When Inspiration Strikes...

I was looking at a Crate & Barrel book this Friday night and saw a room on one of the pages that I really liked. Then I realized that I had a can of paint downstairs the exact same color. (Paint meant for another project, not yet started) I've been sick of my current living room look for awhile now, I just did not know what to do with it or if I even wanted to spend the time & money doing anything with it. But the moment hit, so I decided at 11:30 PM Friday night that I would start painting my living room. And I did. I finished yesterday. I love it.

Now I am off shopping for accent pieces. After all, I need accent pieces. I only had the paint on hand.

The walls are a chocolate brown. But I think there is a hint of purple in there (I am not too fond of that). Previously the room was a faux paint of tan, ivory & sage green. I am over the sage green. I have orange in the kitchen, I may accent the living room in orange too to bring it all together. Have not decided yet, or maybe just not inspired yet.

Update

First of all, my poison ivy is getting worse. I will spare you all the nasty pictures. But that spot on my leg is 10 times worse right now & it looks good compared to a couple of days ago. It has also spread to the top of my let, all over my other leg and on my arm. And my leg is swollen up. It has been miserable to say the least. I am on the verge of going to see a doctor about it & I never go to the doctor. I will see how it does this week and decide from there.

I went to Chicago this weekend. Pretty relaxing and fun. Went to Michigan Avenue. It was ok. I got down there pretty late on Saturday and apparently all the stores close at 6 PM. I was pretty bummed about that. I saw You, Me & Dupree. It was funny. I would not say one of my favorite movies. But funny enough. Saturday night I stayed downtown and went to Navy Pier to watch the fireworks. They were pretty good. It was crazy crowded there.

I ate sushi again this past weekend. I do not really eat sushi. I have had it 3 times previously and all within the last 6 months. We went to one of my favorite places to eat in the city called Shine Morida. I ate so much sushi (which was not a lot) that I thought I was going to be sick. The final straw was the last Maki Roll (some spicy tuna/shrimp thing) that was so huge I could hardly close my mouth & I was already pretty full that I really did not think that I was going to make it. So here is to eating sushi until you explode!

First Time for Everything

So far this summer, I have had a couple of funky skin things going on. Every year I get the typical bug bites and bothersome chigger bites. But this year is a first. I believe that I have gotten poison ivy. I have never had poison ivy. But as BJ said, there's a first time for everything.

Since I have never had poison ivy, I do not typically pay too close of attention for the plant. And then I have never really known what it would look like on my skin. I had these bumps that I thought was some kind of rash. It itched, so I scratched it... Then it got a nasty and spread. I still had no clue what was going on with my skin, until today when I showed BJ and Gma. They informed me that it was poison ivy & to quit scratching it. WHICH I had already planned to do since I had been yelled already about it by someone else.

So, here is a picture of my pretty leg. That is just one spot. It is all around the other side of my shin too!! And I still do not even know what that funky stuff on my other ankle was that I had last week.

New Ride

This is my new ride. It is a 2004 Toyota Highlander. It is really nice. It has 45,000 miles, a third row, power windows, cd, air, cruise and it is 4 wheel drive. Are you sold yet? Other than that it is pretty basic.

Salesman beware, I think I did a pretty good job negotiating, if I do say so myself. Thanks to some advice from an ex-car salesman. I first saw this one last Wednesday. I said that I would buy that day for one price. They said no & I said ok, I like the car but do not want to pay that much for it. So I bought it Monday for $600 less than I said on Wednesday. I guess patience does pay off. But I hated negotiating and playing that game. Glad it is all done. Have you ever had to negotiate for a car, if so how do you think that you did?

Week In Review

What a super crazy week. It all started last Friday night...

I went to see Fire, the Hawaii experience or something like that. It was a show by the Polynesian Cultural Center. Went with some family. Then went to grandma's to meet up with Terra, Mike, Matt & Krista. We hit the town, did some sight seeing, visited & headed to bed around 3 am.

Sat we were all up bright and early around 8. I drug Matt out for a walk, then the girls & I went for pedicures, we went to lunch, went to Uncle Phil's house to meet up with Ted & Emily, did reunion business, played Dominos with Aunt Ev, went to dinner and then headed to the lake for fireworks and a night swim. Headed to bed earlier, around 2 am.

Sunday went to church and then back to the lake for the afternoon. Rode the jet ski and did the diet coke experiment. If I could figure out how to put a video on here, I would show our mini fountain. Then I headed back to Oklahoma City with Matt's group. Stayed there until Wed.

Wednesday I came home, worked, car shopped and went to see the boys' last baseball games.

Friday I headed to St. Louis to work. Worked and spent the weekend with my cousin Ted & Emily. Crazy busy weekend!!!

Here are some pics, for more check out Krista's blog ... http://www.happyredhead.blogspot.com/

Fear of Pickles is Ruining My Life

This is from ifilm (link on blog) from the Maury Povich Show. Pretty weird stuff. I love pickles!

http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2748349

Addictions

I was reading a post from my friend's blog today and she was talking about how she did not realize how addicted she is to her cell phone. Do not worry this post is not going to be any kind of confession about any addictions nearly as serious as in A Million Little Pieces. But it made me think about my so-called-addictions. So here they are in list form:

1. My cell phone
2. My laptop/internet connection
3. (Future addiction) my new GPS & maps & trips software
4. Network marketing (Longaberger, Team National, Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, Home Interior, etc...)
5. ebay
6. Blogging
7. Panera/Starbucks (Like Starbucks coffee & cakes better, but like internet access from Panera)
8. Shopping
9. My soaps
10. working out

So mostly gadgets and anything related to shopping. What are you addicted to?

Survey

Name: Kira
Birthdate: January
Birthplace: Korea
Current Location: Missouri
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Black
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 110
Piercings: Ears only - for now
Tatoos: not yet
Boyfriend/Girlfriend: no
Overused Phraze: retarded & jacked up

FAVORITES
Food: Gyros & all fruit
Candy: gummy bears, sour patch kids & red vines
Number: none
Color: silver, pink & purple - for now
Animal: none
Drink: water
Alcohol Drink: none
Bagel: asiago cheese
Letter: never thought about it
Body Part on Opposite sex: abs, arms, face

THIS or THAT
Pepsi or Coke: Diet Pepsi (but I do not drink soda)
McDonalds or BurgerKing: McDonalds
Strawberry or Watermelon: Strawberry
Hot tea or Ice tea: Hot
Chocolate or Vanilla: Choc
Hot Chocolate or Coffee: Mocha
Kiss or Hug: both
Dog or Cat: neither
Rap or Punk: rap Summer or Winter: spring/fall
Scary Movies or Funny Movies: funny
Love or Money: love and money

YOUR...
Bedtime: random
Most Missed Memory: Senior year of high school
Best phyiscal feature: hair & teeth/smile, I guess
First Thought Waking Up: random
Goal for this year: Too many to name
Best Friends: Holly & Matt
Weakness: shopping
Fears: no $$$$
Heritage: Korean
Longest relationship: 8 years

HAVE YOU...
Ever Drank: yes
Ever been beaten up: no
Ever beaten someone up: no
Ever Skinny Dipped: I do not think so
Ever Kissed Opposite sex: yeah
Been Dumped Lately: yeah
Been on a blind date: not yet

IN A GUY/GIRL
Favorite Eye Color: green
Favorite Hair Color: any - not red so much
Short or Long: short
Height: 6'
Style: trendy/prep
Looks or Personality: both
Hot or Cute: either
Drugs and Alcohol: no
Muscular or Really Skinny: in between

RANDOMS
Number of Regrets in the Past: ??
What country do you want to Visit: Europe
How do you want to Die: In my sleep
Been to the Mall Lately: YEAH
Do you like Thunderstorms: yes
Get along with your Parents: yes
Health Freak: yes
Do you think your Attractive: I'm told that others think that I am
Believe in Yourself: yes
Want to go to College: going
Do you Smoke: no
Shower Daily: yeah
Been in Love: yes and I'm not sure that it is all it is cracked up to be
Do you Sing: not very well
Hate anyone: no

Cars

I took the boys to see cars last night. We had a good time. The movie is around 2 hours. A little over with previews and the mini movie that Pixar has been known to do.

I liked the movie, but I would not call it a "funny" movie or one of my favorites. I was expecting more, so I was a bit disappointed. I do not think that the boys were disappointed but I could tell by the lack of chatter after the movie that they did not think it was too fantastic.

The movie had more of a "serious" storyline to it. Somewhat thought provoking. Just the pure animation is good enough for Brayden but I think the more in depth story was good for Cody and myself. I liked the storyline.

Have you seen cars? If so what did you think of it? What is the best movie that you have seen recently?

I saw The Break Up last weekend. I liked it. Probably one of the better movies that I've seen (I've seen Failure to Launch, MI3, and Ice Age 2 recently in the theaters).

Interesting...

Next month, a company called Atech Flash Technology will release the iCarta, designed to let users listen to music while in the bathroom and features a toilet-paper holder.

The $99.95 iCarta's four speakers are designed to resist moisture, and the device uses AC power to charge the iPod while it's playing. Atech says the toilet paper holder can be folded in if the user would rather not employ this unique implementation of multitasking.

When contacted for comment by gadget Web site iPodObserver.com, Atech sales manager Eric Liu said: "We want to create something that is different and brings people joy for buying such products. The product is even protected by our own patent worldwide."

Life

So I have been back from Chicago for a couple of days or more and things have not slowed down one bit.

My grandma had a heart attack on Sunday. She is doing fine now but just came home from the hospital today.

Marvin and my Aunt Teri have been taking care of Grandpa while mom & I have been watching over Grandma.

She had 2 stints put in and she does have heart failure. About 35% of her heart is functioning at this time. But they put her on medication to help. I guess her and grandpa are on the same medication for their hearts now.

Things have been picking up for me with work. Which is good. I need the business. It takes a while and persistance helps.

That's all I have time for right now. Sounds more like a generic email than a blog posting, but that's how it goes some times.

Walking Around Town

I am in the Chicago area this week for work. Instead of driving and parking we tend to do a lot of walking. There are a lot of things within walking distance, which make it nice. So today as I was out walking about I saw some interesting things…

I saw that an Ethiopian Restaurant is opening soon – so I wondered what Ethiopians eat. Here is what I found online – http://www.ethiopianrestaurant.com/dining_suggestions.html#first

I saw a man with a very large belly sitting on a park bench, with his button up shirt unbuttoned, in order to sun that belly.

I saw a truck stuck under the train bridge.

I saw a man who had been to the grocery store. He had about 6 bags. He was stopped in the middle of the sidewalk eating his groceries.

I love walking!

Theoden

This is my new nephew Theoden. He is SOOOOOOOOOOOO adorable. And I am not biased in anyway. He is just so sweet and cute. Yes, my brother’s son is sweet. He is just a baby after all. He makes the cutest faces. Did I mention how adorable he is??? And I gave him LOTS of kisses!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

Here are some pictures of our Memorial Day Weekend. We had a big lake day on Sunday with a cook out at my mom’s house. She had a house full of friends and family.

Monday I went out to the lake again with Holly and Carter.

The Graduate

Friday Brayden had his Preschool graduation. It was so cute. This has been his teacher for the last 2 years.

He was a bit disappointed though, that he has to go to school this week still as a preschooler, not a kindergartener.

Pllllleeeeeaaaaasssssse!!!!

I had two intersting things pointed out to me about kids recently. #1 why do kids think that the word "please" will get you to change your mind. And #2 why do we teach kids that "please" is the magic word. Just because my kids say please, nothing magical happens. Like me changing my mind.

With both of these observations, it has become apparently clear how true both of those statements are with Brayden especially. I guess I made a believer out of Cody and the fact that my no was no. But Brayden on the other hand feels that saying pppppllllllllleeeeeeeaaaaaassssse will either get me to change my mind or get him what he wants - which is to change my mind.

So thank you for the people that pointed that out to me and made me realize that "please" is not a magic word. I do not think that Brayden appreciates it, but I am definately more conscience of my no's being no.

Frump

It has been over a weeks since my last post. (that was oddly sounding like a confession) But I have been in a frump. I was telling my bff that I think/hope that it is due to the weather. I believe that there has been 1 sunny day since my last post.

So what have I been doing with myself?? Sleeping, eating and sleeping. Not being very productive at work due to my sleeping. I believe that I have put on a couple of pounds due to my over eating these days. Good times, good times.

I excised 2 times today trying to get myself out of the funkish frump. It might be working. I need it to. I am done with school and that kept me semi motivated. Now I am getting ready to start studying for my Series 6 & 63 licenses. I need those so I can sell mutual funds and variable annuities. I am most excited about that, since my long term goal is to be a Certified Financial Planner. I am looking forward to this next step. I love helping people with their finances, it is kind of scary actually. I get a little worked up when I see how people could be saving, making or keeping their money and they are not looking toward their financial future. Oh, I better stop before I get started.

So... my question would be, are you saving for the future??? Do you have or need any life insurance??? (just kidding, not really)

April Showers...

Let's just say, it's May and I am looking forward to the flower part. It rained all weekend. We definately need the rain. But I would prefer not all at once.

It started raining on Friday and continued through Saturday. Raining again now Monday evening.

So I did a lot of indoor activites. I was a bit bummed about the weather because I had a guest in from out of town. So we did not get to go out to the lake at all. I went bowling with some friends. I am not very good, but the 2nd game, it did fairly well. My bff Holly was the super star of the evening.

Saturday, we ran some errands in Branson & took in some sights and then we went to see a movie. Failure to Launch. It was a pretty funny movie. I know of someone that that movie reminded me of. That was the best part.

Sunday was a better day. The weather was pretty nice, but I had to take my friend to the airport to leave. But all flights were cancelled due to bad weather in other areas. We did not know this at first, so the flight we thought was just going to be delayed and we went to the mall. Spent the only nice day of the weekend in the mall. Then found out that the flight was cancelled. What is that about misery loves company. I am glad that I am not the only one that has bad travel events. Luckily for me when I was delayed I had someone to come get me & I was not stuck at the airport & luckily for my friend that I was there so they were not stuck at the airport.

I have a new nephew now too. He was born on Saturday. The poor mommy. Had to go through 2 days of trying to be enduced and nothing happened. So my nephew was born via C section on Saturday!! I have not seen him but my mom says that he is beautiful - no doubt.

I'm a good cook!

Really I am. But here is why I feel I must announce it. Sunday Cody was sick. He had some kind of stomach virus. He did not have a temp and he did not throw up. Just felt sick to his stomach. But this kid never throws up. Maybe 2 times ever (takes after his mom).

Then he still did not feel the best on Monday. Monday night I made the chicken taco soup. Cody and I both liked it. But Brayden did not. I made him eat it. Late that night, or early Tuesday morning about 3 AM, Brayden woke up and went to throw up in the bathroom. He proceeded to throw up a couple of more times between then and 4 AM. Now this one has a very sensitive stomach. He throws up all the time. But around 4 AM he proceeded to tell me that it was the soup that made him sick! I tried to convince him that he got it from his brother & he agreed somewhat but then said it was the soup too!

Both kids are better now, thank goodness - I ate the soup & I am fine. How good of a cook are you?

Garage Sale

This weekend was pretty restful. It was GREAT weather. I had a garage sale Friday and Saturday. It went really well. I sold a TON of JUNK. A lot of stuff that I wanted to get rid of and actually planned on selling & a TON of stuff that I thought would never sell - sold. I just told these guys that came in that anything on the two shelves that I had was for sell too. There was so much stuff on the shelves that I did not even know what was on there. Several men rummaged through the shelves & bought some stuff. THEN on Saturday morning this one guy bought almost 80% of the stuff on the two shelves. I WAS and still am so happy. I just cannot believe that I got rid of all that stuff. THEN he came back today to buy something else that he was looking at & of course never sold. I would definately call it a success.

We had great weather for the sale too. Yesterday and today rained a lot. It was good to have the rain, and good for me to stay in and get a lot done around the house.

Saturday night we went for a cook out at some friends' house. We had a really good time. We had tons of great food and then some of the teens and adults played volleyball. Good times, good times.

I started tanning last week - 1st time I have been in a tanning bed in almost 11 years!!! And today I received a call from my tanning place that I have won a free tan & free tanning lotion!! Just what I need - not. I only wanted to go a couple of times. I burned myself last time, in very uncomfortable places. Places that have not seen the sun in 11 years! So I guess I will go again tomorrow & see what damage I can do. Do you fake & bake?