Not made in Sweden

I feel so grown up, I no longer own any furniture from Ikea!  The last piece of furniture that I was working on replacing was our media cabinet.  While on the hunt for a replacement I had to fall in love with Pottery Barn's Andover Media Cabinet, but at $1200 it was a little unrealistic to me.  I began to search Craigslist for a new media cabinet but come to find out, most of those are from Ikea as well, or the dimensions wouldn't fit under our TV.  So I started to look for ones that I could refurbish, that was until Trevor decided we were going to build one!  I ended up finding on Ana White's website building instructions for the exact same Pottery Barn media cabinet I wanted (project instructions here). SCORE! 

I did not take many pictures through the work stages of the project, but here is the completed garage phase of our new media cabinet.  Archie decided to photobomb the picture.

Apparently my fur kids want to be seen! And I need to learn not to take pictures at night with my iPhone! I am so excited to no longer own any particle board, falling apart, cheap furniture! So long Ikea!

Keeping Up With My Correspondence

It makes me sad to think that letter writing is becoming a dying art form in our modern technology age.  I can recall being a young kid lying on my bed and writing letters to my best friends and family; letting them know all about school, dance classes, and how my summer was going.  It's sad to think that we as adults are so busy in life that we can't take a few minutes out of our day to take pen to paper and just let someone know we are thinking of them or love them. 

In writing each letter to someone I felt their sense of joy they would get when they saw a hand written letter in the mail, in the shuffle of bills and junk mail.  To me there are a handful of moments in life that bring sheer joy, things like a warm towel or hot chocolate on a cold day or getting a hand written letter in the mail.  In my quest to write thirty letters to friends and family I was originally hoping to make other people feel special, but what I did was make myself feel loved when I realized I have so many friends and family to be able to write letters to.

After sending out my 30 letters I realized this is something I don't want to do just once because I put it on a list of things to accomplish, this is something I want to keep up.  Because who doesn't love feeling special!

 

 

 



My First 5k

When I was first thinking of things to add on my 30 Before Thirty list, running a 5k was not something I would have added.  Honestly, I do not know how it made it through the chopping block and my original edits. After purchasing a treadmill in January (which was purchased for incline walking for me and Trevor's running needs) and registering for The Color Run, I knew I needed to start running, or rather attempt running. 

I decided to start "training," if that's what you really want to call it, by reading blogs and Couch to 5K programs.  I attempted to follow a weekly running schedule, but that didn't really happen either.  I was just a girl running every few days in my home gym, or here's that word again "attempting" to trail run (which never really worked in my favor, but I least I never ran into a tree). 

I've never called myself a runner, I was on the track team in 8th grade for maybe 2 days.  This just proves how much I have run in my life.  My general rule of thumb was that the only reason for running was if you were being chased, and how often am I being chased...never...so why run?

The day of the race I kept looking around thinking to myself if these other people with as much "training" as me could do it than so could I.  I quickly learned once actually running the course that more than half of the people there walked instead of ran.  I don't know my final time, but I RAN my first 5K, and got powdered paint thrown on my at the same time, so it's a win-win for me!

 

 

Our best "Grrr" Faces!

 

 

 

How I Roll

With a car enthused mechanic father I should have learned to drive a manual transmission car long ago, but I didn't.  I've understood the concept for years, but I have never put a manual transmission car into motion.  Trevor tried to teach me years ago in a parking lot but after stalling the car a few times I gave up.  I was determined to drive one this time around instead of giving up.  While in Vermont for my sister-in-law's graduation, Trevor took me out and showed me the ropes...again.  This time I didn't give up after I stalled the car twice, I kept going! Go me!

 

 

 

 

 

LBD

Did I really tell myself to go shopping? Why yes I did! Everyone should have the essential "Little Black Dress" in their closet, but somehow for years I did not.  For some reason now all the dresses I am falling in love with are black, go figure right? I was so excited when I found this dress; it is the perfect fit and style that I wanted and it manages to suit every occasion. I recently wore it to the Opera.  Now I am on the hunt for a LRD (Little Red Dress)!

I can do the splits!

After a lot of stretching and flexibility I did it, I did the splits again!  I had to stretch really far to the back of my pantry to fetch the chocolate syrup and I had to be flexible to the fact that I don't own banana split bowls, that everyday owns will have to work.  

What was going through my mind when I decided to add this to my list?  I don't think that anyone over the age of thirty is capable of doing the splits.  Well maybe Betsy Johnson, kudos to you Betsy!  Doing the splits is just no longer in the cards for me, and I am completely fine with that.  So I did the other splits, the only ones I know how to, the delicious banana kind that is!

 

 

 

Look how talented I am.  That's me doing the splits again! The Hubs also has some mad talent as well, look at those picture taking skills!

 

 

 

 

The Elixir of Love

Last night's experience was truly magical.  Whenever you are able to lose yourself in music there is a feeling of some kind of magic within you.  I went to my first Opera last night!

Donizetti's The Elixir of Love was Austin Lyric Opera's season finale this weekend.  I feel is was the perfect Opera for me to be introduced to; it was none other than a romantic comedy love triangle!  It featured a fun cast of characters, gorgeous music, and many memorable moments.  The orchestra was sparkling and the golden tones of the performers were breath taking, especially those of Rene Barbera (Nemorino).  I can now say I have a guilty pleasure for Opera! I can't wait until next season!