Going to the Birds

Today on Paper & Cake she featured a bird house confection by NeviePieCakes. Um, have you ever seen anything this fabulous????? People, you can eat these. I don't know if I could...they are way too pretty.

Who am I kidding? I totally could.

I especially love this gingerbread house.

And, not bird related at all (or maybe a little - her room is bird themed and I did a bird baby shower for her last year), but check out little Finley doing her little trick - you tell her "Finny go night-night" and she lays her little head on her shoulder. She is so advanced.

Ohhhh...I LOVED all of your comments about your claims to fame. I think we all need to hang out more often. Maybe I will run into Ben Affleck while he is shooting his movie here. If I were only so lucky... I also forgot to mention, I have my picture with Vern Yip and Frank Bielec of Trading Spaces. Do they count as celebs?

Almost Famous

Okay, since some of you are new to my blog, I thought it would be fun to play a little game. I tell you about my brushes with fame. You tell me about yours. It will be like the blog world's version of 6 degrees of separation...scratch that, 6 degrees of Kevin Bacon.

I am going to do this by age order. (Don't worry this will be really short.)

Okay, so in 1991 my bff at the time Kate Digilormo lived next door to the Guier family. Well, Adam Guier was cast in the movie, The Pistol. It was about Pistol Pete Maravich. I think it was like a Rudy type story. To be honest, I cannot for the life of my remember what the movie was about other than basketball, but it was my first brush with fame. I was hooked for life.

1993 - Saw Luke Perry at the Alamo in San Antonio. This was at the height of his 90210 fame...only problem is that while calling his name (and calling him Dylan) we laughed and said there was no way that was really him. Next day on the radio it was reported he was there taping 8 Seconds. So, again...only a brush with fame.

1996 - We were lucky enough to go to the Olympics in Atlanta in '96 and sitting in our section was Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and fam. The funny thing is, I didn't even notice, but my sister did. (At the time she was in middle school.) Demi Moore had shaved her head for GI Jane. I still to this day don't know how my sister noticed...

2004- I sat in the front row at the Oprah Winfrey show. Show = total bust. Recap show that was taped right after her Favorite Things show. Anyway, Oprah is much, much thinner in person and wasn't what I expected. (Side note, on this trip we went to have drinks at the Hancock Tower and two girls went down to the lobby while Janie and I paid our tab. While in the lobby the other two members of our party met none other than Jerry Springer. Rave reviews on him!)

2006 - Shopped next to Garth Brooks at Williams Sonoma here in Tulsa. Since I didn't want to make him a circus freak, I just pretended to I was really interested in the rice cookers. I have heard nothing but wonderful things about how gracious and friendly he is. Next time I may ask him for a picture.

Okay, so that is really it for me. Other fun facts:

1- My cousin was one of the guys dressed up like Eminiem in his Real Slim Shady video.
2- One my high school classmate's dad is Frank Abagnale, who was the main character in Catch Me if You Can (with Leo DiCaprio).
3- My friend Mindy is friends with Ed (Jillian's ex-fiance) from the Bachelor. She also recently met Joey from the Real World.
4- My friend Janie volunteers at Texas Children's Hospital with Shannon of Bachelor Season 1 Alex Michel.

I need details, people. Fill me in on every last thing! Dying!!!

PS - I am too lazy to proof this, so I apologize for any errors. I hope the grammar police don't come out.

One Step Closer

Since I apparently cannot decorate a room in a normal amount of time, I am just going to do it at my own pace. I guess I can...it is my living room and all. In a year I will probably have a close to finished room.



A few months ago, we got this monstrosity of a sofa (I took this pic pre-ottoman). There was much stress as I initially decided it was way too big for the room and that I made the biggest mistake of my life. (I do have a flare for drama.) So I did what any girl in distress would do - called my mom and mother-in-law for moral support and made them come over immediately. After much "we promise we love it, it is beautiful" reinforcement, I decided to get over it. (I cannot be 100% sure they weren't just saying that to make me feel better because returning it wasn't really an option. Or maybe they just wanted more room to sit.)

Anyway, as you can see when you walk in the front door, all you can see is sofa-back. Ugh. And since the sofa is so dark, I decided I had to go with a light colored sofa-table. So here is what I ordered today:

I have had my eye on this table because I thought that the it would go with the whole tuscan-theme/glaze on my wall. Now, this is where I need positive reinforcement from you guys. What do you think? (And if you don't like it, I cannot bear. Returning this puppy will be a pain. ** Side note - I just had to look up whether that was bare or bear - for the record it is bear. Is that common knowledge?** )

In the reviews, someone posted this pic of the table in their entry way. At least I have options if it doesn't work behind the couch.

I should get the table in this week. I will keep you guys posted on how it looks...crossing fingers!

Since it is feeling like Fall today

I thought it would be appropriate to bust out a Halloween post..with the weather being lovely and all. (Isn't it funny when 88 degrees feels like Fall weather?)

Yesterday on Target Addict, she posted the new Halloween costumes being designed by Simon Doonan, creative director of Barneys New York. They costume names are very tongue in cheek and maybe I have a weird sense of humor, but I found them to be quite funny.

Well, this would be Glamour Ghost:


And the perfect costume for a couple, Spaghetti:

and meatballs, of course.

I told Tommy this year we could go as Bella and Edward. He LOVED that idea.

(Again, totally kidding. He would rather go as spaghetti and meatballs.)

Bella and Edward

Thanks to my Aunt Angie, I have this special treasure to share with you all -- a Bella and Edward Christmas ornament from Hallmark. Tommy will die when I buy this for our tree. (Only because he is totally Team Jacob.)









Only kidding...he will totally kill me if he ever reads this :)!

You've Never Seen Anything Like This

Google is my best (inanimate) friend. I heart it. It hearts me. We spend a great deal of time together. He scratches my back. I just take advantage.

Well, I may have a new best friend. Meet Wolfram Alpha. It is Google's nerdier, mathlete brother. The video is about 8 minutes long, but you have never seen anything like this and really it is just too much to tell you in writing.

But for those of you who need a Cliff's note version - Wolfram Alpha = Google on crack + statistical information that would be really, really hard to Google. (That is saying a lot because, not to brag, I totally rock at Googling.)



Now that you watched the video, I laughed and laughed and laughed some more when I put both my name and Tommy's name into Wolfram Alpha.

The most common age of someone with the name Katie: 24
The most common age of someone with the name Tommy: 63

I have made up that 6 month age difference pretty quickly based on this data.

Corked

I ran across this wine wreath at Everyday Celebrating and I had to share (yeah, sorry about the lack of posts this week, I was finishing up the Twilight series -- it sucked the life out of me - he, he).

This little treasure is perfect for my friend, Jane, who may or may not have had a day without wine (except for when she was pregnant) since she was 22. (I think you were drinking beer in college, Jane.)

I would totally buy it for her, but I hate when shipping exceeds the price of the item. (This is totally based off principal, Jane. Not because I don't love you.) You can find this at CorkyCrafts on Etsy.

Today I will be going to the lake with friends. It is probably my first time to go to the lake since 2007. I am deeply afraid of blinding people with my white radiant skin. I guess I am closer to a Cullen than a Quilleute. (I promise the Twilight references will stop soon -- right after I get my "I drive faster than a Cullen" bumper sticker.)

Guilty as Charged

Ever have one of those days that isn't just horribly bad, but just kind of annoying? I guess Carter was having one too. He had to take his aggression out on something.

What mom? I didn't do anything.

I just always pose like this. I can look you in the eye even.

Okay, so maybe I just looked at your document.

How could you be mad at these eyes?

New Blog

My bff Megan started a blog. I am sure you will heart her as much as I do. Click here for her blog.

Tabled

I love a little project. Especially when it is outsourced :).



For our living room I wanted to do a circular ottoman as a coffee table. I scavenged to find the perfect ottoman and I did. Only it was about $800 for this (with my choice of fabric):

Well, sitting in my mom's attic was this table that had been her parents:

The diameter was perfect, only it had those little divets in it. My mom happens to know an upholsterer extraordinaire who turned that into this:

For a total of $275 (including the fabric and cushion)! Total steal.

What do you think? I am going to give a whole living room pic soon. I am close but not quite there.

Some housekeeping and a party

1- I know you all warned me (specifcally, you, Jane) that I musn't get sucked into (pun totally intended) the Twilight series. I.cannot.stop.reading. Hence, my silence on this blog. I had to finish Eclipse. Which I did...in 2 days. I pulled some late-nighters, but I had to find out what happened in the Bella/Edward/Jacob triangle. I am kind of sad that I only have one book and it will be over.

2- Thanks to a friend of mine who happens to be the world's biggest Twilight fan, and I kid you not, knows every fact about them known to man, let me in on a little secret. There was a leaked manuscript of Twilight written from Edward's perspective and, omg, you will die to know what is going through his head. Here is the full story and at the bottom there is a pdf of 264 pages of the manuscript.

3- Today my friend Aja had a brush with fame. No she didn't run into Ben Affleck at Broken Arrow's Bass Pro, she got a shout out on our favorite Bachelor/Bachelorette Blog, I Hate Green Beans, for breaking this news.

Aja will be giving out autographs.

Now onto other things. I came across this cooking party designed by the Party Studio from the blog Simply Creative Insanity.

Okay, so it is kind of hard to see, but the cake in this picture is absolutely adorable.

I am absolutely, 100% in love with these cupcakes. Look at the miniatures! Can you honestly tell me you have ever seen a cuter cupcake?

All of the colors and details are stunning.

Spicing things up

Um, I have won another contest! Can you believe it? I am basically the world's biggest winner! The fun thing is that I only enter contests of things I might actually like, so I was THRILLED when I got an email yesterday that I won Lulu the Baker's Smart Spice Giveaway. (You guys know I need all the kitchen help I can get, so I am super excited.) Check out my loot:

The cool thing is that Smart Spice packages 1-teaspoon portions. So you can use that 1 teaspoon of oregano your recipe calls for, and the rest of your oregano stays safely packed away in tightly sealed packets. (This will be especially great considering my current spices -- and I am embarassed to admit this -- came in a spice rack that we got for our wedding. Four years ago.)

Here is what all I am getting:

Basil
Cardamom
Chile Pepper
Cinnamon
Coriander
Cumin
Curry Powder
Ginger
Herbes de Provence
Italian Seasoning
Nutmeg
Oregano
Paprika
Rosemary
Thyme
& True Cinnamon

And I love that it is all organic, too. I cannot wait to show you guys what I cook with my new spices! Ahem. I promise I will cook something.

I'ts 10:30

...and I am considering starting Twilight: Eclipse. Someone stop me.

Things this "angel" ate while I was watching The Bachelor Pad

1- My slippers

2- My shoes

3- A pillow

4- A behind the neck pillow that you warm in the microwave and is filled with millions of tiny pieces of rice (At least a million for sure)

5- Our loan documents for our house

And was caught lounging in our bed. Apparently, Carter had a nice night.

I like my salsa hot

I heart Mexican food. I could subsist on it and pizza alone (I am half Italian after all).

Last year I gave you my glowing review of my favorite tortillas that are as close to homemade as you will get at home without making them yourself. (Aja, I am still waiting on yours!) So I thought I would let you know about my favorite salsa, Herdez. I will admit, I passed this in the authentic Mexican section in the store countless times. I am always kind of scared to try something new. (I know, major risk taker here.) But my sister-in-law Kristen had it one night at her house and I about died from freshness! This salsa rocks.

It is moderately chunky, but not too much. It tastes like it was freshly made the day I bought it and is just pretty much awesomely addictive. I buy medium, but the mild is great for those of you who weren't born in Louisiana. :)

I will say, I don't think it is packed with preservatives, so you need to eat it within a week or so of opening. Otherwise, you get the dreaded food mold (please tell me that is not just me) and you have to toss it.

Please let me know when you try this little salsa of heaven! I want to get your reviews, too. Ole!

You have to admit these are adorable

Whether you are into Disney or not, is this cake/cupcake combo from And Everything Sweet not adorable?

Hope you guys have a great weekend. I pretty much have NOTHING going on. I don't even know what to do with myself...well, I sort of do and it involves shopping and manicures and pedicures.

I kid you not, the world's greatest carpet cleaner

For the past two days Tommy and I have been getting over a stomach bug. Awful. I won't even give you a comparison. Just know, it has not been fun.

While I know you cannot give your dog your stomach virus (or can you?), I think Carter had sympathy pains for mom and dad and decided to throw up on my carpet today. Twice. Thanks, Carter.

Anyway, it did spark a blog post because I do have the world's greatest carpet cleaner ever. It is pricey, but only because you basically have to buy it in bulk, but it is a million times less expensive than getting your carpet professionally cleaned.

The cleaner is called Herby's Fame and my mom has been using it for years. They used to sell it at Albertson's, but the new Food Pyramid doesn't sell it. I kid you not when I tell you there is not a stain this puppy (no pun intended) cannot get up. My mom can testify -- she once spilled an entire gallon of paint on her carpet and there is nothing to show for it. In a good way.

After my incident today, I am pretty close to running out, so I bought a gallon of the Pet Stain Remover because, let's be honest, that is where most of my stains come from. It has no coverup smell either, so it is not like you are trying to mask anything. Love it!

Unfortunately, I am not being paid in free carpet cleaner for this endorsement. I just want your carpet to be as clean as mine :). You can buy it here.

The next big thing

So we all love cupcake toppers, right? Well, what about cupcake siders? I cracked up at these free printable Ninjas from Zakka Life who I found through one of my favorite printable sites, Living Locurto.

Aren't these just hilarious?

Let me eat cake!

This weekend on Sheek Shindigs I came across the most stunningly beautiful cakes I have ever seen designed by Magpies Cakes in DC.
They are so simple, yet so intricate.

The next two might be the two most beautiful cakes I have ever seen in my life. And I have seen (and eaten) a lot of cakes

Is this icing not absolutely amazing?????

I kind of want to get married again...who am I kidding, I would love to get married again.

2 Years too Late

Okay, so I just looked up on IMDB that Twilight came out in 2008. So let's just pretend this post isn't two years too late. I am totally playing catch up here. (I have to get an "A for effort" on my Twilight enthusiasm.)

I do have three observations of the movie I just viewed:

1- Jane, you are so right, the movie totally had a green tinge to it.
2- Had I not read the book, I would have been totally lost.
3- Edward & Bella = Chuck & Blair

I am so glad it is en vogue to still watch teenybopper shows.

Heating things up

In T minus 2.5 hours I will be watching the first Twilight movie with the only other person in America who hasn't watched it yet.
Do you think the Team Edward/Team Jacob Sweetarts are too much?

Full review later!