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Showing posts with label random. Show all posts
Showing posts with label random. Show all posts

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

100 Instagrams.


obsessed much? i love instagram. i can't help it. i mean what's NOT to love? i hit 100 photos on my instagram feed and i got irrationally excited about that fact. here are the tiny thumbnails of my first 100 instagrams. my username is mrsboatman. look me up & enjoy your own insta-gramming. 

    

Friday, October 7, 2011

Insta-Friday {1}

life rearranged
i am fairly new to the land of instagram ... and i am totally hooked. i have only had an iphone for a few months, but i LOVE it. i've been an avid apple fan for years, but i've also been rockin' a verizon droid for awhile now. after the unfortunate demise of my droid incredible and the fact that iphone is now available at verizon i opted to make the switch. there are still some droid things i miss, but overall it has been an exciting transition. here's to my first insta-friday post!!

{new facebook profile in timeline & my mom's sock-stealing lab sleeping over at our place}

{i made those blocks for my sweet niece charlotte ann who graced us with her presence early.}

{two delicious dinners with my hubby. best bbq around & a business dinner in buckhead}

{swanky new freestyle coca-cola machine and a little lunchtime inspiration}

{reppin' the ATL. a little varsity "what'll ya have?" and coca-cola headquarters}

{pimp ride parked outside my work. working hard at my second job - Trendy Toolbox.}

{two views of downtown atlanta from bobby dodd stadium during a GA Tech football game.}

{first cool fall night to enjoy the fire pit with our buddies. also, beer pong was happening.}

{just cool enough to use my foot warmer under my desk. reese enjoying our open windows.}


Thursday, October 6, 2011

Goodbye.



Like much of the world today, I am so saddened by the loss of Steve Jobs. It is literally mind blowing to think of the impact that this incredible visionary had on our society. Things that we take completely for granted may have never been part of the day-to-day vernacular if one man would have decided that following his dreams was to complicated, that his passion wasn't enough to base a career on or that his brilliance wouldn't live up to the expectations of others. Imagine for just a moment if Mr. Jobs had sold himself short. If he would have allowed doubt to incapacitate him from moving forward. If he would have given power to the naysayers. If he would have let conventional wisdom chart the course of his life. If he would have let words like complicated & difficult define his revolutionary inventions. 

In only 56 short years on this planet, he made it possible to literally touch the virtual world, he changed how we define music & video entertainment, he made digital interaction truly personal, he made an infinite amount of information just a single touch away, he lived life fully expecting the impossible to become possible and he was simply ... genius. I find him deeply inspirational on many levels. It leaves me wondering what more he could have accomplished if his life was not cut short. He will surely be missed, but not forgotten. I sit here contemplating his life and I ca't help but wonder, what must it have felt like in his final moments in this world to know, without so much as a whisper of doubt, that he had touched millions of lives and forever altered the course of society as a whole? Powerful.  I cannot wrap my mind around that concept. Cheers to a live well lived. 

ABC NEWS REMEMBERS STEVE JOBS












STEVE JOBS: HOW TO LIVE BEFORE YOU DIE {STANFORD UNIVERSITY, 2005}

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Blog Silence

it sure has been quiet over here on the boatman blog lately, huh?
well, our lives have been anything but quiet. just about every day has been filled with the humming of the sewing machine, the roaring of saws, the whirring of sanders and the whooshing of paint brushes. our little adventure into entrepreneurship has been a busy one. we jumped in, wielding our tools and talents to join forces with some dear friends of ours creating a small business called TRENDY TOOLBOX. it has sort of taken on a life of its own. we are so grateful for the extra money and the blessing of being partners with such amazing and creative people. sorry for the blog silence over here, but even if i was being a good blogger, most of my posts would be focused on my splinters, stained fingernails and sore back. our company is awesome. check us out. if you want something and you don't see anything like it on our site, call us anyway. we would be glad to hear your ideas. have a great day.

     

Check out what we have been up to over at www.trendytoolbox.com

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Yard Sale DONE!!!

I can't believe it actually happened. After months, no-YEARS of procrastination about actually having a yard sale it is finally over. Remember this sad post back in February where I was so happy to have made "head-way" on the yard sale prep? Fast forward five months and we have successfully completed two full days of pure unadulterated purging bliss!!! It was so worth it. We made great money, we helped a lot of people who really needed it, we donated to some charities that we wouldn't have otherwise known about and we took the rest to Goodwill where each item will hopefully find a good home. It was as perfect as a yard sale could be.


It will go down in the Boatman history books as BIGGEST YARD SALE ever. That's because we will never be having one that massive again. Madness I tell you. I couldn't have done it without my mom, my hubby and a sweet friend Katie that rushed in to lend a hand on Friday morning. Thank You!!


I feel an unbelievable sense of relief having that literal load off my back. I can't wait to continue the progress and do some more household purging/organizing/cleansing. Life feels better when you simplify & organize. Goal: Stay that way!!


Thursday, March 31, 2011

Burn Bunsen Burn

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HAPPY (200TH) BIRTHDAY MR. ROBERT BUNSEN!!

i mostly posted this because i love the google doodle gifs. they make me smile. this one is sort of a stretch for the word, but i love all the action!! you google geeks are the best. 

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

29 ... code for almost 30.

Today is the 29th of March.
I am 29 years old today.
In a few {very short} days I will be ... 30.
I'm having a difficult time processing that little tidbit of information.
Thirty.
Whoa.

I'm honestly not too sure what to make of it. I don't feel like I am approaching some huge milestone in my life. I haven't been dwelling on this number like some others do as a THE definitive marker in my life's journey. Though, as this birthday has drawn closer, I have realized that it is kind of a big deal. Whether I want to admit it or not, 30 changes things. No longer in your 20s, there are certain societal expectations of how you should act or things you should have accomplished by this stage of your life. I wonder if I will live up to the criteria of others. Let's get real, do I ever? No.

Many of my friends, acquaintances and even bloggers I follow seem to have embarked on a "30 Before 30" bucket list sometime in their late 20s. I thought about it last year at this time. I'm not great with deadlines, so I determined the whole process would feel more like an obligation then enjoyment to me. I opted out of this particular fad. It did however left me a bit curious about what I might have done differently if I had actually sat down and created a list of things to check-off before 30 ebbed closer. GULP. Guess I'll never know. I'm ok with that actually.

Instead, I decided to give myself some props. If you know me you are well aware that isn't really my style. On the whole I would classify myself as a more self-depricating personality. I don't throw a lot of compliments my own way.


So, HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY to me.
Here are 30 things I'm proud that I accomplished before turning 30.
{in no particular order}

  1. i married the love of my life. <3
  2. i know how to use power tools like a pro.
  3. i rescued a pound dog named reese and made him family.
  4. i learned to tell people that i love them ... and only when i really mean it.
  5. i have read over 300 books.
  6. i know how to bake delicious desserts.
  7. i learned to like and eat tomatoes, granola, squash, spinach, avocado and yogurt.
  8. i own a beautiful, comfortable home that i love living in.
  9. i know how to sew.
  10. i can throw a football in a tight spiral for at least 40 yards.
  11. i know how to change a tire & check the oil in my car.
  12. i still send hand-written, thoughtful thank you notes.
  13. i have excellent penmanship.
  14. i have vacationed outside the US more than once.
  15. i can bait a hook & catch a fish.
  16. i took my granny on an all expenses paid vacation to somewhere she had always wanted to go.
  17. i have driven cross-country from Atlanta to LA with a dear friend.
  18. i have hiked the grand canyon.
  19. i gave away 10% of my last year's salary to charity.
  20. i have a savings account and a ROTH IRA that i contribute $$ to regularly.
  21. i consider my little brother & his wife two of my very dearest friends.
  22. i found the courage to quit a job that no longer made my happy.
  23. i have my own photography & graphic design business.
  24. i wrote a book documenting my granny's life because i am in awe of her.
  25. i carry my own shopping bags everywhere to avoid taking a plastic bag from stores.
  26. i have had my writing published.
  27. i have been snorkeling and wasn't afraid of being eaten by a shark the entire time!
  28. i have seen 6 broadway plays - 1 actually on BROADWAY!!!
  29. i have helped build homes and churches for those in need with my bare hands.
  30. i was the first person in my family to graduate from college.

Way to go Ash. Hey, you're not so bad after all :)

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

GO R.O.W.E

i have been enamored by a seemingly endless list of topics in the first weeks of this new year. it seems as though every time i sit down in a book store, breeze by the checkout magazine racks or hop on the ole' interwebs i am bombarded by information that i didn't even know i wanted.

yesterday, while watching many a TED Talk (and multi-tasking of course) i came across dan pink's "talk" about the surprising science of motivation. as generation y-er myself, this didn't really seem like late breaking news to me. in fact, i can vividly recall many a lunch break at my previous job spent pontificating on this very topic with my co-workers. seriously, we could go on-and-on about all the reasons why what mr. pink is saying about this movement is right on target.


so what is R.O.W.E.? RESULTS-ONLY WORK ENVIRONMENT
in the most basic terms - R.O.W.E is getting paid for performing. seems pretty simple right? just 3 simple building blocks. 


AUTONOMY
MASTERY
PURPOSE


employees are evaluated on performance, not presence. in a R.O.W.E. people focus on results and only results – increasing the organization’s performance while creating the right climate for people to manage all the demands in their lives . . . including work. this is how you achieve what i have always believes is everyone's ultimate goal -- a positive work/life balance. it provides employees the opportunity to set their own priorities, yet still be held accountable for the work (output) they have agreed to do in order to earn that all in important paycheck. whether you power toward the deadline while burning the midnight oil because you are night-owl & procrastinator like me, or you wake up early, diligently devote an allotted amount of time to your work and then enjoy the rest of your day ... either way, the work is getting done, the results are the same and you feel empowered over your life. 


it's a revolution in the way society thinks about "work" in the traditional sense. everyone is always worried about how the newest generation of workers will integrate into the systems that already exist. well i say ... BUST OUT people. let your boundaries on this subject be budged just a little and consider the possibilities a work environment like this would make possible in your own life. 


i love it. it sounds like my perfect utopian work environment.
ps: have you ever heard of the candle problem? 


Friday, February 11, 2011

Let there be light ...

THOMAS EDISON GIF
Thomas Alva Edison 1847-1931

Happy Birthday Mr. Edison!!
I am absolutely amazed when i think about people like this. People like edison who devote their life to learning & creating. Who continue to ask the most simple question "why" and then do anything it takes to find the answers they are seeking. His passion and persistence are to thank for so many of the modern things we take for granted. I am particularly grateful for his visionary success in providing light & power to the masses. I do so enjoy being able to plug things in and use a light switch!

Some little Edison tidbits for you:
- he was the last of seven children
- he didn't learn to talk until he was almost 4 years old
- he was extremely shy
- he only had 3 months of formal schooling
- he was only able to hear at about 20% out of his right ear and was completely deaf in his left
- at age 14 he published his own paper with a readership of over 300 people
- by 15 he had mastered the telegraph
- at 16 he came up with his 1st authentic invention called the "automatic repeater"
- he was fired from Western Union for "lack of concentration" on his duties
- he obtained 1,093 patents in his life
- he tested over 3,000 filaments before coming up with his version of the practical lightbulb
- he invented and patented the motion picture camera ... ok this one might be my favorite fact!

Some of my favorite Edison quotes:
"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Accordingly, a 'genius' is often merely a talented person who has done all of his/her homework."
"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work."
"If we all did the things that we are really capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."
 "The 3 things that are most essential to achievement are common sense, hard work and stick-to-it-iv-ness."
"The thing I lose patience with the most is the clock. Its hands move far too fast."

Saturday, February 5, 2011

yard sale d.r.a.m.a.

i'm about to make the understatement of the year so hold on to your undies ... our garage is a WORK IN PROGRESS. whew. we have recently decided to turn it into a full fledged movie/entertainment room since we don't really use is for parking anyhow. why you ask? well, no one in this house knows for sure so it's one of those unspoken things we just roll with around here. like i said, movie/entertainment room is in the works. we have made some pretty solid progress, good grief it feels as if this is the project that will never end. more on this later.
in the meantime we are in desperate, dire, critical, painful need of having a massive yard sale to get this project anywhere near completion. did i mention i HATE yard sales? hate with a passion i might add for just a bit more clarity. the yard sale we are in need of makes me want to cry. the fact that it is looming over my head makes me feel physically ill every time i let my mind drift to the dark corner it is crouched in. i am not intimidated by a long list of things in life, but you best believe yard sales make the cut.

so today i buckled down and made some serious headway in the "preparing-for-the-mega-yard-sale-event-of-the-year" department. brother it was painful. i'm hopeful that this day long adventure gets me that much closer to the project bliss that awaits me on the other side! so for now, i'm stacked, organized and waiting for a few straight days of beautiful weather so i can purge this heap-o-stuff out of my life. i'll keep you posted on our {i hope huge!} success.

wish me luck peeps ... i am really going to need it!

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Thanks Phil!


According to our furry friend Punxsutawney Phil (and several other reputable groundhogs) we can expect Spring to come early this year! Thank goodness. I am ready for some warm weather on the regular. This time of year is such a tease. You get some great days here & there, but it is so inconsistent that you just never seem to be able to plan around the weather. Let's hope these little rodent forecasters got it right. 

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Welcome back ...

... to the the blog-o-sphere. I really love blogging, but wow am I terrible at keeping up with it. I mean it is pretty pitiful when months go by and I literally forget to update. Eh. My cross to bear I guess. Well, in an effort not to let my little blog die on the internet vine I am back for more. I'll try not to judge myself too harshly if I let it wither again. It is just one of those things I guess.

We had a great weekend.  The weather was simply perfect and thank goodness because I have a bad case of cabin fever. I actually do like the winter. Just in very brief spurts :) I have been so looking forward to getting outside & feeling the warm sunshine again. Saturday was my day. We ate a late lunch and headed for the Silver Comet Trail. Took a brisk 5 mile walk with the pup and soaked up all the vitamin D we could. There were so many people on bikes I left the trail totally inspired! I have never been much of a biker, but they all made it seem like so much fun. I've been thinking that the cycle cruiser I bought from a yard sale last year for a cool $30 might see a little more action in 2011. We'll see.


My little cousin Chase got baptized last week! We were all super excited for him. His sweet mom set up a dinner so we could all celebrate as an extended family. I am always amazed at what a super funny bunch we are. My stomach hurts every time we are together. I was reminded again that what I have with my family is pretty rare. I am certainly lucky in that department. Despite all of our flaws & quirks, we crack each other up. Thank goodness for life's simple gifts.


The day of fun ended at my brother's house. More fun stories and many more laughs were shared with them & their neighbors ... another super fun group. They are so lucky to live next to such cool people. They provided the most insane smores I have ever experienced for our snacking pleasure. The marshmallows were JUMBO and could not be contained by a single graham square. So huge in fact that they were almost flame retardent! It was quite impressive.

Sunday was a much simpler day, but just as enjoyable. Our little family hung out together all day and took in more of the sun shiny goodness.

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Orange Crush

No. Not the drink. The softball team. Our softball team to be exact. Scott & I decided to join a coed softball team in the Spring and they asked us to play again during the Fall with pretty much the same group. Our first game was last night and we pulled out a big win of 16 - 9. Go Team!!

I happen to think our new jerseys did the trick to get us started out on the right foot. We looked a little like the bad news bears last season. Everyone in random shirts and different colored shorts. It was kind of a mess. I opted to create a new logo for us and this season ... the Crush plays in style. You like?


In other news, I hit two triples in the last two innings of the game. I'm pretty proud of myself. Go Me!

Thursday, December 3, 2009

bloggin' hiatus



It's true. I have taken a bit of a blogging break. Never fear though ... I've been busy. Lots of life changes, fun projects, home renovations and holiday enjoyment. Not sure when I will get back in the blog mode, but until then I leave you with this trash-to-treasure fan.

- scavenge from a would be garbage pile
- clean & sand
- 1 can of ivy leaf spray-paint (krylon makes the BEST colors!!)
- find the perfect place in the office to display
- enjoy!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Need some office humor??


Oh boy do I. My friend knew I needed a good laugh today and she sent me this. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Thanks girl.

ONE-POINT OFFICE DARES
1) Run one lap around the office at top speed.
2) Ignore the first five people who say 'good morning' to you.
3) Phone someone in the office you barely know, leave your name and say, "Just called to say I can't talk right now. Bye."
4) To signal the end of a conversation, clamp your hands over your ears and grimace.
5) Leave your zipper open for one hour. If anyone points it out, say, "Sorry, I really prefer it this way."
6) Walk sideways to the photocopier.
7) While riding in an elevator, gasp dramatically every time the doors open.

THREE-POINT DARES
1) Say to your boss, "I like your style" and shoot him with double-barreled fingers.
2) Babble incoherently at a fellow employee, and then ask, "Did you get all that, I don't want to have to repeat it."
3) Page yourself over the intercom (do not disguise your voice).
4) Kneel in front of the water cooler and drink directly from the nozzle (there must be a 'non-player' within sight).
5) Shout random numbers while someone is counting.

FIVE POINT DARES
1) At the end of a meeting, suggest that, for once, it would be nice to conclude with the singing of the national anthem (5 extra points if you actually launch into it yourself).
2) Walk into a very busy person's office and while they watch you with growing irritation, turn the light switch on/off 10 times.
3) For an hour, refer to everyone you speak to as "Bob."
4) Announce to everyone in a meeting that you "really have to go do a number two."
5) After every sentence, say 'Mon' in a really bad Jamaican accent. As in "The report's on your desk, Mon." Keep this up for 1 hour.
6) While an office mate is out, move their chair into the elevator.
7) In a meeting or crowded situation, slap your forehead repeatedly and mutter, "Shut up, all of you just shut up!"
8) At lunchtime, get down on your knees and announce, "As God as my witness, I'll never go hungry again."
9) In a colleague's DAY PLANNER, write in the 10am slot: "See how I look in tights."(5 Extra points if it is a male, 5 more if he is your boss)
10) Carry your keyboard over to your colleague and ask, "You wanna trade?"
11) Repeat the following conversation 10 times to the same person: "Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, it's gone now."
12) Come to work in army fatigues and when asked why, say, "I can't talk about it."
13) Posing as a maitre d', call a colleague and tell him he's won a lunch for four at a local restaurant. Let him go.
14) Speak with an accent (French, German, Porky Pig, etc) during a very important conference call.
15) Find the vacuum and start vacuuming around your desk.
16) Hang a 2' long piece of toilet roll from the back of your pants and act genuinely surprised when someone points it out.
17) Present meeting attendees with a cup of coffee and biscuits, smashing each biscuit with your fist.
18) During the course of a meeting, slowly edge your chair towards the door.
19) Arrange toy figures on the table to represent each meeting attendee, move them according to the movements of their real-life counterparts.

And if that wasn't enough for you... How to keep a healthy level of insanity:
1) At lunchtime, sit in your parked car with sunglasses on and point a hair dryer at passing cars. See if they slow down.
2) Tell your children over dinner. "Due to the economy, we are going to have to let one of you go."
3) Every time someone asks you to do something, ask if they want fries with that.
4) Put your wastebasket on your desk and label it "IN".
5) Put decaf in the coffee maker for 3 weeks. Once everyone has gotten over his or her caffeine addictions, switch to espresso.
6) Finish all your sentences with "In accordance with the prophecy."
7) Dont use any punctuation
8) Use, too...much; punctuation!
9) As often as possible, skip rather than walk.
10) Ask people what sex they are. Laugh hysterically after they answer.
11) Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."
12) Sing along at the opera.
13) Go to a poetry recital and ask why the poems don't rhyme.
14) Put mosquito netting around your work area. Play a tape of jungle sounds all day.
15) Five days in advance tell your friends you can't attend their party because you're not in the mood.
16) Have your co-workers address you by your wrestling name, "Rock Hard."
17) When the money comes out of the ATM, scream "I Won! I Won! 3rd time this week!!!"
18) When leaving the zoo, start running towards the parking lot yelling, "Run for your lives, they're loose!"

Post-It LOVE

I love office supplies in general, but these folks just garnered a whole new level of respect for the nifty use of post-it notes. I would like to know the combined man hours that went in to producing this?

Monday, June 8, 2009

Forward

I wade through hundreds of email every day. The number of forwarded emails that I actually find interesting, informative or enjoyable are few and far between. This one just entered my mailbox. I'm not really sure what made me open it, but I did. Isn’t funny how something so simple can give you a little perspective & make your day. I enjoyed it, maybe you will too. Consider this the closest thing to a forward that you will get form me.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once
more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, and then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come.

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Whiteboard Paint ... oh, believe it ...

WHAT?!?! I love this. WHITEBOARD PAINT by Idea Paint. This apparently is not a new product, but I am just stumbling across it. I actually can't even find words at this moment to express my excitement about this brilliance in a can. If/when children should ever enter my life I feel as though much wall space must be dedicated to this product in order to allow maximum freedom of artistic expression sans the mess and hassle of repainting!! So exciting. 
I do feel like I should mention Rust-oleum makes a similar product but I would rather support Idea Paint.  


R&R