My Nieces are So Stinkin' Cute

That is all :)

Fiesta at the Bryson Casa!

This past weekend was super fun! Courtney had a little housewarming party at her new house in Dallas. Everyone had a wonderful time and the place was soo cute! She did a great job decorating it! Here a few pictures from the par-tay!

The J List

Dior Jewelry- The Diorette Collection
This lovely little collection combines my love for enamel and my love for precious stones- AND lots of color!! A little out of my reach price wise- but I love them all!!! The ring above can also be found at Elux

The Wii FitI am pretty excited about the Wii Fit. I don't have one yet, but here is to hoping! It looks like a TON of fun!!! It even tests your BMI and Body Fat... and you can even set a Pin # to keep it private! I also want Wii Ski! If you don't have a Wii yet- get one! They are awesome!!!

Ralph Lauren Blue Label Tunic Swimsuit Cover-Up

Shopping for swimsuits is never fun, but I do love cover ups! I really like this one. I like the elastic on the sleeves and the poet type pleats. It also comes in pink and white.

Cupfull Handtowels from Anthropologie

I can't resist a good vintage inspired hand towel. Something about them makes me swoon. I think Courtney B. might be the only one who loves hand towels more than me!

Hooray it is FRIDAY!

I am in a pretty good mood this morning... despite not waking up until 7:45 for work at 8:00am! Oops! Greg said I still looked beautiful this morning- gross hair and all- and that is all that really matters to me! I won my tennis match last night 6-0, 6-2, so that is helping me with my good mood. Today is also pay day- woo hoo! I have direct deposit, but it is exciting non the less. I am also excited because it is Friday, and I have a fun weekend planned. Tonight the hubs and I are grilling hamburgers, tomorrow morning Julie and I are shopping, tomorrow afternoon I am off to sweet Court's for a house warming fiesta! Then on Sunday I am driving back to Canton to meet Greg to shop at the Trade Days. I always find super fun stuff that I can't live w/o while in Canton. I am pretty excited about my super fun weekend. Oh, I am also excited b/c yesterday afternoon I discovered that one of my paintings from the Foox show ended up in Tyler's BScene magazine. It is the social magazine of East TX, and the picture was pretty big- so that was a fun surprise!

As I sit here and type about how happy I am that it is Friday, and how happy I am about life in general- I need to thank the Lord for blessing me and giving me such a beautiful life!

P.S. No, I do not know who these women are... but they look pretty happy that it is Friday too! :)

Whirl of a Weekend

What a crazy weekend! Saturday I had tennis, and then we went to look at cars for Jenny. Will I ever make up my mind? I am thinking a Nissan Maxima is the way to go for now- gas prices are making SUVs a little undesirable!!

On Sunday my mom was honored at our old church, First Baptist Carrollton, for starting the Friendship House (a food and clothes closet for the poor) 20 years ago! That makes me feel old! I helped paint the original building- well I am sure at 5 I wasn't much help, but I remember it! Congratulations mom on your honor!
On Sunday my sister turned 29! Woo hoo! We went out on Monday to the yummy Cheesecake Factory with all the aunts and grandmas to celebrate. It was so yummy and Greg and I split the Oreo Mudslide Cheesecake! There goes the diet- but it was worth it!
There are big developments going on at our house this weekend- NO I am not pregnant- but I will update when I know more! Just pray for us to make wise decisions!

The J List

Portico Wrap Dress from J. Crew

I think this might need to be my birthday dress!

Ugg Flip Flops
I wore these all over DC. Heaven on your footsies!

Oggi Pink Lustre Aluminum Sport Water Bottle
I use a lot of plastic water bottles- would like this to "go greener," and it comes in PINK!

Metro Stations "Shake It" is my new song of summer. Available on Itunes!

So...

A drunk driver ran up into our neighbors yard, knocked down our fancy stone divider plowed through our yard leaving giant tire marks and a 3 foot hole in Greg's beautiful grass. Drunk driving is a pet peeve of mine. Just don't do it people! Luckily, the cops caught the guy. He left his radiator in my neighbors yard along with his bumper- so he didn't get very far. Hope he has insurance to fix our pretty stone wall! I am really glad that he didn't hurt anyone, but I still am very mad at him because he could have.

Here is my public awareness message of the week. I have seen this woman speak on Oprah before. Her story is heart wrenching, but she is making a difference in the world by telling it.

Happy 6th Months Nathan!

I got the privilege to take some 6th month pictures of sweet little Nathan on Sunday... here are some of my favorites!! He is such a cute and sweet little boy!!!

My Tribute To Rountree

Pauline J. Rountree
July 06, 1913 - May 15, 2008

Last night my mom called me to tell me that my Rountree had died. Her real name is Pauline Rountree, but she is Rountree to me. She was my daytime babysitter for much of my childhood. I loved Rountree. I have very fond memories of my childhood because of her. I will always remember that she would color with me. I think that is why I loved her so much. She focused on me, and actually talked to me. She would color Barbie's hair with with multiple shades of blond and gold to give her highlights. At four- I thought this was amazing. I like to think of her as one of my first art influences.

I will also never forget her baloney sandwiches and fritos that she had in her lunch. I never wanted her baloney, but she always offered me her fritos. I was never a big fan of fritos, but I think I liked them because she had them. She made me soup and made me see myself in the bottom of the bowl before I could say I was done.

Rountree was also the official mender of my blankey. I would constantly wear it around my neck as a cape. Unfortunately it had a bit of abuse and needed some tlc often. She never got on to me about it and always did an amazing job of fixing it.

She played the eukalalee and loved the Price is Right. She was great at crocheting, and always had a smile. She was one of the happiest people I have ever known. I am sad to say goodbye to Rountree tomorrow. She lived a long and wonderful life. She was in her nineties, and didn't remember many people the last year of her life, but I will always remember her sweet and energetic spirit. She is in heaven with Dado (her husband Donald) now, and her sweet dog Tinsy.

Love you Rountree!

The J List

A Girl with Watering Can by Renoir
Okay, this is not something you can buy, but it is one of my favorite things. I remember one of my art projects in elementary school was to copy a famous painting. We all went to the library and picked out a painting that we liked. I picked this one. I loved it! I think it is the first time I decided I like art more than most kids. I still have the drawing I did somewhere- need to find it and frame it! I also remember seeing this painting when I went to DC with my family when I was 8. It was nice to get to see it again this past week. I fell in love all over again. Renoir is one of my favorite artists of all time.



Owl Umbrella Stand
How cute is this? I think it would look great by my front door! Esp. on days when it is POURING like today!!!

LaVanila
New vanilla and grapefruit scent I found shopping at Anthroplogie in DC. I just LOVE it. It is so light and refreshing!! I like the small rollerball container too- makes it easy to stash in your purse!
Vanillia Apricot Yummies
At the Gaylord National they had a super cute Pajama Party store... so of course I am in there on day one. First, I purchased a Vanilla Apricot candle, then the next day I bought the lip balm, then I buy the hand cream. On my last day at the Gaylord I buy like 4 hand creams for Mother's Day gifts. I am seriously in love with this stuff! I used the candle every day in our hotel rooms, and I already need a new one! I love it- and you will too!!!

More More More

More info on the crazy SWAT team party on my street... CLICK HERE

Oh My What a NIGHT!

It started out a pretty easy going evening. Jimmy was in town, so he came over to watch the Stars game with Greg and have pizza. Jimmy leaves around 10:00pm, and Greg and I crawl in bed to watch our Monday night Little People Show. Yes, we love the Little People!We drift off to sleep around 11:00. We have just started our dream cycle when I dream about someone banging on the door. Rather loudly! I wake up and wonder if I am still dreaming, and then whack Greg and tell him someone is banging at the door. I look at my clock and it is 12:30am! Who on earth? Then I remember Jimmy was on his way home- I freak out thinking he could have been in an accident or something. Greg thinks I am crazy until he hears the banging too. He hops out of bed in his Valentine boxers and runs out of the room with his shotgun. I am freaking out by this point. Greg is gone for awhile, and then comes back to put on some clothes. I also put on some clothes and squeeze the puppies to an inch of their life b/c I am still freaking out.Apparently there is a SWAT team standoff in my front yard!!!! They needed to tap into our home's phone and electric line to man their massive SWAT trucks! Greg knew some of the officers who were swarming around, so he found out that there was a guy holed up in a garage that had been firing shots. The house was 2 down from us!!! I was assuming it was the group of twenty something guys who lived together. They seemed pretty clean cut, so it was odd. They always let their dog out, and I go tell them he is out. I always thought they were pretty nice- annoying b/c of the dog thing- but nice enough.I go outside to watch a little- I have never seen so many police cars and SWAT trucks! The entire block was full! They had bullet guards up and everything. I decided to go back in- seemed like the logical thing to do since we had already been informed that shots had previously been fired. Greg comes back in and tells me they are moving b/c the man is moving. So I am like, okay- I can go back to bed. I am pretty tired and surprisingly I crash.

I am not sure if Greg just thought they were moving, or if he just wanted to go to bed and told me they were moving so I could fall asleep b/c they stayed there for 4 more hours!!!

Here is the article about the whole ordeal in the paper.


It really was a nutty night. I am glad it is over!!!

And We are BACK!

Wow what a fun and busy trip! I think we did so much we can't call it a vacation!!! I am warn out, and so is my beloved! Some of the trip highlights were the 3.5 hour tour of our Capital with our Congressman Louie Gohmert (and watching them vote at 11:00pm), holding a 4 inch roach- my fear of them are just about gone now, seeing the Girl with a Watering Can by Renoir for the 2nd time in my life, going out to an amazing Italian dinner with Greg in Old Town Alexandria, a Hillary campaign at the our Omni hotel, breakfast at the local's cafe- best lattes around!, and getting to spend 8 days with my GREG! Here are some photos!