Mom and Dad's Remodel

My mom is seriously considering a complete remodel of the house, and has been inspired by Restoration Hardware's departure from Americana to Primitive/Industrial Europe. Thanks RH for FINALLY doing something different and giving us something to be excited about.

Mom has selected several pieces for potential purchase. This is a little game where I try to see if I picked the same ones from the website that she picked.

This little horse is just a bonus. Wouldn't he be cute on a bookshelf?
Impact piece #1, Option A- Balustrade Salvaged Wood Console Table. I love the bottom of this one.Impact Piece #1 Option B - French Industrial Console Table. Love the clean lines and metal legs.

Is it either of these?
Impact Piece #2 - Printmaker's Sideboard. All of those little drawers, adore. I hope this is on the list.
Impact Piece #3 - Wine Barrel 6 Arm Chandelier. I'm pretty sure I nailed this one. This is it, yes? I'd venture to say it will be the piece de resistance of the dining room. Impact Piece #4 - French Upholstered Wing Chair. PLEASE tell me this is on the list...make it two as far as I'm concerned.

How did I do? Did I get any of these right? I can see why you were re-inspired! Love, Love, Love. Please complete pre-Christmas. Merci beaucoup.

Bootcamp

I'm starting my own personal bootcamp. 4 weeks of 4 workouts per week. If a bootcamp at the gym starts before my 4 weeks is over, I'm allowed to quit my operation and join the real thing. There, now you know, so I have to do it.

Busy Weeks!

The last week and a half have been BUSY! What have I been up to? Well, I haven't been working out, I'll tell you that.

Look what happened today-SNOW! This is our street this afternoon. When it snows the street feels so peaceful and quiet and always reminds me of a winter movie. I love it.

Last night I went on a sushi date with my two favorite little pups. This picture is funny because the tv makes it look like there are 4 pups (haha).I came into work on Tuesday and Mark was wearing this happy shirt. Love at first sight! Thanks for representing fall perfectly via a shirt, Mark. He struck this pose on his own, work it, work it, work that 8th floor window. p.s. that's the view out of my window at work.

Last Thursday SS hosted a Make-A-Wish fundraiser and raised 15k! Here's my team, fundraising, clearly.

For the team lead donation we decided on a "stock your bar basket." Friend Noah and I went to the store and picked out the goods, including this pretty Absolut bottle. Then I took a cardboard box, and some tissue paper and created this. Pretty proud of myself.
Tuesday we had a little bon voyage happy hour for my boss of 2 years. He's off to the Singapore office and we will miss him!
See why I haven't had time to blog?

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel sooooo bad.

1. Getting to see Dad on his way to hunt elk in Steamboat last Thursday...dinner at Fogo de Chao, delicious.

2. Planning a trip here...

...with him. Can you believe how cute this little Marc is?

3. Owning these boots that I was only dreaming of last winter, thanks Mom and
Dad! A few trips to the cobbler later and I can actually zip them, "thanks athletic" calves!

4. Signing up for another bootcamp-love/hate, but thinking about all those squats and pushups somehow makes me happy. Maybe this time I'll actually pass out. I came dangerously close several times during my last bootcamp.

5. Cute houses like this in Vernon, France. I took this picture while riding a bike (pretty impressive) on our way back from touring Monet's house and gardens (pretty impressive).

6. Biking in Versailles, dreaming of Marie Antoinette and all things extravagant, opulent, and excessive, just like Marie. Few places will ever beat Versailles in my book, and few days will beat this awesome day spent biking and piq-niqing avec Mom. "It's gone already? Why did we only get one bottle of wine?? Big mistake." This was shortly after my little trip to the woods. Thanks for having my back, Mom. Couldn't even say I was taking pictures!?

I'm feeling much better. I hope sing Sound of Music songs all day.

***Katie, let me know when you're feeling the need to perform the Sound of Music soundtrack, you know I'm down. It has been awhile.

LA Weekend

This weekend we went to LA for Marc's cousin Joel's wedding. We had a little free time to do some CA exploring. I loved this gorgeous hotel in Santa Monica (the only place around L.A. that was actually nice). That's my opinion.

Here we are in Santa Monica again. We had lunch and then took a little walk to the beach. Marc's Mom, bro, Marc et moi.
The bride and groom are big fans of Celtic music. As a surprise to the bride, her parents booked Bad Haggis, a Celtic band. The bag piper recorded the music for Braveheart, Titanic and lots of other movies. At the end of the reception I requested the theme from Braveheart and he played it! Wine+theme from Braveheart performed by actual recording piper=hysteria and maybe a few tears. Post script: Can you see the excitement in our eyes because we got to take our picture with him? Do you see any excitement in his eyes? NO. He was not interested in hanging out with us...too cool. :( Aunt Nancy, moi, Eric Rigler, Cousin Amanda, Carla

And here we are on Venice Beach. What a freak show, and also very smoggy. The bloody marys we enjoyed at lunch, however, were delicious!

A Few Things

So, Jordan's parents are finally both going to be living in Denver (you might already know this from Jordan's Blog). I'm excited because that means she'll be here for all holidays and I will get to see her lots! Yay! She's in Seoul right now, but I get to see her at Christmas...skiing, Hamburger Mary's perhaps, movies with beer and unlimited popcorn. p.s. I forgot to tell you they have REAL butter for the popcorn, awesome. This is a picture that made Marc's mom very happy. The whole crew all wearing Nebraska gear, even me, and even baby Mason. That little boy comes from a broken home (half Nebraska, half Texas fans). He has to take turns supporting teams.

I don't mind wearing my new Nebraska shirt Marc got me. I like to accessorize with my zebra shoes with red bow toes, unfortunately not pictured here.

Back Yard Bounty...Before and After

Look at this mess! This was our back yard BEFORE Marc cleaned made it the beauty we know and love today. Please note the wire fence inside of the wood fence, and all of those nasty bushes in progress of being chopped down in these pics.

Back Yard BEFORE

Back Yard BEFORE

Back Yard AFTER (below)...This is the same fence as in the pic above. Can you believe it? Please note Marc's built in grill. The hot tub is just on the other side, but not pictured here.
This year, we added the mulch along the fence. Next year I will plant it.

Look at that pretty grass! I'm in charge of the potted flowers. Garden in the left corner by the fence. This year we went crazy with the peppers.

Hey, look who it is! Marc made this picnic table! I think it's just awesome.
Garden bounty.
These little peppers are HOT.

Thanks for coming over!