Outdoor Space

Outdoor Rugs all from overstock.com. They're all pretty large. Number 5 is my fave!

Outdoor Dining Furniture

I like the idea of a "fancy" picnic table...this one is from pacificoutdoorfurniture.com

 

An inexpensive set from o.co. I especially like the chairs

My FAVORITE...reclaimed wood table from uncommongoods.com

And the chairs are awesome too.

Encore

Definitely top 3 favorite thing to pass an afternoon doing...watch a movie...who doesn't love a comfy couch, bowl of popcorn, ice-cold diet coke and 1 hr 33 minutes of escape. I'll watch a variety of genres...whether it's a cheesy romcom, tear-jerking drama, eye-opening documentary, feel-good Disney or the occasional lifetime movie...so I can easily find a movie to get lost in. Although I will watch the occasional "what a waste of money/time" movie, I really appreciate a movie that makes a huge impact. One that leaves you sitting frozen in your seat at the end. One that makes you reserve a copy before it's out on DVD. One that makes you pay for a movie ticket again. These rare gems are the ultimate movie experience. An experience that you chase like a high by venturing to the movies after seeing a great preview only to face the disappointment that they put all the good parts in the preview. Sadly, most movies fall into the category of "wait for the DVD" or "eh, it was good but not one I'd watch twice" BUT...out there are THE movies that hit you like a ton of bricks and make you appreciate the art of movie making. Here are the movies that fall into that category for me. These are the movies that I wish I had a time-machine to go back in time just to experience the first time watching them.

1.Willow 

This first movie that falls into this category may be a bit of a personal preference that isn't shared by others, but for me this movie was sooooooooo good...I was, I don't know 5 or 6 the first time I watched it. I don't know who introduced me to it. I don't even remember the first time. Alls I know is I watched it multiple times throughout my early movie viewing career. It's as old as I am. Released in 1987. Written by George Lucas and directed by Ron Howard (how can you go wrong?)....(pronounced in my best goat voice)...Willow!

I was in love with the movie.

The village of little people was fascinating!

The crazy wildebeest/wild-boar dog monsters that terrorized the village of little people were seriously scary. Not to mention the freaky baboon/goblin things at the end. Oh and can't forget the scariest...the two headed ball-sack shaped dragon! Ahhh!

The friendship between Willow and Madmartigan. The love story between Madmartigan and Sorsha. The cute baby! Oh this movie was everything! Luckily my dad surprised me with a copy a few years ago (great gift)...I need to go watch now.

2.The Labyrinth

Honorable early childhood mention: The Labyrinth! another just...so good..."play it again, again, again, Mommy!"...movie.

3. Titanic

A movie that captured every girl's heart...and I was certainly no exception...Titanic.

This movie needs no description because we all loved it! I was a tweeny-bopper when it came out and was, like the rest of America, severely depressed at the end of it when Jack sunk to the bottom of the ocean..noooooooooo! I literally felt his pain at the end as I was frozen, unable to move, when the credits started to roll. Wahhh! 

But its okay everybody...look what I've found...Jack is Back!

Yay...the Popsicle corpse of Jack comes back in the sequel. Did not know this existed until I did a google search of "jack sinking titanic" It does look like him though. 

4. Legends of the Fall 

This movie spawned my obsession with Mr. Pitt. I even spent real money on a purse that had Mrs. Pitt on the side (wow). I watched this movie for the first time and then literally watched it for the 2nd through 16th time consecutively following the first time. I'm not proud of this, but I couldn't get over the tragic story. My friend, Alison, knows how much I love this movie because she bought me a copy. This is one of Kenny's faves too. OMG we're so meant to be!

Ooh La La

5. Forrest...Forrest Gump

This movie is stupid good. Only thing that could make it better is if Forrest had gone to Auburn University instead of University of Alabama. 

it has everything...even my boo John Lennon

"is he smart or is he...."(tear rolls down my face)

Okay enough....I see a movie marathon in my future!! Kenny get ready!

Extravagance

just another pointless post about decor...here ya go

Stuff I might buy if Mark Zuckerberg was my sugar daddy...in other words this stuff is ridiculously, insanely expensive...and I'm baffled at some of the prices. All items found on 1stdibs. I'm getting the feeling that everything on their site is seriously over-priced...

English Wire Locker...this is cool...but for a cool $2400 the towels will find somewhere else to hang...

Cool Studded Console: Green Lacquered Console by Tommi Parzinger...price: contact dealer...which means $$$$ but I do like this

I've seen tons of signs like this...I want to know why this one priced $2200, besides making a sucker out of whoever buys it. 

40ft of Nautical Rope circa 1940s...$950...but "it has a nice patina"..ha

Kettlebelling for Spring Break

A few posts ago I mentioned that I wanted to try working out with a Kettlebell...because according to this Yahoo Article, it is possible using one to burn 300 calories in 15 minutes. That sounded pretty good to me considering that I don't enjoy exercising (atleast not in my current physical condition).  But, I lasted about ten minutes.  Its my first day. I wouldn't want to exert myself too much. I'll go for 15 minutes tomorrow. Promise!

This is the kettlebell I bought today

Its 10 lbs. A good option for beginners although it may be a bit on the heavy side. I probably should have started with the 5 lb bell. Anyway, this one is girly and not as intimidating as the traditional kettlebells that the Russian athletes used that are made of cast iron like these. I have to master the techniques of kettlebell swinging before I endanger the walls, windows and people (including myself) around me by using a cast iron bell.

 Oh and mine was significantly cheaper. This 10 lb-er is $42, mine was $18

And it came with a workout DVD with a warm up, 3 workouts and a cool down.

Its a simple workout but seems very effective. My heart was pumping 170 beats a minute after performing a few Kettlebell throws. A kettlebell throw is the most common move...it requires you to swing the kettlebell back  through your legs while in a squatting position and then swing it forward until it is above your head.

 After ten of these, I was breaking a sweat. 

          I want to see somebody perform a kettlebell throw using the cast iron kettlebell on the bottom right of that chart above...106 lbs..wow. 

Well I feel a bit like a wimp for not completing the short work out. My goal is to make it all the way through it tomorrow. I can do it : )

Ikea Finds

This weekend Kenny and me made a visit to Ikea. The place amazes me...its always packed full of people. The parking lot looks like the parking lot at Six Flags. And of course we found lots of things we wanted or just thought were cool. I can see making some big impulse buys in there

this wardrobe. its plain, but we both agreed that its pretty cool. we especially like the simple hook latch

 

And this bed...

This pendant light...looks like daisies : )

San Antonio

This past weekend I had the chance to visit a really cool city, San Antonio. Kenny's mom recently retired and her coworkers threw her and other retirees a big party. The party was held in the club room of the Frost Bank. The view from the 16th floor provided awesome panoramic views of the city. It was a really fun event with good food, drinks and dancing. It was fun to see how special Kenny's mom is to all the women and men she worked with. I was truly impressed by the kind words her coworkers had to say.

This was my first time visiting San Antonio so I wanted to check things out while we we're there. Before going to his mom's event, Kenny, his sister Rebecca, her boyfriend Robert and I took a walk around downtown San Antonio. We were lucky enough to stay downtown so we we're within walking distance of the Alamo and the Riverwalk.

150 yr old tree in the courtyard of Alamo. It was huge. The branches touched the ground and grew back upwards.

the stone roads and side walks we're pretty

The famous Alamo. Not as big as you think. And its in the middle of downtown.

Majestic Theater. I love the colors and columns

Our Hotel...The Gunter.

We only got to walk around for a few hours so I definitely want to go back and take it all in...and take more pictures. I realize these aren't that great. 

At the retirement celebration. I couldn't get over how handsome K looked

Art as Sweet as Honey

Honey is my adopted step-dog. She is my boyfriend's lovable/pesky yellow Labrador Retriever. 

Honey knows one trick...sit, but this trick only works if you're holding a bacon flavored Beggin' Strip. 

She's great at hello's, as soon as you walk in the door Honey comes barreling toward you and then proceeds to buck around in circles like a wild bronco. She also goes into these circle fits when you're trying to pet, brush, bathe, feed, scratch or put a leash on her...making all of these acts impossible. 

DO NOT sit down around her without your guard up because as soon as your butt hits the couch, Honey is ready to make you her personal body pillow. She's like a 3yr old who doesn't know the meaning of the word NO! 

Oh...and never leave a trash can unattended or its contents will be strewn throughout every room in the house. 

Sadly, many-a-socks  have lost their partner to the wrath of Honey.

But as much as she may drive me crazy she can easily regain my favor by simply looking the way she does. She has permanent puppy eyes that make you go "AWWWW, look at her!!" 

  

Another great Honey quality: She loves water as much as Kenny and I do. She's always down for a dip!

The Heart-Melting "AWW, Look at her!" face

Center of Attention

One of those times when her love of water came out at the wrong time...and her misunderstanding of NO!!

She has been known to leave some pretty ugly gouges in my poor legs from pouncing on the couch, but every now and then it's pretty nice to have a giant cuddle buddy. 

Okay, now that I've got the Honey spiel out of the way maybe this post won't seem too random. I think it would be cool to find a piece of art to put up in the house inspired by the resident pest queen of the house. Inspired by Honey here are a few pieces that I found:

Black Lab Print from Etsy here

Sleeping June on Etsy by: biffbangpow here

(Favorite)

 Five Labs Z-Gallerie

Black Lab- Z-Gallerie

 Funky Lab Painting on Etsy here

Print from art.com

Bed Time Print. here

This is hilarious & the way Honey would have things if she was in control