snowbird

Say hello to my little friend...he has taken refuge from the snow under a bench on my front porch. I think that he is hurt but I don't really know what to do. Follow the circle of life/survival of the fittest mentality and just let him be? Call the someone? Who? The bird whisperer? Do you know one?

Oh-Bama!

I am a Republican. I am conservative with my business, with my money, with my feelings, with my politics. I believe that less government is better. I believe that I am responsible for me and that everyone else should take responsibility for themselves too. I don't believe in getting inadvertently pregnant or the expectation that if I do someone needs to give me a monthly check to pay my bills. Conversely, I believe that women have the right to choose and that you should be able to marry whoever you want. So maybe I am a republicrat. Or a demolican. That being said it may come as a surprise to most who know me that I voted for Barrack Obama.

I watched all the debates. I wanted, desperately, to hear something from McCain that I could get behind. It never happened. In fact, the more he talked, the more fearful I became. He is a scary little man.

Now with Obama, the opposite is true. His cool, calm demeanor over the course of time has made me want HIM to be the leader my country. I want HIM to be the one who has his finger on the button. When he speaks, he reminds me of video that I have seen of John and Bobby Kennedy. Listening to his acceptance speech made me feel like maybe, just maybe, he gets it. And that gave me hope.

100.

The number of full pushups that I did today. Take that.

happy labor day

why, oh, why?

Please somebody, tell me why we (and I use that term "we" loosely, 'cause nobody asked me) are having Democratic and Republican conventions. Why? Is there something that I'm missing? Don't we already know who the nominees are? What is the point, except for each party to blah blah blahlookhowgreatweareblah blah blah for a week on prime time tv? Just sayin'.

third time's a charm?

Took a trip to heaven the other day. That is, the heaven that is IKEA! The closest one is about an hour or so away from my house, which is just fine by me. My feelings about Ikea are similar to my feelings about casinos...not too close, please...any closer, I fear, would have an adverse effect on my 401K. Anyhooo, here's the light that was in the entryway when I moved in...behold its beauty:Next, is another purchase from Ikea that I love, love, loved...until it was inadvertently broken by a very remorseful electrician. About a year and a half ago. That's right, I move at lightning speed. So quick, in fact, that this lovely light fixture has been discontinued, no replacement parts to speak of. Good times. Notice the missing glass cup:And finally, number three. I think its my favorite. I was hesitant because it's so modern and my house is so old but my ID said that it was a "contradiction" that just works...I agree...as usual. What do you think?And can we talk about how much I still LOVE the new paint color? Seriously, love. Someday I hope to meet a man that I feel as strongly about as I do that paint.

i heart my bedroom

I have finally finished my bedroom update with new paint, which lead to new curtains, which lead to new curtain rods, which lead to new artwork, which lead to new pillows... The blue is Behr Niagra Falls and the brown is Behr Bison Brown. I just love, love, love how it turned out. My inspiration room is designed by Candice Olsen of Divine Design, shown here:And here is my room:




The blue squares above my bed and the bolster (made by mom!) are from two napkins and a tablecloth bought at the Brimfield Antique Show for ten bucks. Awesome. The pictures between the windows you might recognize from the pics at the beginning of the summer from my garden. The most-perfect-exact-right-color-blue side tables $14.95 Christmas Tree Shops telephone tables (some assembly required). The pictures really don't do it justice. In person it is very "spa-like", very calming...that brown wall is positively lickable, like taking a trip to Hershey, Pennsylvania!

lordy, lordy...

oh. crap. I'm. forty. I have officially entered into my 4th decade. I have been off work for a week celebrating and relaxing...got some stuff done around the house, had a couple of birthday parties...you know me, excess is my middle name! One of the parties was at a local adult beverage establishment that I frequent. The other was at my parent's with the family. Each was wonderful in it's own way and made the transition to middle age smoother, reminding me how lucky I am to be so loved by so many.

oh, happy summer

spring has sprung at the oasis

Here's what has been going on at the oasis...lots of work outside. Here are some before and afters...last summer I took out the lovely brick edging and this summer added a planting bed beside the porch. On Mother's Day I went with my landscape architect (aka mom) and bought a bunch of perennials and spent the rest of the day planting. Yep, I am the best daughter ever...manual labor is what you get on Mother's Day when you are my mom! I think it's coming along nicely...a work in progress...

as if you didn't know...

I am a woman ahead of my time! Here's my stairs (sans carpet):



And here is a picture from this month's Domino Magazine:

I am very happy with how the whole project turned out. Everyone who has seen them loves them...and apparently so does Domino!

that b*tch holly...full of encouragement

Here's an email that I got today from my trainer, Holly. Yesterday I did 10 "full" pushups in a row. What's a "full" pushup, you ask? It's military style, no knees-down-girl-style but straight-out-boy-style. Seem easy? Try it...

Hi Christie,

I hope you're having a great day! Just wanted to send a quick email and say
congrats! Congrats on hitting a new personal record - 10 pushups. Yesterday's
workout was tough and you pushed through and did awesome. You always give it
100% and that's why we love working with you. Great work! Have a great
afternoon and we'll see you tonight!

Holly

I've been doing the knees-down pushups since I started at Holly's. The most I've done in one training session is 170. She says that when you do a knees-down pushup you are lifting 40% of your body weight versus the straight-out pushup, where you are lifting 70% of your body weight. Big difference! Seem easy? Like I said, try it...

paint debate, part 3...the one where i completely change the color...

Okay, so if you've been following along you know that my entryway had recently been painted a lovely brown called Toffee Crunch...as seen here...

Well, truth be told, I have never quite felt comfortable with the color. Don't get me wrong, I like the color, it just didn't "go". So, after finally figuring out what bugged me (the brown didn't complement the adjacent room colors) and many consultations with my personal interior decorator (aka: mom)off to the Home Depot we went, armed only with a yellowing dead leaf from my philodendron plant...seriously...ya gotta take inspiration where you can get it...



The color is Squash by Behr and it is PERFECT. Do you know how I know? It just feels "right"...you know it when you feel it. Coming soon...wait till you see what I did to the stairs!

got an extra $3000?

Because if you do...

you too can have the finest chimney on your block, just like me! Seriously, isn't it the sweetest pile of bricks with cement squashed between 'em you've ever seen? Nothing but the best for me, yessiree!

that b-i-t-c-h Holly

Something new that I have been doing for the past couple months is working out with a personal trainer....fondly referred to as "that b*tch Holly". She owns a training studio in Hadley, where I own my center. Personal training is expensive but worth it, I'm worth it! I need someone to hold me accountable because clearly after all these years of struggling to get in shape, I am not to be trusted to do it on my own.

So I work out a minimum of 3 times a week, in a small group setting, with lots of personalized instruction and support. And I gotta tell ya, I have never worked so hard in my life. The first day I was SURE that I was going to die. Holly said at the end that most people don't finish the workout on their first day and I did. Quitting was not an option, I might be the slowest or last to finish but I wasn't going to quit! Now, 2 months later, I am sure that I'm NOT going to die and have surprised myself with the things that I can do. Thanks, Holly!

So Holly just started her own blog too. She is training for a body building competition in April. Here's her link: www.befitcoach.blogspot.com