Door Tags

Just a quick post to show some door tags that I made from my scrap pile.  These were inspired by Jaime's door tags at That's My Letter.  I decided to spray them with the little bit of chalkboard paint I had leftover from my kitchen door.  I have to say that I really like them...and I will be able to (hopefully) part with some of my many holiday wreaths that The Chief is not too fond of...

In other news, my parents were super amazing in helping me with my D-I-Y projects while they visited.  I hope to have some updates soon!

Prepping for D-A-D and D-I-Y

The truth is that at this time I believe my only faithful reader of this blog is my Mom.  So, nothing that I'm about to write will surprise her.  You see, my family is rad.  My parents are both self-sufficient and avid crafty, DIY-type peeps.  My mother is a crocheting machine.  Seriously, if you love doilies and you are the first person to comment on the blog (except you, Mom) I will send you a beautifully hand-crafted doily.  She also sews, quilts and paints on barstools.  My dad built two homes, restores cars, welds, builds stuff out of any/everything and is all-around awesome at DIY stuff.  What does this matter, you say?

My parents are coming to visit in three and a half weeks.  I've got to get ready for DIY beast mode.  I have big plans for getting some major projects underway: kitchen update, bathroom update(s), fence installation (hopefully), etc.  Here is a picture of my current stash awaiting their arrival.

And, today I cleaned out the garage so that we'll have room to make this stuff a reality!  Don't mind that huge pink beer bottle.  The Chief and I collect the "artsy" ones and that's leftover from my big 4-0 birthday.  You could not even see the counter this morning.  I see a yard sale in my future!

I know, I know...the faux butcher block laminate work surface and awesome circa Burt Reynolds in Smokey and the Bandit cabinets are envy inducing, 'eh?  I make the Burt Reynolds reference to keep my current readership (my Mom) interested.  I can't wait for y'all to get here!

Super cheap rip-off

This has taken me way too long to post.  I was at Target about six weeks ago and spotted a cute shadowbox frame for twenty bucks.  I immediately remembered some wrapping paper that I picked up from Target's Dollar Spot and an empty frame I had at home from the thrift store that I'd invested a buck on.  I give you my Two Buck Chuck version of the $19.99 beetle pic from Tarjay.  I think my version has a little more class and depth, but I would of course say that...  Let me know what you think!

I apologize for the continual IG images.  I promise that I have a real camera.  I just haven't dusted it off yet.

  

It's Opening Day!

I'm a baseball fan.

My American League team is the Seattle Mariners.  I used to ditch my sedimentology and geomorphology classes at the U-Dub with my friend Lisa to go to games at the King Dome!  My National League team is the Washington Nationals because I never had a NL team until I moved to Virginia.  Ironically, when you put the M and W together you get my initials. Coincidence?

Have you ever stopped to think about all of the idioms in American English that are actually derived from baseball slang?  I bet you've used a few baseball expressions even if you aren't a fan of the game.  Here are some examples:

Closer
O-fer (0 for X number of at bats)
Wheelhouse
Curveball
Cleanup hitter
First base (teehee)
Playing hardball
Throwing a curveball
Grand Slam (not the Denny's breakfast)
Hit it out of the park!
Left field (out of)
Major league (assh*le) *
Way off base
Pinch hitter
Whiffed it!
Swing for the fences

and, my all-time favorite...
RAIN CHECK

Yes, the rain check was given to patrons in the 1880's when games were rained out.  It became a popular term for retailers in the early 1900's.  Let's thank the baseball legends of yore next time we go to buy those organic cotton sheets on sale at Target and we have to pull a paper rain check...

Let's play ball!  Go M's and Nats!!!!

* This in no way is meant to indicate that I am not a Republican or am a Democrat.  I don't vote for a party.  I vote for the candidate.  However, I still think of this gaffe and chuckle.  That's why it is included in this slice of Americana.

My Mom is a Psychic Decor Savant

Do you subscribe to House Beautiful?  I just received my April 2013 issue yesterday and perused most of it this afternoon.  I stopped on page 136 (yes, there are only 140 pages). Here is what I saw...

Sorry for the crappy phone picture.  If you have Superman vision you can see that these are going for the ridiculously steep price of forty clams a piece.  What what?!  As a geologist I value rocks more than the average person, but a slice of dyed agate is hardly worth $40 when affixed to a night light. I love how blue is 'azure' and purple is 'fuschia' for the design elite.  Lucky for me (again) my mother saw some of these at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show and bought two of them for me.  She even showed them to me on skype this morning and they are beauts!  I believe my mom gave the savvy sum of six bucks a piece for each night light. (If it was cheaper you can leave the price in the comments Mom and be my first commenter. Ever.)

My parents are visiting in late Spring.  I'll try to put up a picture of these geo-tastic night lights in action when they arrive. Until then, enjoy any drink on the rocks because ice is a mineral!

Time Out: Deployment Blues and Harlan County

I realize that I'll be MIA around here for a couple of weeks.  The Chief is home briefly before leaving on an eight-plus month deployment.  Did I mention that I love the Navy?!  Actually, I do love a lot of the Navy life.  I've lived overseas in Spain, we'll be able to fly around the world for free (on standby) when The Chief retires and the USN provides more defense for the U.S. than the average citizen realizes.  Anyway, we're spending time together with our cats and just soaking up the last few minutes of togetherness that we can enjoy...

We don't indulge in cable TV.  I often think about doing it, but then realize that I could do something much more productive with eighty bucks a month.  I've lined up some post-deployment but pre-return entertainment.  I forked over for Amazon Prime today (eighty bucks a YEAR) so that I can watch the show Justified.  The Chief and I are both Timothy Olyphant fans.  I've seen Seasons 1 & 2 (from the library) and was hooked. He's no Chief, but he'll work in this pinch!  Who knows?!  I might travel to Harlan County on my way to visit family in the next year!

Why my family rocks! (That's sort of a pun, BTW.)

This week is the 59th Annual Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.  I'm 39 (barely).  And, I'm a geologist by degrees (BS & MS) and in my heart of hearts.  I love rocks, fossils, the Law of Superposition, unconformities, stable isotopes, the idea of Jurassic Park, the Moab area of Utah, Carlsbad Caverns and Mt. Vesuvius.  I grew up in Tucson and my family (Mom, Dad and dear Sister) are all at the TGMS today.  I've gotten a few calls...  "is this ring cool?  Do you know about this mineral?  I got you a surprise!"  It all warms my heart.  When I know that my peeps are at this show, I know that I am a geologist at heart because of my childhood even if I don't work as one.

Anyway, mushy mush aside, they got me a couple of agate slabs so that I can DIY/copy Freckles Chick (whose hubby is also a geologist) and these framed slabs.  At six bucks a piece for these beauties, I wish I had an extra family member to hug.

Sweet Surprise

I was at Target today.  Okay, let's be real, I was deeply hypnotized by the big red bullseye this morning.  You know how it is...you go in for toilet paper and you come home with a bunch of 50% off Nate Berkus decorative stuff that is destined to be homeless for the unforeseen future because you already own too much crap.  I bought the ginger jar, stone frame and brass emerald cut vase that I've eyed since the line debuted.

I also bought myself three cute little notebooks for $2.99.  The Chief (my husband) is underway right now, so this was a substitute V-day gift for myself. At my semi-advanced age I can't seem to get into the groove of taking notes with my phone (other than photos).  These are just the right scale and sport a travel theme, which I dig.  There was a sweet surprise when I got them home and removed the cellophane packing.  The inside covers depict the underground/metro/subway system in each of the cities.

Tres chic, non?

 

Hello...is it me you're looking for?

Let's just get this first post out of the way.  Is it just me, or is this like the first time you kiss a boy or go to the DMV for your license? 

I'm really excited to start a blog.  I'm not entirely sure what the focus will be...I know this is death in blogland, but my motto of late is to "fake it 'til you make it".  My interests are home decor/design (in another life I'd be an interior designer), fitness (a new interest as I need to lose many pounds), science (I'm a geologist), fashion (I like clothes and shoes), the military (I'm a Navy spouse) and whatever else is on the plat du jour. 

So, this may be a rocky start.  You may need to secure your own oxygen masks before sending anyone else over in my blog direction.  My style may leave you gasping for a moment until you catch your breath.  Or, I might be that kindred spirit that breathes new life into your goals, dreams and hopes. 

In any event, welcome to my digital corner.  I hope you come back for tea, coffee or a cocktail.  I take mine without sugar or milk, black and straight up.