in the little house has a different consigner and the decor is so unique and dramatic. "Black and white" always catches my eye and I am so happy that I came upon it. This would be an exciting place to entertain 40 or so woman ...they can eat, shop and "oooh and aaah" over baby gifts - all at once! Now off to make some decisions - panninis? salads? fruity ice teas?

And NO I did not win the lottery yesterday , so SHUT UP lady will have to buy her own tickets to the concert!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Shut Up

This morning, on the way to work, I heard a lady screaming "SHUT UP" to the DJ on the radio. Seems she couldn't believe that Dave Matthews Band was coming to Syracuse this summer and wanted to know how she could win tickets to the concert. Moments later the announcement came on the radio "be the 9th caller to win tickets......." I rarely call to try and win anything, and it is illegal to use your cell phone while driving in NY (yuk, yuk), but I was at a red light and I dialed and redialed and redialed and you know the rest of the story....I am now the proud owner of tickets to see Dave Matthews in August.

I am feeling a bit guilty because the SHUT UP lady is probably a devoted, obsessed fan and I probably ruined her whole day....but I am off to buy a lottery ticket, hoping that my luck hasn't run out. If I win a gazillion dollars, I will find the SHUT UP lady and give her my concert tickets.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Planning a shower

Planning a baby shower can be quite challenging. Where to have it, who to invite, what food to serve, blah, blah, blah....I prefer spending my energy on the "fun" stuff - "what can I design and create?" I spent today stamping little handprints on card stock, layering papers and I finally have ONE invitation and ONE favor box completed - at least I accomplished one thing - I have the general idea of what they will look like.

I also made Bakerella's cupcake lolipops - well hers came out much neater than mine and I scrapped the idea for making them for the shower. Right now a Wegman's cake is sounding like a plan!!

I will try to plan the menu soon - it will certainly be catered . Any ideas? I am off to create another invitation.........

Saturday, March 7, 2009

Life of a cat


Oh, the life of a cat. All nine of them! If only we were so lucky. But today I was....I took a "catnap" in the middle of the afternoon and no one tried to wake me up. Two hours later I awoke to the aroma of dinner cooking - twice lucky in one day. Having a retired husband has a few perks....and having a cat reminds me of the value of napping!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Day 1

Well, all my friends are doing it, so why shouldn't I? Blogging is certainly new to me, but I must master it by June so I can post photographs of my grandchild.

I didn't plan on being a "bragging grandmother", but one might be in the works! Having a "boy" in the family will be something new - we have been surrounded by girls, Barbie dolls, pink and frilly decor, cheerleading, giggles and gossip, and mood swings for years - and we look forward to trucks, roughhousing, t-ball, frogs and dirt (of course he won't be living in our house!). And, most certainly, he will be perfect!