"My little brother paid a buck to see your underwear."

"Do I stutter?"
"Could you describe the ruckus, sir?"
"Hey, how come Andrew gets to get up? If he gets up, we'll all get up, it'll be anarchy."
"Face it. You're a neo maxi zoom dweebie, what would you be doing if you weren't out making yourself a better citizen?"
"That's right, I'm Abe Froman." "... the Sausage King of Chicago?"
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
"By night's end, I predict me and her will interface." 
"Oh God! ... The dog wet on the picnic basket."
"I know I'm old enough to be his mother, but when the Duck laid that kiss on me last night, I swear my thighs just went up in flames. He must practice on melons or something."
Wyatt: "Gary?... By the way, why are we wearing bras on our heads?"'
Gary: "Ceremonial."

Are you feeling nostalgic for the 80's yet??
After his unfortunate passing in August 2009, I blogged about the late John Hughes and my slightly neurotic love for his cinematic legacy. His movies set a precedent. They were life-changers for some. They revealed teenage angst in a way no one had ever done before and no one has been able to replicate since. They played a huge role in my life and so many others in my generation. With the relatable topics, casts of lovable & despicable characters, a library full of unbelievably quotable scripts and just a pure watch-ability that had people hitting the rewind button for decades ... It is just pure 80's gold friends!!

I can't begin to express the excitement I am feeling at this moment. Last month marked the 25th anniversary of The Breakfast Club - um, my favorite movie of all time!! -- and I just stumbled across this gem out in the blog-o-sphere that was released in the same month. 

YOU COULDN'T IGNORE ME IF YOU TRIED. 

The Brat Pack, John Hughes and Their Impact on a Generation. 

Written by Susannah Gora, a former Associate Editor of Premiere magazine, the book is said to be full of behind-the-scenes context and tales from a handful of the most beloved Brat Pack films, present-day interviews with many of the actors, and a comprehensive profiling of John Hughes, the prolific director who brought so many of these generation-defining movies into our lives. Interviewees include a long list of actors including the fabulous Molly Ringwald, Matthew Broderick, Anthony Michael Hall, John Cusack, Jon Cryer & Mary Stuart Masterson.

I. AM. SO. E-X-C-I-T-E-D!!
< insert obnoxious, high-pitched, SQUEAL here >

I will be needing to own this book. ASAP.

OH HOW I LOVE THIS MOVIE.
"Dear Mr. Vernon, We accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong, but we think you're crazy to make us write an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us: in the simplest terms and the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain ... and an athlete ... and a basket case ... a princess ... and a criminal. Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club."

Just my luck.

It's St. Patrick's Day. I don't typically do a lot of "celebrating" on this day, but I decided this year to celebrate my good luck!!  

LUCK: 

Defined as "an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that leads to a favorable outcome". 

My life has certainly been unpredictable. By this definition, it has also been truly lucky. Some of my unpredictable luck:

~ A life that includes my wonderfully generous and patient husband. My very best friend. Who loves me both because of & in spite of me.

~ Our sweet, silly, pound-dog that makes me laugh every day.

~ My strange menagerie of amazing friends. Their differences astound me, but I couldn't imagine life without them all.

~ A large, loving (though sometimes slightly misguided), laughter-filled family. They are always there. Always. 

~ Good health. Which I take for granted far too often. 

~ My little brother who is the funniest person on the planet and reminds me of my dad.

~ Family that I wasn't born in to, but have acquired a place in along the way.

~ The the people I have loved and lost, but never forgotten. 

~ The unrelenting lessons I have learned. Even those that left deep scars.

~ The ability to remember. It has served me well. 

~ For a job and a home. Things that are too often confused as a right, when they are actually a privilege.  

~ For a life filled with so many breath-taking experiences ... that I lost count long ago.

The list could go on - but for now - here's to another year full of favorable outcomes!

Some Irish Blessings for you to enjoy. 

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

May your blessings outnumber
The shamrocks that grow,
And may trouble avoid you
Wherever you go.

May the best day of your past
Be the worst day of your future.

May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons
bring the best to you and yours!

MOO + ETSY = BRILLIANT

If you have an Etsy site and need business cards ... you should check THIS out!! If you are familiar MOO cards then you know they are wonderful. Crisp images, great card quality, unique styles & even fun accessories to hold your little works of art. The MiniCards are my favorite - so tiny and adorable I just can't resist.

The MOO MiniCard holder by moo.com

by MOO_Crew

Well, the good folks at MOO are now partnering with Etsy so you can pull your product photos directly from your shop and add them to your business cards. That way your shop & cards match perfectly.

Don't have an Etsy shop? The Readymade MiniCards also make great personal calling cards. You can even search them by theme or card designer. An easy way to distribute your contact information at a moments notice. It always helps to leave a unique reminder of yourself behind.

Brilliant I say. Anything to make life as a DIY-er easier is simply wonderful in my book. Happy MOO making people!

iMakeMyCase

For those of you who enjoy the never ending wonders associated with the iphone, I share with you this fun site. It's called iMakeMyCase and it provides a blank slate or artist created graphics for you to build your own iphone case. It's also fun to play with just to see what you can make. Enjoy!

Chair Envy

I pretty much love any cozy place that I can curl up under a blanket with a book or just to take a nap. I've had a traditional round papasan chair for years that I love, but it reeeks of college days gone by. I've been on a chair hunt for awhile now. I have a found a few that struck my fancy, but none that I have been willing to throw down major cash for.

On my quest I have run across several things that if I had a bigger wallet and the space to showcase them properly I would own in a heartbeat. Alas these will have to go on the "if I win the lotto list", but they are still pretty to look at.

I have been I do love hammocks. I enjoy them the most in the spring and fall when there is a little chill in the air. Oh sweet heavens that sounds like a marvelous way to spend an afternoon. I ran across these cuties and imagined all the lazy days I could have.

Fatboy® Headdemock: This model comes in 8 amazing colors ranging from this teal to basic black. A luxurious 110" long and wide enough to share. I love it because it isn't made of the rope, which I almost always get a finger or toe caught in - ouch! The price-tag is $399 - not outrageous for something so splendid.

The Outback Cove Chair: I love it. I can't help it. I know it looks like an egg & I love it anyway. At a whopping $1,399 it will remain a distant love.

Rattan Lounge Beds: Lord help me. I was lost in a dream world for a moment. I'm back now. Oh the hours I could waste away in these. Visions of lemonade and wide-brimmed hats are flashing before my very eyes.

That's it. I'm done. This post is officially over. I mean really ... how can you top these?!

Crepe Revolution

Have you heard of this nifty little joint called Crepe Revolution? It is delicious. Double-date night with the Grubbs' on Saturday night landed us here. They were well aware of this treasure, but since we live on the other side of the world it was a first for us. I must say it was more delicious than anticipated.

In addition to the wide variety of choices already available on the brunch, lunch and dinner menus, you can also customize your own crepe in 5 easy steps ...

1: Pick the batter

2: Pick your veggies

3: Pick your meat (or meats if you are so inclined)

4: Pick your cheese (as much as you want!!)

5: Pick your sauce

Done and done.

I would recommend giving Crepe Revolution if you are in the area. The atmosphere is great and the concept is really different. I had the California Turkey and the Katie's Strawberry Blonde. Our sever happened to be the Katie for whom the beverage was named and was a complete spaz. Other than that everything was great. We didn't opt for a dessert crepe on this trip, but I have it on good authority that they are scrumptious. I will be adding this to my growing list of dining options.

Check out their video feature on Atlanta Elite Pass TV.

IT'S 2010!!

The first month of 2010 is over halfway gone and I have yet to do a new year’s update!! Geez – way to start out on the right foot huh? So far this year has been amazing. I, like most people I know, made some goals for 2010. I won’t bore you with the details of listing them all out. Suffice it to say the overarching theme is health and happiness. Doing things that make my life balanced and enjoyable. I know it will be a struggle for me to reach some of my goals but I feel like I am up for the challenge.

2009 ended in style for the Boatmans! We were fortunate enough to be invited by friends to celebrate the New Year in VEGAS BABY!! It was spectacular. This particular group of friends holds a special place in my heart because we all share a love of two things … laughter and delicious food. This trip was full of both. The added bonus for us was actually celebrating together for Scott's Birthday and for New Year's - that is unheard of for the Boatman's! For the past 5 years work has kept us apart at the stroke of midnight. Our kiss to start another year has traditionally taken place closer to 2 a.m. This year was so much different. On a 38^th floor balcony of the Chrysler Tower at New York New York in Las Vegas we watched fireworks sparkle above us and sea of people celebrating below us. It was a magical view and pictures really don’t do it justice.

A huge party on the “Brooklyn Bridge” capped off our evening of merriment. The music was incredible and everyone was having a blast. We threw beads out to the crowd - I can tell you that catching seemed to be a very difficult concept and many a string hurled through the air and subsequently whacked its intended target in the face! Unfortunate for them, funny for everyone else.

There is a beautiful new live, work, play complex in Vegas called The City Center. It is breathtaking. I can’t help it. I am a total nerd when it comes to textiles and décor. I was absolutely blown away at the level of detail that went into designing this place. You have to see it to believe it. And because I am a total nerd about technology too … check out their website. The virtual tour of the condos is enough to make me gasp aloud. Our evening at Aria just didn’t last long enough. A delicious meal at Jean George’s Steakhouse (I had ate a Kobe Beef Burger that was mouth watering!), followed by the new Cirque show VIVA ELVIS! and then a guided tour of some amenities in the hotel. It was a great vacation and a spectacular way to start a new year. VIVA VEGAS!!

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!

Oktoberfest 2009 - Helen, GA

I have taken a bit of a blog hiatus lately. This is such a busy time of year that unfortunately my little blog seems to have taken a back-seat to more pressing matters on the to-do list. Scott & I work ourselves to death this time of year. Yes, more than usual :). We made a pact at the beginning of the year to try harder to enjoy some of the things that we kept putting aside because of work. More trips, more adventures ... more fun! We did that very thing this weekend and went up to Helen to enjoy Oktoberfest. A couple days off from work would have been nice enough, but top that off with cool mountain air, delicious wine, pumpkin picking, people watching, scrumptious fudge and all the lederhosen you can bear and that equals one perfect fall getaway weekend!

Georgia Wines, Inc. - everything we tried from this winery was good, but these two were delicious! I am not a wine person and not a fan of the red, but this was like nothing I have ever tasted. I highly recommend picking up a bottle if you get the chance. This vineyard is located in Ringold, GA.

Fox Winery - had many a tasty selection as well. We picked up a bottle of Scupperdew for Scott's dad to compare to his own home-brew. Located in Social Circle, GA.

We also stopped by Habersham Winery. The family that owns this winery also owns and operates the Nacoochee Grill.

The Hofbrauhaus bar had these hilarious beer steins displayed above it. At some point the "locals" and regulars could pay to get a customized stein to use when they came in. The photos that some people chose of themselves were HILARIOUS. There was many a stellar mustache displayed.

We stopped by the Gooseneck Pumpkin Farm on the way out of town. We picked out our normal sized pumpkin to take home, but were so impressed with the size of some of these things that we stopped for a quick photo op. WOW.

Cake Wrecks - When Professional Cakes Go Horribly, Hilariously Wrong

I follow a variety of blogs. Every day my Google Reader offers up laughter, inspiration and the occasional scratch of the head. I really never know what I might stumble across. Today I was greeted by this little gem. Jen Yates started a blog about Cake Wrecks and has recently published a full color photo book on the topic. The description of her findings: "A Cake Wreck is any cake that is unintentionally sad, silly, creepy, inappropriate - you name it. A Wreck is not necessarily a poorly-made cake; it's simply one I find funny, for any of a number of reasons. Anyone who has ever smeared frosting on a baked good has made a Wreck at one time or another, so I'm not here to vilify decorators: Cake Wrecks is just about finding the funny in unexpected, sugar-filled places."

There are some terribly unfortunate ones featured in her new book. I often wonder how people continue to work in a field after they prove themselves severely lacking in the skill set it requires to be successful. I guess this book/blog is really a shout out to perseverance. So what if your cakes are awkwardly inappropriate, you were too tired to spell check, you don't know how to or you write the directions on the cake instead of the message ... just keep at it!! A few that really cracked me up:




- following directions a little too closely



- questionable parenting skills




- what age is that exactly?




- celebrating current widespread infectious diseases

- you are wecom.

- a tiny coffin to hold your beautiful engaement ring. surprise honey!

- "i requested a football."

- "what are you talking about, this IS a football?!"

- now that i earased that little error ... this cake is perfect!

- that is a sonogram.

- distrubing.

PS: She also features some really beautiful cakes on her blog.

iTunes 9 is RIDICULOUS!!!

Apple/Mac ... you have done it again. I LOVE you and all of your smart applications! I just installed iTunes 9 and it is crazy. The Genius Mixes are my absolute favorite new feature. It doesn't suggest new music, it now compiles playlists of your existing library on its own for you to enjoy. I am reeling at the possibilities. There is now home sharing, an LP experience, improved syncing, redesigned iTunes store, iTunes extras (pretty cool!!) and more. For all the info CLICK HERE. Prepare to be amazed. Seriously.