5 things.

A day late, again...I know. I don't really know why I'm working on this right now seeing as I have a terrible headache and staring at the screen isn't helping any. My other plans for the afternoon require me being up and moving and I just don't feel like that right now...so, 5 things.

1. Hummus.

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I made some at 11pm last night because I've been craving it lately. Daniel and I have been eating healthier lately so this is the perfect snack! I have a pretty basic recipe that his mom gave me...I'm not sure where she got it from, but I know she adapted it to her taste...and I've done the same! I also cut up lots of fresh veggies to have them ready to snack on...I do better if I take care of everything all at once. I'm a terrible procrastinator.

2. Scottish Terriers.

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Scotties are my favorite dogs, hands down. They have so much personality! I've loved every one I've ever had (which has been quite a few). Daniel and I adopted Simon from the Tennessee Scottish Terrier Rescue and he has been the best dog we could've ever gotten. If you're thinking about getting a dog, PLEASE consider adopting one!! There are so many wonderful dogs out there that need loving homes.

I love my little buddy...and yes, that is my husband in a kilt.

3. Clocks.

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I especially want that little suction cup clock for my shower. I've gotten my cell phone wet so many times checking the time while I'm showering.

4. High Waist Skirts.

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High waist skirts are so feminine and sexy! Super-flattering. Ladies, you have curves...please show them off...and if you don't have curves, you should still try a high waist skirt. Depending on the style of skirt, it can help give the illusion of curves.

5. This room.

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Oh my goodness...I would love to be able to have a space to do a mural like this...AND, I think I may now turn mine & Daniel's 4-post bed into a tent somehow.

Well, now is the time for me to stop blogging for the day and get to some of the many projects I need to finish this week. I've got photos to edit, wedding albums to design, tattoos to design (some friends have asked), furniture to paint, quilts to sew...the list goes on and on.

Maybe first I should go visit Daniel at work and get some espresso...I'm beginning to suspect this is why my headache hasn't left yet. I most definitely have a caffeine addiction.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!

sneak peek!

I finally unloaded all of my thrift store loot out of my car today and got to work. I ran out of time to finish everything before I went to work tonight, but I got all the frames I bought painted and I got some records painted (but actually need more spray paint to make them look good). I've been working on the end tables since I got home and am pretty worn out now. I only slept 3 hours last night, but for some reason haven't fallen asleep yet. Soon though...very soon.

Here's a sneak peek of the end tables...and I did remember to take some before photos! Keely's currently borrowing my card reader though and I'll have to wait til I get it back from her to post all the befores.

I've still gotta paint the drawers and the shelves on each one (you can't really see them because they're dark).

Teehee...Daniel and Simon are asleep on the couch.

Well, kiddos...bedtime for me. I've got to be at work at 9...which means I'll need to leave for work in about 6 hours if I want to ride my bike...and I do.

Goodnight everyone!

photobooth.

I know I just posted a blog entry (see below), but I wanted to share two quick photobooth photos...I actually started on this week's 5 things post yesterday (still a day late, I know), but the power kept going off last night while I was working on it. Daniel had already gone to bed, but when the power kept going off, I made him get up and keep me company. I'd never experienced a blackout in this house and there was some crazy loud noise across the street every time it went off.

And here's my little buddy. He stays glued to my side 95% of the time I'm home...he wasn't too happy about this photo because I made him wake up from a nap to take it.

Daniel has decided to take me out for lunch...sushi two lunches in a row! Yum yum. I need to go change clothes (you can see I'm still wearing the same shirt I was last night).

5 things.

Better late than never, eh?

Daniel and I have been working hard to get our house organized/cleaned lately. One of our good friends (a life-long friend of Daniel's) is getting married this weekend, and one of the groomsmen and his wife (also good friends of ours) are staying with us this weekend...so I've DEFINITELY been feeling the pressure to get the house in order. Jarrod & Katie's house is adorable and she keeps it spotless! I can't have her stay in a messy house.

I'm sharing all of this because it's been the inspiration for this weeks "5 things" list.

1. Shelves.

I love these shelves!! Tetris was definitely my favorite game as a kid...I've always loved puzzles. Found on inhabitat.com.

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I love all the different refinished vintage shelves she's used...especially that blue one!

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I need her to come organize all of my craft supplies. Oh my goodness. I especially love those lower shelves with all the jars on them.

(which brings me to my next thing...)

2. Mason jars.

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Every time I go to Wal-Mart, I end up resisting the urge to buy a case of jars. Daniel wants them to drink out of...I want them to organize things...they're so useful! If we had more storage in our house, I would probably have 2 or 3 cases of them by now.

3. Picture frames...well, picture frame collages, I suppose.

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I want that little cabinet...wouldn't mind having that chair as well.

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I have a few frame collages in our house right now...I think they make a wall so much more interesting. It's like getting to work a big puzzle on the wall! (I'm all about puzzles, just so you know.) I especially love finding random frames at thrift stores & painting them all the same color to make a wall collage. Actually...that just gave me an idea. I finally ordered prints from our wedding and planned on doing a big wall collage with them...I was just going to buy black frames to put them all in, but I think I'd rather pick a color to paint them so I can put them in our room. Sadly, our bedroom is the most un-decorated room in the house.

4. Krylon spray paint.

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I absolutely love finding thrift store/junk pile furniture and refinishing it. I actually have 2 end tables (and a vintage suitcase) in the back of my car that will be getting some love shortly. Krylon seems to be the most readily available spray paint with the widest variety of colors. However, my absolute FAVORITE color, Ivy Leaf, is no longer at Wal-Mart. I'm so sad! I've used so much of that color before and don't know what I'll have to use instead...we'll see.

5. China cabinets.

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I love storage...mostly because our house doesn't have ANY. Seriously...there's not a full-sized closet in this house and our kitchen doesn't even have any drawers in it...I guess that's a downfall of houses built in the 1920s. Daniel's mom got us some amazing dishes for Christmas, and we've yet to start using them because there's nowhere to put them. My grandmother said that we could have an old gun cabinet that someone made for my Papa to use as a China cabinet. It's amazing! I can't wait to get my hands on it and refinish it...the only thing that worries me is getting shelves in it. Also, if I could do the whole dish thing over again, I think I'd just collect random pieces of China instead of getting a matching set. Although, I told my mom I didn't want China and she took it upon herself to get us an entire set of it anyways...in the exact same pattern as hers...which she keeps telling me I will inherit someday. Awesome.

good day.

I had sushi for lunch with my two good friends Olivia & Amber (they also happen to be two of my co-workers). I would definitely recommend the lunch special at Ichiban over anywhere else in the area. The veggie tempura roll is so delicious!

Olivia and I went by our building afterwards to hang up some fliers for the Art Hive's next trunk show.

I had so much fun working on this flier! I love doing hand-lettering and illustration now. Anywho, we ran across the street to the Salvation Army afterwards and I found an awesome vintage suitcase for $3! It's a little banged up on the outside, but the inside was an awesome vintage green color and it didn't smell! So, I think I'm just going to spray paint the outside...I may print something on it too. Also scored 30 records that I plan on using for decorating purposes (they were a quarter each!) and two really awesome night stands. They had awesome lines and were really sturdy. They definitely need some love though! I plan to sand and paint those soon. Daniel wanted a small table or two in our studio room, so I thought they were perfect for that...and only $12! I forgot how much I love thrift stores...my goodness.

I plan on working on that quilt for our nephew tonight (he'll be here in a few short weeks!) and if I get it finished, I may post photos of my process. I love having projects to work on.

summer soundtrack.

When I got home from work tonight, Daniel was watching I Am Trying to Break Your Heart - A Film About Wilco. It shows all the issues and problems the band had while recording Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (one of my favorites!!!). Hearing the songs from that album made me get a funny little feeling in my chest...and then it hit me - Wilco is one of my summer bands...not that I don't enjoy them year-round, but there's just something about the feeling I get when I listen to them in the summer.

SO...it made me think about my summer soundtrack. I've been listening to the same stuff since it heated up a bit (pretty much), and I'd like to share it with you.

1. Wilco - Sky Blue Sky

We have this album in the CD player at work...it's my go-to album when I first get there...I just can't seem to get enough of it. I can't get enough Wilco PERIOD lately. I think my boss is rubbing off on me...he's pretty much obsessed.

2. Modest Mouse - Good News for People Who Love Bad News

For some reason, I get nostalgic in the summer. Nostalgia is usually associated with autumn, but I seem to reminisce more during the summer...maybe it's because I hate summertime so much. There were many, many weekends I would come visit Daniel when I lived in Tuscaloosa that I stayed at some of his bandmate's house. Jarrod usually had this album (or any Modest Mouse album, really) playing. I just get that "feel-good" feeling when I hear it.

3. She & Him - Volume One

Maybe it's my obsession with Zooey Deschanel...or maybe it's my new-found love for female vocalists...whatever the case, I can't stop listening to this album. I love Volume Two as well, but this one hasn't left the CD player in my car since I put it in. I love singing along with the windows down...when I can bear the heat enough to roll the windows down...such a good feeling.

4. The Ettes - Look At Life Again Soon

Again, loving the female vocalist. I got to see The Ettes open up for The Dead Weather back in April, and they were amazing. This album is upbeat and so, so much fun to sing along to (which is probably why Daniel doesn't like it so much...he hates sing-a-longs).

5. The Civil Wars - Poison & Wine EP

I actually just got this EP Saturday night, so I haven't listened to it much yet...HOWEVER, I saw them live Saturday night and they were absolutely incredible. They're going into the studio soon to finish their full-length and I can't wait!!! Joy Williams has the voice of an angel. Also, they did a cover of "Billie Jean" which just so happens to be my favorite Michael Jackson song.

6. Kings of Leon - Youth and Young Manhood

This is still my favorite Kings of Leon album. It's one of those "roll-your-windows-down-and-sing-as-loud-as-you-can" albums for me...usually makes me dance at stoplights and such. I love all of their newer stuff as well, but this album just sounds like summer to me...dirty, sweaty summer.

7. French Kicks - Swimming

Apparently, my summer music taste switches between dirty rock&roll and music that's a little on the lighter side. This album falls more on the lighter side. I've been listening to the French Kicks since I was in high school and I never get tired of them...they just keep getting better. Plus, my cousin Josh plays guitar/keys for them...so that's pretty cool.

8. The White Stripes - White Blood Cells

Back to the dirty rock&roll...I can't get enough of Jack White...pretty much all I have to say about that.

9. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker

Ryan Adams voice breaks my heart in the best possible way. Daniel & I have had the privilege of seeing him live 3 times. I love all of his albums, but this one is my current favorite.

10. The Black Keys - Magic Potion

I guess I'll end with The Black Keys. I'm completely hooked on them now. We watched them on Letterman last week and they were incredible! I haven't gotten a chance to listen to their new album yet, but this one is my current favorite.

I suppose 10 albums is enough for a summer soundtrack.

What's your summer sound like?

busy week.

It hit me yesterday that I never did my "5 things" blog for the week...which I've been trying to make a point to do on Tuesdays. I suppose I'll just skip it for the week...I'm quite exhausted from working a double yesterday, staying out late, working today, and staying out late again. Billy Reid's Shindig was this weekend and it was so much fun! Daniel and I went last night to see our friends Doc Dailey and the Magnolia Devil play...they were awesome, as usual. Daniel had to work tonight, but I met up with Olivia and we got to see The Civil Wars.

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Oh. My. Gosh. My mind was completely blown away. If you haven't ever listened to them, do yourself a favor and check them out...right now. Seriously...right...now. They were super-nice too.

Well, I'm exhausted...and I should be considering it's nearly 3am.

More tomorrow, maybe?
I have a lot of cleaning/organizing on my agenda.