Dear Husband…

February 12, 2010 by

If you decide to treat me with something sweet this Valentines day, please remember I’m not a huge lover of sweets and only have a select few faves!

  1. Candy Apples: Granted, I’m not a fan of the apples, but LOVE eating the good stuff off of them!
  2. Chocolate Covered Strawberries: This would be labeled a romantic gift…I think…
  3. Dum Dums: Yes, I could be thought of as a 7 year old for loving these so much.
  4. Cherry Sours: Sour and sweet is a great combo!
  5. Twizzlers Pull n’ Peel: Please don’t judge…
  6. Reeses Peanut Butter Heart: I’ll take the giant one please.
Filed Under: candy, holiday, sk Tagged With: , ,

Intervention Needed

February 8, 2010 by

I love it when my Mom comes to visit me; however….

This is what ALWAYS happens when she’s here.

  • We always shop ’til we drop.
  • It always takes me days to put things away.
  • Little to none of these items were on sale.
  • I’m embarrassed broke.

INTERVENTION is needed STAT!

Filed Under: fashion, sk, tops

Opinions WANTED

February 4, 2010 by

Blackberry Bold vs. iPhone

So, my husband got an iPhone circa 2008 and I thought it was the most RIDICULOUS purchase ever. However, now that everyone, including my mother, has one, I’m starting to reconsider its coolness factor. The only thing I’m concerned about is the emailing capabilities and the touch keypad on the iPhone, which, I’m told, I will get used to, but the thing is that I really do use my blackberry for daily business emailing.

I’m going to get a new phone within the next two weeks and I’m torn between these two phones. Remember, this phone will be used a lot for business.

What phone will be best for my needs?

(All thoughts and opinions greatly appreciated!)

Filed Under: business, gadgets, sk, technology Tagged With: ,

Tour de Casa: Sarah

February 2, 2010 by

I love my house. Like everyone’s humble abode, it’s still a work in progress, but these are some of the things I love the most!

  1. Dining Room: Specific things I love in here include the giant colorful urn in the corner, the cowhide rug, and the recently re-covered leather chairs.
  2. Occasional Table: I found this table at a garage sale for $5! (And if you’re curious why I have these dogs hanging on my wall, this was a grand champion lab and he was a litter-mate to my first dog ever, Pearl. These pictures were hand me downs from my parents, but I absolutely love them.)
  3. Kitchen: I bought this sign from the previous home owners…it really fit my style and thought it was a neat addition to the house.
  4. Master Bedroom: (Where the magic happens…haha) No really, this is the new bedding I just got from Restoration Hardware, what do you think?
  5. Living Room: Doesn’t every home need a cute, patterned, chair? I think it adds a little something extra…
  6. Side Table: This is a recent find of mine. It’s a metal end table with a black lacquer top. When my husband came home after I had bought this table it was sitting in the garage and he said, “Wow, thanks! That’s going to make a great addition to my workshop.” REALLY? he was quickly informed that this side table had style and was too cute to be found in a garage…
  7. Study: Things to note in this room include my solid wood, very large, desk that was purchased at Target and my antique piano, which originally belonged to my great grandmother…what can I say, I love vintage/rustic EVERYTHING!
  8. Patio Chairs: I have these chairs in all colors; turquoise, red, yellow, and green…they add a vintage feel to the patio, but what makes them even better is that I bought them at H-E-B! (That’s a grocery store to people who don’t live in Texas.)
  9. BBQ Pit: What every home needs is not 1, but 2 BBQ pits in their backyard. (Look closely at the picture, you’ll see the second one covered up in the background.) I don’t understand the logic…I mean, I guess the second one is a back-up in case the first one explodes or walks away??? Whatever the reason, my hubby built this sucker with his own two hands (and a welding torch)…I have me a talented one ladies! (And I will never go hungry…)
Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: ,

Winery Spotlight: Flat Creek Estate

January 29, 2010 by

I love wine, I love wineries, I love wine tasting. SO, in the honor of all these loves, I’m going to start “spotlighting” wineries that I love and that you will should visit.

Flat Creek Estate is an award-winning winery located in Marble Falls, TX, which is just a hop, skip, and a jump from the fabulous/trendy Austin, TX. Their wines are awesome, moderately priced, and the views are AMAZING!

Here are a few of my favorite from that can be purchased from Flat Creek Estate:

  1. Super Texan: This is a red wine that is really smooth. I like to think of it as “a red wine on training wheels.” I’m not a regular drinker of red; however, I do make exceptions or this particular one.
  2. Sparkling Almond: This is a sparkling white wine (basically a champagne) that is sweet and nutty. You can literally smell a faint hint of almonds when you open the bottle.  If you’re looking to impress your friends on a special occasion, I would suggest purchasing a bottle of this.
  3. Pinot Grigio: BEST PG (pinot grigio) ever…and I’m not exaggerating…ok, I might be exaggerating a little, but it is very good…it’s on the dryer side, but with a fruity after taste. (After taste is “technically” referred to as the back of your palette, but I didn’t want to sound too fancy.)
  4.  Buckin Horse White: I have actually never tried this wine, but it was a gold medal winner at the 2009 Pacific Rim International Wine Competition and is sold for a semi-reasonable $17.95/bottle, which puts it at the top of my list the next time I place an order!

Side Note I *** I am not a wine expert and I don’t try to be; however I really like trying and learning about wines. If you’ve never been to a winery, but enjoy the occasional glass, I would like to suggest that you try and visit a winery in your area soon. It’s a fun and inexpensive way to both learn and drink at the same time! Also, when if you go, drag your hubby or boyfriend with you. Trust me, my hubby doesn’t EVER drink wine, but he LOVES the wineries and always has a great time. (Please keep in mind he’s a small town country boy that hates any and everything that city people may like, aka, wine.)

Side Note II *** My apologies for the INSANELY long post…happy Friday!

Filed Under: sk, wine Tagged With:

Hump Day Happy Hour: Franciscaner Weissebier

January 27, 2010 by

For all you beer lovers out there, this is a MUST try! Although I don’t know how to pronounce the actual name of this beer, my adorable nephew calls it “Fat Monk” because of the picture on the bottle.  This is a really smooth, light (in flavor, unfortunately not in calories), wheat beer, but who cares about calories when you’ve had a rough day and need a great drink!

Here’s the best way to drink it:

  1. Grab a glass.
  2. Pour the beer into the glass until there’s about an inch of beer left in the bottom of the bottle.
  3. Grab an orange slice and squeeze it into the beer.
  4. Pour the rest of the beer into the glass (there is some type of yeast at the bottom of this beer that has a lot of yummy flavor).
  5. Drink and enjoy!
Filed Under: hump day happy hour, sk Tagged With:

Designer Furniture on a Budget

January 26, 2010 by

Question: What is the difference between these two pieces of furniture?

Armoire A:

  1. Is from Pottery Barn.
  2. 30% of the armoire is made of particle board.
  3. This armoire came in two colors: dark stain and red.
  4. It would have taken 8 weeks to be delivered to my house.
  5. The total cost is $2,500, including shipping.

Armoire B:

  1. Is in my living room and was custom made by El Paso Import Co.
  2. 100% of the armoire is made of solid pine.
  3. This armoire could have been made in any color. (I chose this particular stain because it complimented the rest of my living room furniture.)
  4. It took 4 weeks to be built and delivered to my house.
  5. The total cost was $1,200, including delivery.

Custom-built furniture is a great way to save a LOT of money on designer decor. My fellow tipsy girl AK introduced me to custom-built furniture and gave me a suggestion on where to go to have it done, but I have a great solution if you happen to live in a town that does not have an El Paso Import Co., and that is Craigslist.com.

With a simple search on Craigslist, I found two additional custom furniture builders located in the Houston area and both of their portfolios are impressive.

Here are some good resources and questions to ask before having your furniture made:

  • Have some measurements in mind for the size of your furniture.
  • Take some pictures to highlight the type of furniture you want made.
  • Ask for references.
  • Always get an exact price quote in writing before you commit.

So before you drop a lot of $$$ on your next furniture investment, do a little online research and see what you can find in your area. Having a piece of locally made, custom, furniture will not only leave a lot more cash in your pocket, but you’ll also be stimulating your local economy and that just feels good!

Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: , ,

Organizing Essentials

January 21, 2010 by

I’m typically an organized person, but I feel like, here lately, I’ve been living in organized chaos. So, I’m officially on a mission to get every closet, drawer, and cabinet in tip-top-shape over the next few months. Here are some recent finds that are helping me with my mission.

  1. The Container Store, Feathergrain Bins: Bins, any bin, are great for those odds and ends that you really don’t have a place for. They can be stored under any table, or anything for that matter, to chicly disguise your clutter.
  2. OXO, POP Containers: These are really great for your pantry because they allow you to see just how much of each food item you have left, which, if you’re like me, it’s a necessity. Example: I always buy pasta at the store because I’m never sure how much I have; then, I get home and I have always have bazillion pounds of it stashed away!
  3. The Container Store, Storage Boxes: These pretty boxes are inexpensive, yet, they look so pretty holding all the clutter that I have in my closets…
  4. The Container Store, Portable File Boxes: I buy a new one of these every year to hold all my bills, essential paper work, tax info, etc, and when the year is over, I neatly put it away for easy access should I need any of that information in the future. It’s a lot easier than having bulky filing cabinets everywhere.
  5. The Container Store, Underbed Boxes: Why let all that space under your bed go unused?
  6. The Container Store, Cube Storage: Super-cute alternatives to shelves!
  7. Rubbermaid, Clever Store: I’m a sucker for a Rubbermaid product, and what I like about these is that they’re clear…aka, you don’t have to open the box to see what’s inside!
  8. The Container Store, 2-drawer Organizer: Great for under the sink in your bathroom where you can always use another drawer.

What are your organizing tricks or tips?

Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: , ,

Decorating Faves

January 18, 2010 by

Here are some of my favorite things that either have or want to decorate my house with!

  1. Pottery Barn, Ella Canisters
  2. Barrio Antigua, Iron Wall Decor
  3. Pottyer Barn, Eleanor Frameless Mirrors
  4. Barrio Antigua, Sugar Mold Candle Holder and Mirrored Star
  5. Pottery Barn, Lacquer Wood Gallery Frame
  6. Barrio Antigua, Wrought Iron Yard Accessories: These may be classified as “yard art”, but I use them in my bathroom to hold towels…
    Filed Under: home, sk Tagged With: ,

    Hump Day Happy Hour: Rum Punch (you in the face!)

    January 13, 2010 by

    In keeping with the tradition of pining away for vacations and warmer weather, here’s a Hump Day Happy Hour dedicated to the memory of my vacation to Ambergris Caye, Belize…

    • 2 cups of Rum
    • 2 liters of Ginger Ale
    • 1 quart Fruit Punch
    • 1 quart Orange Juice
    • splash of Lemon Juice

    Mix together and enjoy over ice!

    WARNING:Too much of this punch and it will literally “punch” you in the face…

    Filed Under: hump day happy hour, sk