So now I sew.
I’ve got all kinds of DIY projects floating around in my head. On top of those, I have decided to learn to sew. Don’t worry S, no girly stuff… other than turning your “man cave” into my sewing room. 
More on my first sewing project later this week. Today while browsing Etsy, I saw this. It’s been added to the list!!
I think I want another ferret.
I don’t know. Maybe not. I bet she would play well with others.
Friday Etsy Finds
I am redecorating. So far I have recovered the chairs, switched out some lamps, and gotten new curtains (before and after pics to come!). I am on a never-ending quest to make my hideous yet cozy fireplace blend in with the rest of the apartment. Etsy is my solution. While I haven’t picked out the perfect piece of art yet, I have stumbled across some other art that caught my eye.
affirmation friend by laurageorge
canvasblack
f2images
wall decal from greywolfdesigns (Love this – bought this!)
kaire2009
A special message to the hundreds of people who sell some version of the “Keep Calm and Carry On” poster on Etsy: While the history of this poster is nice and all, it is no longer innovative or interesting on Etsy or on home walls. Please stop invading my search results with your multicolored boredom. Thanks.
Favorites.
I generally like to keep things the way they are. I like to stay in one place. I like to get the same dish at restaurants, and the same drink at Starbucks. I listen to the same Texas country singers as I did in high school. I refuse to decorate in anything but red.
But 2010 finds me stepping out of my comfort zone, ever so slightly.
Song I just can’t get enough of: Lady Gaga, Bad Romance
I’m getting rid of the red. The living room shall be purple, and the bedroom shall be blue. My inspiration:
I’m saying goodbye to cereal. Breakfast of choice:
16 grams of protein, 150 calories, and five live active cultures. And tasty. (shameless plug: Shop at Sprouts!)
This spring, instead of annuals on my patio, I’m thinking succulents. Except for my bougainvillea. I can’t not have a bougainvillea.
Lastly, my obsession with Starbucks chai tea lattes with nonfat milk. I’m sort of going out on a limb here, but not really. Baby steps. Discovered last night at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf:
Steeped in soy milk. AMAZING.
Stayed tuned for more of me living outside of the box. Not too far though. It’s scary out there.
Lately.
Here are some things I’ve been thinking about lately.. I’m starting to feel better about 2010.
Building a kitchen table.
Learning to grow leeks.
Trashing my dress.
Learning the guitar.
DIY-ing more.
and Redecorating.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Friday Ladies Night for $25 or less
First, go see the 7-ish showing of It’s Complicated at the Hill Country Galleria. It is absolutely hilarious, and you will not regret it.
Movie Ticket: $9.50
Your movie will get out around 9pm. Proceed next door to Tony C’s Coal Fired Pizza, where happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3-6pm and from 9 to close (which is 2am). I present to you: the best late night happy hour I’ve been to in a really really really long time.
- $3 house wine, frozen bellinis, 23 oz. domestic drafts, and well drinks.
- 1/2 off appetizers
- $2 slice of New York style pizza (i.e. big as my face)
We each started off with a glass of red or white house wine. “What were they?” you ask? I don’t remember, but we all agreed that for $3, they were really delicious. Get two. You’ve got $15 to spend, remember?
Wine: $6.00
With a hearty list of cheesy apps to choose from, we were in heaven. However, we settled on the creamy artichoke dip served with garlic crostinis. Gone in 10 seconds. I will be going back to try the bruschetta: fresh tomato salsa crudo(?) with goat cheese and served with garlic crostinis.
$8 app at 1/2 off split between 4 ladies = Appetizer: $1.00
Now, your $2 pizza slice choices are limited to cheese, pepperoni, and margherita. I am a margherita pizza snob, and, to be honest, this was not the best pizza I’ve ever had. It was good though. The pepperoni and cheese got good reviews from the ladies as well. These are New York style pizza slices, so they are thin, but take up a whole plate. Naturally, yours truly got 2 slices.. and I ate them BOTH. There. I said it.
2 slices of tasty pizza: $4.00
Very generous tax and tip on your $11 tab: $4.50
Based on the meal that we had, if paying full price, I would like Tony C’s, but not love it. It has potential given the very extensive menu full of other pizza and non-pizza options that may be perfectly delicious. However, given it’s price point and location, I will stick to loving it for it’s late night, after-movie happy hour.
Ladies night for $25 or less – done.
(the “or less” is if you aren’t a fatty like me and only get one slice of pizza 
)
I long for the day when iPhone cameras don’t totally stink.
Friday Etsy Finds
I recently entered the world of DIY with a couple of jewelry holder ideas. For those of you who aren’t quite there yet, there are so many GREAT and reasonably priced alternatives (compare these to the cheap quality holders at Claire’s that are also around $30).
RedBarkDesigns $27
DariellesClayArt $14
mostazaseed $10
fivetrees $40
DIY Jewelry Holders
For years I threw all my jewelry into a drawer, and I had to schedule 10 extra minutes in my getting-ready regime to dig through it for the perfect piece (twenty minutes for earrings). Well, hubbs gave me a beautiful jewelry box for Christmas, so I now have no excuse for untidy jewelry storage. Even though it’s January, I was inspired… but only long enough to make the following two accessories for my jewelry box:
First, a place for all my dangles!
This only involved five ingredients: 8×10 picture frame, wire mesh (from the sculpture dept. at Hobby Lobby), glue gun and sticks, scrapbook paper of your choice, and picture hanging materials.
Take the picture and glass out of the frame. Cut wire mesh to fit 8X10 hole. Glue to inside of frame. Cut paper to roughly fit back of frame (no one will see it), and glue it on too. Screw in your picture hangers, attach hanging wire… and done!
I would actually recommend more sturdy wire mesh for your project (comes in big roles at Home Depot or Lowes). The sculpting mesh works well for now, but its not as sturdy as I would like. Not including my trip to Hobby Lobby, this project took about an hour. Think of all the time I’ll save for just a little bit of effort and about $15 dollars!
I can’t really say I “made” this project, although I did take the label off all by myself. And I drank the wine.. does that count? A place for my bangles!
To get the wine label off the bottle, fill a cooking pot with scalding (not quite boiling) water and a few drops of dish soap. The label will come off in one piece in about 20 minutes. No glue left over either!
Pending your counter space, wouldn’t it be fun to have a few bottle in different shapes and colors for all your bracelets and necklaces?
That’s my new jewelry box in the background
Happy DIY-ing!
I might like Mondays now. Maybe.
Did you know that Monday is half price wine night at the Four Seasons Hotel Lobby Lounge? At least through January, maybe February according to our cocktail waitress. Go, drink, and relax. May I suggest the Paso Creek Cab Sav, regularly $36? For you on Mondays, $18. Excellent with the cheese selection.
Speaking of relaxing, can I please have this bedroom?
