Thinking it over

I am enjoying Domino's online blog and picture archives while I still can. Domino was canceled earlier this year and I am so sad to see them go. This morning I spotted a great little chair and a half/love seat thing that I desperately want for our office. I couldn't find where it's from but I love, love, LOVE it.

I love that it looks like is would actually be comfortable to sit on but still has clean lines. I'm sure if it is in Domino that it is out of the price range we have for office furniture - but it is a great inspiration piece.

Another great inspirational piece is this ottoman that I want for my living room coffee table. Of course same source, I'm assuming very expensive. I've been looking for ottomans and have a hard time finding one under $200. I just can't justify spending that much on a furniture accessory. Still, this is beautiful.

I am thinking I might take this on as DIY project. I think I figured out how I could do it. For the cushion, buy foam and peg board, attach, upholster foam and pegboard and use the holes already in the pegboard to measure and do the tufting. Attach this to wood base and legs bought from Lowes or any upholstery shop. It doesn't seem that hard? I'm sure if I attempted this though it would not look this good, it would however, be a heck of a lot cheaper! If only my grandpa's lived in town I'm sure they would help me do it.

Jeff's belated 2008 END OF THE YEAR MIX

I finally brought Jeff's IPOD into work with me today. Here is Jeff's annual end of the year mix he made for 2008. It includes all his favorite songs that were released last year.

It Takes More:

1) I Woke Up Today - Port O'Brein
2) Kids - MGMT
3) The Greatest Man That Ever Lived - Weezer
4) Hair Don't Grow - Annuals
5) Use Somebody- Kings of Leon
6) Beautiful - Ian Shane Tyler
7) Dady's Gone- Glasvegas
8) Your New Twin Sized Bed- Death Cab for Cutie
9) About To Walk- Throw Me The Statue
10) Keep Yourself Warm- Frightened Rabbit
11) Dry Lips- Lightspeed Champion
12) Think I Wanna Die- Somebody Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
13) Constructive Summer- The Hold Steady
14) The Girl- City and Colour
15) After Hours- We Are Scientists
16) Over and Out- Alkaline Trio
17) Paper Planes- MIA
18) More News From Nowhere- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

My favorite songs on the list are "I Woke Up Today," "The Girl" & "After Hours." Jeff and I found Port O'Brein at a show we went to in San Diego. We were there for a second honeymoon and stopped by the local Beauty Bar to see Somebody Still Loves You Boirs Nelson and Port O'Brein was the opening act. That was one of the most fun shows I've ever been to. Their energy was amazing, we fell in love with them and snatched up a CD.

My other two favorites are just great songs. I love both the bands and these songs were definately the highlights on their new albums. I love these end of the year mixes that Jeff makes. They are like little soundtracks to what we've been listening to the last year and almost every song brings back memeories of a time, place or day we've had.

Cool Free Generators

The web is an amazing place. There are so many cool things to find out there it's crazy. Here are a few of my favorite free websites found via blogs, google and some boredom:

Personalized Obama Poster Maker:
http://www.obamapostermaker.com/


Makes your own handwriting font:
http://www.yourfonts.com/print.html


Japanese website that makes pictures look like their
old & antique :
http://labs.wanokoto.jp/olds

Converts digital photos into Polaroids:
http://www.instantizer.com/


Free Poster/Concert Ticket Generator :
http://www.squidoo.com/photo-creations


More cool ideas:
http://www.squidoo.com/phototools#module13509674

I need someone to show me how to make just one word a link without writing the whole address.

How do you know when it's time for a baby?

This last week one of my co-workers told me she was expecting twins! I was so excited for her but also felt my heart sink. Why does it seem I am the only 26 year old married person I know without any children? Babies seem to be everywhere. It's not only that we do not have children but that it will most likely be some time before we do. I'm glad that we are waiting until we are really ready, prepared, and secure. I know I will appreciate the wait when I am able to work part-time or stay at home with our kids.

To ward off my baby hungry moments I keep a little notebook by my bed at home and at work. I put little notes and ideas about crafts, games, education, advice to myself, anything I think of dealing with motherhood. One day it may be a good resource for me, but for now, it helps me feel like I am at least preparing in some way. It is dawning on me, a little late I know, that families do not just happen. I must take ACTION and work towards it everyday. Action may very well be my favorite word of the moment, or mantra for the year.

As much as I want to be a mother and look forward to it with great anticipation, I also have this other side of me that is terrified by the whole process. First off, being pregnant does not seem like fun. It seems so alien to have an actual human in your stomach. Ick! I know it is suppose to be beautiful but I think it is weird. Second, having a child is such a huge responsibility. I can not even imagine how much parents must have to give of themselves.

So how will we know when it's the right time for us to have children and add on to the Bame family? And what should I do in the mean time to to help quench my baby hunger?

(Please, if you read this and know my mother do not tell her I'm baby hungry. She can be very persistent if she wants a grandchild.)

Decorating Dilemma- HELP!

I found a great dresser today at lunch in a thrift store. I love Mid-Century Modern (MCM) furniture but have a hard time finding any- and there it was at the thrift store. The dresser is only $100 with a head board (we have the money on hand thanks to generous grandparents who give cash for Christmas).

My only hesitation is that it is not a true vintage piece. Although it may have been made 50 years ago, the dresser is not solid wood but a veneer. I also think I detected plastic parts -ick! Now, if this was a better made dresser it would likely be 5-7x more expensive - so I can get the look but for less. However, I still hesitate if it is worth it. The furniture we have now is fine - it works - yes it's IKEA, but it works. Do I buy this piece now or do I hold out for a few years until we can afford a quality piece? If I truly had my way I would have a fantastic, well made, dove and tail jointed, solid wood, TRUE antique dresser. Something from the Chippendale era or maybe Georgian - kind of like this-

Not exactly like this but similar, something so amazing I couldn't even find a picture of it online. I would pair it with an upholstered tufted head board. I like a little softer and romantic lines for the master bedroom in general. (We actually found two dream pieces a few months ago down in the arts district but didn't have the 2 grand on hand to purchase them- still sad.) I also think Jeff would prefer something a little more traditional around the house. Right now we are very modern and sleek, he prefers hand carved, sturdy, and timeless.

So my question is, do I buy the cheaper imitation right now that is a great bargain or should we wait and get something more substantial and grand down the road? Another option would be to buy now and buy later. The thrift store dresser could be passed down to a child or a guest room down the road.

Also to note- I most likely will never have the grand house that would pull off a great antique piece of furniture. We live in Las Vegas after all- the most antique thing you can buy here that fits it's geographic location is Mid-Century. Something from the 1800-1920's might look out of place.

FOREVER AMBER

Thanks to Heather, I now know where the popularity of my name came from. It was a book written in 1944 called 'Forever Amber.' It was a provocative romance novel that continued to be the best selling novel all through the 40's. It was so controversial that Boston banned the book.

Am I narcissistic because now I want to read the book or rent the movie? I 've always wanted to know where my name came from, short of my mom liking the name of a college roommate named Amber.

Does anyone else have an obsession with their name. It is a running joke in my family. People give me candles, fragrances, jewelry, basically anything dealing with my name. I also like monograms. Does anyone else have these issues? Where does your name come from?

2009 - oh so cliche

When I was at the bank today writing the date I realized that this was most likely the last time I would write 2008 in 2008. It makes me a little sad. The older I get the faster time seems to go, I'm not sure I'm ready for 2008 to leave.

But as I look to the next year I can't help but think of what I would like to accomplish in it, even though I am not the biggest resolution maker, these are a few things I'd like to be better at in the next year:

- Save more money
- Pay off more debt/ stay on budget
- Look more put together on a consistent basis
- Feel secure in my job/ get promoted
- Do the laundry, grocery shop, and clean more regularly and on a schedule
- Spend more time with family
- Meet new people
- Hug Jeff more often
- family prayer/ FHE/ scripture study more regularly
- Be strong (physically and emotionally)

Looks like I need a blackberry or something for the next year. Everything seems to correlate with being on a more regulated schedule and not being lazy, the struggle of my life.