Goodwill Scavenging: A Lonely Table Meets Her Destiny

Here is my latest Goodwill find.

A $20 table that had nice lines but a weird medium wood finish and more scratches than was acceptable. As I mentioned in a previous post, I have a strange addiction to tables. I find them everywhere. Or should I say: they find me.

Well, I realized in January that I should've put an electric sander on my Christmas list. When I got this table I decided to take the plunge and bought myself an early Mother's Day gift.

Nice, huh? Who ever said women don't appreciate power tools for special occassions hasn't met me.

I had been looking for a fairly small piece to try out a new painting technique I learned here called dry brushing. This table was the perfect guinea pig. I am luuuving this technique. I want to do it to everything. I am cautiously eyeing things in my house that are thisclose to being hit with my new-toy-the-electric-sander. Look out, furniture!

Because this piece is so small I actually did this project in about 2-3 hours. 45 minutes to sand, the rest to dry brush 2 coats including drying time in between. And I use the term "drying time" loosely. I waited about 45 minutes after the first coat because I can't wait for paint to dry! I want to see the finished product yesterday!

And here she is after her makeover.

I think the pictures don't do it justice because it was so bright outside that you can't see the paint technique very well but I am pleased as punch with the outcome. And she looks just right sitting in the hallway, under all our family pictures. Loverly......

Happy 1st Birthday, Anna Maye!

Just to think one year ago today you were this lil ol' thing....

....a tiny little girl with many cosmetic blemishes to begin with but we got through it! We had no idea what your personality was like--that you like to stick your arms in my armpits, bury your face in my chest, and cuddle up, that you study people very intently with your big brown eyes and eyelashes that go on for miles, that you hold your own with your brother and you love him fiercely, and that you crawl like a tiger's chasing you to greet your daddy when he comes home from work. One year ago today, as we stared at you in that hospital bassinet, we had no idea what the year to come would reveal to us about you. But, boy, were our expectations exceeded! The Lord has so very richly blessed us with you! I am so proud to be your mama.

Well little girl I wish that you could see

That beauty is within your heart

And you were made with such care, your skin, your body, and your hair

Are perfect just the way they are

There could never be a more beautiful you...

...you were made to fill a purpose that only you could do

So there could never be a more beautiful you

-Jonny Diaz/More Beautiful You

Not Much and A Whole Lot....

.....has been happening at our house the past few weeks.

Last week John was on Spring Break so we did many things to occupy our time. We went to the Children's Museum one day, visited with an old high school friend and her kids another day, played with Mamaw and cousin Sadie another day. We've also been enjoying the beautiful weather lately and the extra daylight. More time outdoors = happy and well rested children.

I also decided to finally get on the ball and plan a little family get-together birthday party for Anna's Big Numero Uno Birthday Party. It's going to be a rather small affair. When our family gets together it seems to be big enough, anyway. I wanted to make a little picture montage of Anna's 1st year which turned into a 5-hour/2 evening ordeal once I discoverd I had Windows Movie Maker on my computer and could do a fancy slide show set to music....complete with a custom DVD label, OF COURSE. Yowza! "Keep it simple" is a foreign concept to me. Kyle has already predicted that DVD-making is going to be my next obsessive creative outlet. Not to worry, my friend, I've got enough of those....

I've been busy taking lots of pictures and practicing with my fancy camera. Lovin'. it.

I bought a $20 table at Goodwill that I am going to transform with a new paint technique I've been wanting to try. Hello, my name is Lori and I'm a table addict. Cute, unique tables follow me wherever I go. I can't help it. My mom is addicted to chairs. I have a table problem. It's genetic.

Getting ready for a photographer friend to take pictures of Anna for her 1 year photos. She did John's and I know Anna's are going to be great. I finally get to be in a few pictures for once! Anyways, pray for my sanity on Friday morning. Picture days have a history of making me sweat and hyperventilate. Too much pressure! Everybody better be happy and smiley.....or else.

The Man Says His Name....Finally!

We've waited almost three years to hear this guy say his full name....especially his very long, multi-syllable last name. I was so excited I had to bust out the video for this momentous occasion...

...apparently Anna was born to the Raisin family. She must be adopted....

This Ain't My First Rodeo.....

......well, maybe it is! This is my first time attending the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo!

I was so excited to head to my first rodeo and see all the sights, sounds, and....uh.....smells. On the way there I kept telling mom that cowboys say "Ya! Ya! Ya! Go! Go! Go!" It was something we learned in school when we talked about the rodeo and I made sure mom knew what a real cowboy says to his horse. Here mom forced us to all take a picture. Anna didn't go with us because she's too small and mom wanted to be able to do stuff with me. She said I was her lil cowboy date. I wanted Anna to come with us but mom said maybe next year when she can have more fun.

The first thing we did was "Fun on the Farm". They gave us a basket and we went through the farm gathering an egg from a chicken, milk from a cow, wool from a sheep, planted an onion seed, picked oranges, and harvested corn. After my basket was full I went to the Farmer's Market to sell my goods. Here I am putting all my food items in baskets to sell. They gave me $1 for all my stuff. Tough economy. I used my $1 to buy some peanut butter crackers.

Mom and I ate my PB crakers while sitting on a bench and watched some kids ride the camel. I didn't want to do it at first but mom said she would ride with me so I did it and I had fun!

Then we saw a magic show and the lady told us some fun facts about corn products. After that we went to the pig races and had lots of fun cheering for the pigs. The last race were 4 potbellied pigs, each wearing different university banners. I cheered real loud for the Aggie pig but he came in 3rd place. The Boo-horns pig was last...hee hee!

After riding the camel I got real brave and asked mom if I could ride a pony. I practiced my patience and waited in a long line for my turn. Here's me and my horse, Tex.

YIPEE KAI-AY!

This llama sure was ugly. Mom wanted me to stand next to it for a picture but it was as tall as me and ugly so I politely declined.

But I did pet this baby goat happily

....until next year, Rodeo!

Part IV - Tales From Ixtapa: The K. Eddie V-SLAM

Beware: This post contains major silliness not usually exposed to the masses.

And with this final Ixtapa Tales post I'm going to open the door and give you a rare glimpse into the silly world of Lo-yle, as our friends used to call us when we were dating (that's Lori and Kyle together pronounced "low-ile")

While we were on vacation we spent lots of time "dorkin' around" and being "redonkulous". (We must give credit to our friends, Emily & Stephen, for coining these terms we used quite freely on our vacation)

dork-in uh-round (v.)

1. doing something one would consider dorky, in a casual or relaxed setting
2. ongoing extreme absurdity

ex. "what are you doing?" "oh, just dorkin' around"

ree-donk-yoo-lus (adj.)

1. causing or worthy of the utmost ridicule or derision; very absurd; very preposterous; extremely laughable

"the people dancing on that booze cruise were redonkulous"
"the sunset from our room is redonkulous"
"my hair looks so redonkulous"
"running head first into a low-hanging candle lantern and spilling wax all over your shirt is redonkulous"
"that brownie sundae was redonkulously good"
"don't climb that big rock! you're being redonkulous!"

With those definitions aside, let me introduce you to the

K. Eddie V-SLAM (developed and perfected during his lifeguard days at Candlewood Lake):

My husband is nothing if not thourough and methodical in everything he does. It is something he takes pride in and I love that quality about him but I do like to poke fun at him occasionally for it and since he has a sense of humor, with his permission, I introduce to you Kyle's Vector Suntan Lotion Application Method ):

While we were at our cabana getting ready to hop in the pool I noticed Kyle applying suntan lotion in a most peculiar way. Little dots all over his torso, legs, and arms which he then rubbed into each member of his body. According to Kyle, this assures maximum coverage and leaves no patch of skin unprotected. I wish I had a picture of this but I guess I was too busy laughing. I chuckled while I spritz myself with my completely unvectored, non-Kyle-sanctioned spray lotion. Before you think I burned myself, I did not. However when we got back to Texas he noticed a bright red patch of skin on his elbow. We didn't know what it was until a few days later when it started peeling. A-HA! It was a sunburn. The K. Eddie V-SLAM he was so proud of failed him! Even if it was ever so slightly.

So if you're going to a sunny destination soon make sure you ask Kyle to send you a video of how to apply the patent pending K. Eddie V-SLAM.

Now that's redonkulous!

Part III - Tales from Ixtapa: Donut Dreams and Whimsical Wishes

So on our second night at the hotel we were talking to another couple who told us the man who started the Capella Hotels used to be with the Ritz Carlton. His concept for the Capella chain was for it to be a “6 star” hotel, meaning that they would do whatever you want or ask for. The couple who told us this said they had requested a special dessert that wasn’t on the menu and they made it for them no problem. Well, you can’t tell Kyle something like this without getting his wheels spinning trying to think of something for these people to do. For breakfast one morning he asked for a steak and egg omelette (off the menu) and they made that for him.

One night we went to the fancier restaurant on the property and the restaurant manager, Carlos, came out to chat and ask how the food had been during our stay. We were chatting and he suggested to use the menu as a guideline for the type of ingredients they have and if you want something else, they’ll make it for you. It may take them a little more time but they will bend over backwards for you.

Um, alright, Carlos, bring it, brother. You’ve thrown down the gauntlet with Senor Kyle.

So Kyle and I talked over dinner and we/he decided we wanted donuts for breakfast the next morning. Carlos came around again and we asked if we could have donuts. He went to pow-wow with the pastry chef and came back to say the chef would work on a recipe and couldn’t have them by breakfast but would have them after 1 PM whenever we wanted. OK, we said.

Fast forward to the next day. Around noon we were hanging at our cabana, chillin’, watchin’ the ocean when the cabana boy comes by with THIS:

Our donuts! We didn’t even remind them. They tracked us down and brought us a donut selection. It was pretty awesome. We told our friends there about our crazy request and they said they noticed donuts at the breakfast buffet the next morning. Looks like the donut surplus benefitted everyone!

Part II - Tales from Ixtapa: The Three Hour Tour

So we decided to plan an activity (gasp!) for one of the days instead of adhere to our usual modus operandi and lounge around all day like beach bums. We asked the front desk about sunset cruises. Sure! The hotel would provide a private boat to take you around the bay, just you and your honey, to watch the sunset. Cost: $1000. Um, we’re thinking more like the Economy Package please? Surely there is a way to take a boat around the bay for under a grand? Oh, says the concierge, there is a little boat called the Picante that will take you around the bay. It’s $100/couple, including a shuttle to/from the marina, open bar, and light snacks. Hello? That’s more like it. Wait, is that what’s commonly referred to as a “Booze Cruise” or “Party Barge”? We weighed our options: $1000 private boat or $100 Booze Cruise. BC, here we come! So we get on this shuttle bus that already had about 5 couples on it. Have I mentioned that Kyle and I have a weird penchant for doing things that old people like to do? Bingo! We’re the youngest couple on the entire bus.

I’d like to paint a scene for you: A bus full of sun-burned, leathery-skinned, fun-loving, henna-tattooed- Midwesterner/Canadian 60-somethings (who apparently lost the memo that living in their 20s was actually something that happened about 40 years ago) who hadn’t seen the sun or temps above freezing in 4 months. And then there’s Kyle and I sitting in a row looking a little out of place. Then I thought to myself, if the guide on this bus greets us with a “ARE YOU READY TO HAVE SOME FUN!?” I know this is gonna be interesting. And wouldn’t you know it, those were the first words out of his mouth. Oh boy.

So Kyle chats with the couple sitting across from us:

K: So is this kinda like a Booze Cruise?

Lady: We went on it 10 years ago. Back then they would make margaritas in your mouth.

K: (Kyle looks around at the aging, silver-haired crowd) I’m trying to picture which one of these people that will be?

Lady’s Husband: (very enthusiastically) That would be me!!!!

**crickets chirping**

There was also our friend, “La Americana Gorda”, as we named her. She was the fun -loving character that stripped down to her swimsuit as soon as we got on the boat and never re-covered. In both senses of the word. Always sporting a beer in each hand, she also decided to pull the shoulder straps down on her swimsuit to avoid tan lines but wasn’t too concerned that her suit was coming dangerously close to just falling off without that critical support system of straps. Might I add that it didn't seem to phase LAG in the least that she was the only one brazenly sporting her swimsuit on this trip. Clothes, be darned!

Our young crew guys, who were making sure everyone had a drink in hand at all times, were playfully threatening to throw us overboard since we weren’t drinking our share. Well, try holding a camera and a drink while sitting on bouncing trampoline netting on a boat. It’s just not sensible! Trying to take pictures here....

It was amusing to poke fun at our motley crew but in actuality it was very nice and I would even do it again if we had stayed more days. We called it the Mullet Cruise: Business in the front, party in the back. Half the boat was partying and dancing and wearing crazy dreadlocked hairpieces, sombreros, and Santa hats (don’t ask….I was confused) and the rest of us were sitting on this trampoline netting in the front watching the sunset and beautiful scenery. It was definitely worth the trip out of the hotel and enduring the freakshows to see the mountains and take the boat around the rock islands.

HERE ARE THE PICTURES FROM THE MULLET CRUISE

Part I - Tales from Ixtapa: Where have you been all my life, Ixtapa, Mexico?

**The following few posts will be a "mini-series" chronicling events of our recent anniversary trip**

Somehow this little gem of a place had escaped Kyle and my radar until now. This was our first trip alone since Anna was born almost a year ago. Our last getaway was when John was 10 months old and we went to the Riviera Maya, Mexico and stayed at the Rosewood Mayakoba. You can read our review of that place here and see pictures here. An excellent hotel but we agreed that the Capella Ixtapa has definitely overshadowed it. If you’re planning a special trip you should definitely check it out.

All the rooms at this hotel face the Pacific Ocean and have an incredible view of little rock islands just offshore. There is no beach since it’s very rocky but we didn’t really miss it. The infinity edge pool faces the same view as the rooms and it’s just as good to chill in the pool and enjoy the view and not get sandy. The pair of us are weenies when it comes to saltwater and sand. We spent our days in the cabanas enjoying the breeze and taking the occasional dip in the pool. Another great thing is that the place seemed so empty. We felt like there was lots of space. Nobody was in your business….until the wedding party showed up on Friday but that's another story and we left on Saturday anyways!

HERE ARE THE PICTURES!