My Favorite Things

1. Pink's Performance at the Grammy's. One of the best performances I have seen. I downloaded "Glitter In the Air" from iTunes and can't stop listening to it. Never been a Pink fan before now.

2. Fried Pickles. Zaxby's is offering them as a side item. They are $1.69 for like 10 tiny chips, but taste soooo good.

3. 500 Days of Summer. Loved this movie. Loved. It.

4. Twilight Woods. I started using this scent back in the fall and have gone through a bottle already. I never go through lotion that quickly, but this stuff smells GOOD. I love the way it smells when you first put it on and the way it mellows out throughout the day.

5. Bright, fresh colors. {Read: anything to make me feel like winter is almost over}

My running shoes are accented with the purple color and I bought a fleece running jacket on clearance to match. I feel festive when I wear it.

I remember loving the coral color this time last year. It even appeared on a previous list. But I am loving it even more this time around.

6. Embellished Cardigans.My love affair with cardigans continues. I am enamored with the ruffly, flowery accents this spring. They are so soft and feminine.

7. Laurel Denise Day Planner. I have a planner fetish. This is the first time I have ever used this particular one but I LOVE it. It has a to do list for each week and each month. As far as I am concerned, a planner is only as good as it's list section.

 

 

8. Baby Girls in Blue Dresses. If I ever have a baby girl (fingers crossed) I plan to dress her in blue all the time. In college I loved pink (was a tad obsessed) but apparently I overdosed because I have a slight aversion now. I would even consider an all blue baby girl nursery.

9. Couch to 5K. As someone who barely likes to drive 5 miles let alone run it, a beginner's running program was a must for me. I am preparing for the upcoming Rumpshaker Colon Cancer run that Ben and I are participating in.

10. Chili Rellenos. I tried one for the first time a few months ago. After eating mexican food at least once a week for the past 10 years or so (literally) I finally branched out. My, oh my...what have I been missing??? Heaven. The best ones are battered and fried, filled with ground beef and topped with lots of cheese. Very healthy. I need to run for just looking at this photo.

My Savior

He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows,
yet we considered him stricken by God,
smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,
and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked,
and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer,
and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his days,
and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.

After the suffering of his soul,
he will see the light of life and be satisfied;
by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,
and he will bear their iniquities.

Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,
and he will divide the spoils with the strong,
because he poured out his life unto death,
and was numbered with the transgressors.
For he bore the sin of many,
and made intercession for the transgressors.

Running Shoes

I finally caved and decided to get some "real" running shoes. I made a trip to the Trak Shak in Homewood where they tested my gate and chose a shoe that would work best for me. I experienced several firsts by doing it this way.

1) Buying shoes based on performance and not looks. Who knew shoes could do more than match your outfit?

2) Buying the "right size". Apparently, you are supposed to go up a size in running shoes. I have always considered myself a 7.5/8 but was told I am actually an 8.5 and should wear a 9.5 to run. It took a little convincing, but in the end I trusted them and bought a pair of clown shoes (seriously, y'all - these things are boats).

3) Insoles. I also have really high arches and they recommended an arch support for me. It has never even crossed my mind to buy insoles before and these puppies are rocking my world.

After trying on several pair, I decided on these.

Nike Pegasus

I think I am reallly going to like them. They are Nike plus compatible and feel pretty good. Although, I'm not sure that isn't just because of the extra arch support insoles. Hopefully they will help my running. So far, I suck.

My Favorite Things

A list of my favorite recent decorative purchased and want-to-purchase items.


1. Pierced Urns? I have no idea what these are called - this is the entry that found an image on google. I bought one at HomeGoods in blue but I would kill for the giant white one they have there right now.

2. This fabric is begging me to buy it. I just need to find the perfect place to use it. Too bad I don't know how to reupholster furniture. Wouldn't this look great on a chair???

3. Ben and I have a bet going right now. If I win, I get these trays from Ballards. Only $25 for the set. If I lose - maybe they can be a Valentine's Day gift?

4. Zinc Dresser from Restoration Hardware. Although it is on sale for only $1055 {insert sacrcasm here} I don't think I will be getting this anytime soon. It is beautiful though.

5. Artichoke Bowl? Again...not sure what this is called. Amanda Brooke had one in her new office and I totally loved it. I hope she doesn't mind, but I bought one for myself last night. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery right? This photo is stolen from her too. Thanks Amanda!

6. I would like this light fixture

to replace the boob light (excuse my language, but what else can you call these things? I feel like it should be wearing a bra.) in my living room.

7. I recently purchased 4 sconces similar to these for one of the walls surrounding my tub. I scored a great deal on mine. These are from Ballard's and are priced at $50 each. I got four at atHome for $68 - TOTAL! And I personally think mine are cuter. {Actual photo coming soon.}

8. My mother got me a set of 3 glass cake stands (they are 3 different sizes and heights) for Christmas. I am in love with them. I had been drooling over these and she didn't even know it. She knows me though!

9. Artichoke sculpture thingy. Got this at HomeGoods cause it matched my bowl. On clearance for $8!

10. My good friend, the Monogrammin' Momma, is going to monogram my dining room chair covers for me. Pretty soon...they should look like these but with a "G" of course.

New Blog

Bethany Faucett and I have decided to start a little deorating blog. It will be full of tips and inspirations for creating a fabulous home on a frugal budget. We will have items for sale and tutorials for updating or refinishing an object you already own. We are both passionate about decorating and saving money so we are super excited about sharing our thoughts and ideas on the matter.

Please visit us at www.frugallydesigned.blogspot.com!

Rumpshaker

On January 7, 2007 I lost my grandmother to colon cancer. In honor of her, Ben and I are running in the Rumpshaker 5 K in March. It is to benefit Colon Cancer Awareness. Check it out...it's a great cause!

Part of the run is through a colon...how very, um....educational?

We would love to run with a team, but need 3 more people to join us in order to qualify for that title. If you are interested, leave me a comment. It is March 27 at Sloss Furnace. You get a free pancake breakfast...any takers???

If you don't want to run but would like to attend the breakfast click here to get a ticket for $5 (Includes $3 off return visit to Up The Creek).

Veteran Venting

We live in a neighborhood with the garages and driveways on the backside of the house. In order to access our garage, you have to drive down an alley behind our house. This is only important for the first part of this story, but important, nonetheless.

So, Saturday this old man comes to my door and informs me that the garbage people will start collecting our trash from the alleyway. This way we don't have to pull our cans around front. From now on, we can just slide them out of the garage to the end of our drive ways.

Good news.

Then he says that they are going to spray paint our house number on the driveway so they know whose trash to pick up.

Red flag.

I don't say anything out of fear that I am being overly picky as I tend to be about this kind of stuff. In fact, I feel sorry for him because he is ancient (a WW2 vet, according to his hat) and it is like 20 degrees outside. So I say, "Bless your heart out in that cold, can i get you anything?"

He says he is fine and goes on his way.

Well I tell Ben about it when he gets home and he isn't happy about the spray paint either. My mom also agrees that this is not an acceptable method of tagging me as a customer. I mean, has this company ever heard of putting stickers on garbage cans?

So yesterday I see him making his rounds again and I stop him to ask him about the spray paint. I tell him I'm a little nervous about it and he gets ALL upset. Tells me that "no one else has a problem with it and he doesn't know why I am getting so upset about it...it's just 3 inch letters...and I should be happy that he has even asked them to do this and stop being so difficult!"

At this point I, a) realize that he is one of my neighbors and not someone that works with the trash company and b) am staring at his WW2 hat and reminding myself to mind my manners.

I take a deep breath and say, "I'm sorry. Please don't get upset. I appreciate everything you have done to set this up. I think it will be so great for the neighborhood. You have done enough already, I will call the garbage company and handle it from here."

He has a few more opinions about what I should do and I smile all the way through them with gritted teeth.

My new strategy: Get back to neighborly chit chat; aka CHANGE THE SUBJECT.

"I am sorry I never introduced myself! I'm Jamie Grizzle. So you live in the neighborhood? Which house are you?"

He doesn't introduce himself back, just says he is house #5921.

I say, "Oh yeah? Which one is that?" Because, unfortunately, I haven't had time to memorize everyone's house number yet. I guess I should add that to my new year's resolution list.

He says, "That's the stupidest question I have ever heard! That's like the idiot that asked the sheriff where mile marker 499 is. It is between mile marker 498 and 500, you idiot!"

Ummm, what?!?! Did he just call me an idiot?

At this point, I'm laughing out of pure shock. I don't know what else to do and I can't even tell if he is being serious or joking anymore.

So I laugh and say, "Haha, I guess you are right. I guess I meant more like what color is your hosue? (The houses in our hood are all different colors, white, gray, light blue, light green, yellow, etc. It's how we all identify each other. We are the gray house with the topiaries...you get the idea.)

So this is the part that still hurts my feelings. I honestly don't know how I could have been any nicer or what I did to deserve the wrath of this old man, but...

He throws his hands in the air and YELLS, "Lord, woman! Let me go! What is wrong with you. Why do you keep bothering me?!?!?" And walks down the street with his hands in the air mumbling about how I am crazy.

It's funny now...but whew, yesterday? Not so much.

I guess that is what I get for being all soap boxy with my Facebook status this week: I think I am going to focus my energy on only saying encouraging words this week. That's means, not saying something that will tear someone down...even if they can't hear me.

Get behind me, Satan!