Plant Killer

I've never really had a green thumb.  I have killed boxwoods (yes, multiple), rose bushes, and even an aloe plant.  I eventually gave up trying to have house plants.  It was cruel to the plants.  I'm sure my paternal grandparents are looking down on me with disgust and shame.  They owned a plant nursery for many years.  They also owned a successful daylily business and had a yard that was full of daylilies and irises.  Both of my parents worked at the nursery and could grow most any plant.

 

I was determined to plant something and keep it alive for more than a few weeks.  I'm likely moving in a couple of months, so I didn't want to plant anything in the ground.  I've always enjoyed containers of plants and had many containers beckoning for plant life.  Memorial Day weekend turned out to be a good time to fill the planters.

 

I headed to Home Depot and purchased about $75 worth of plants and soil.  Once I unloaded the goodies from my car, I got to work in the courtyard.  I started by cleaning my planters and then finding some stones and things to use for drainage.  I had a broken flower pot that I broke into more pieces and used in the bottom of my containers.  This allows the soil to drain and keeps the roots from rotting.

 

I bought a few plants that enjoyed the shade because I wanted a planter near the backdoor and the area is fairly shady.  I wasn't really sure how to decide which plants would work together, so I just grabbed several that had the shade designation and hoped for the best.  I filled the planter with soil and added the plants and then finished with a heavy watering.

 

This photo was taken right after I finished.

I made sure to water the plants every few days.  I was shocked I kept them alive!  They even grew!

This photo was taken a week later.  Look at how much the plants filled in!

I need to get another photo.  The plants don't seem quite as full as the week after photo, but they've continued to get larger.  I'm pleased with myself.  I really don't enjoy watering the planters because I also feed the mosquitos while I'm outside.  Annabelle also feels it is her job to drink the water from the hose while I'm watering the plants.  She does whatever she can to get to the water.  I try to position the sprayer so both Anne and the plants get water.

I filled four other planters that day with sun-loving plants.  I'm not as proud of those.  I don't know why, though.  I think I may not like the flowers in them as much as the shade flowers.  They're still alive and doing well so I'm pleased.

I appreciate a nicely landscaped yard.  I plan to make my next yard a lovely plant filled oasis.  I cannot wait!

2014 Christmas Decorations

I don't typically go all out with Christmas decorations.  I put up a tree and few little things here and there, but that's about it.  I used to put a wreath on the door, but it reminds me of when our house was broken into several years ago, so I no longer put up the wreath.

 

Justin and I bought our Christmas tree from Wal-Mart in 2003 for less than $16.00.  It's six feet tall and isn't pre-lit.  Literally, one strand of lights costs more than the entire tree.  We upgraded to LED lights last year.  I also got some ornaments from my sister last year.  For years we used inexpensive ornaments from Wal-Mart, but the ones we used last year and this year are nicer and little more polished.

For the most part, I don't include any ornaments other than the balls.  There are a few ornaments that are exceptions.

This one is one Justin bought me in December 2003.  We were in Atlanta and visited Neiman Marcus.  We wanted an ornament to commemorate our first Christmas as a married couple.

This ornament has always been in a prominent place on the tree.

The next ornament was given to us by a former coworker of Justin's.  There is a story behind this one, but I'll save it for another time.

The next one was another gift from Justin.  I'm not sure where he bought it, but it's special to me because it's from him.  The lettering is in green glitter, but it doesn't make a mess.

I also make sure to hang stockings each year.  We got our stockings in 2003, the year we were married.  Of course Pete and Annabelle have stockings, too.  I used to work at a gift shop where we monogrammed items and all of these were monogrammed by yours truly.  We don't have a mantle over our fireplace, so I usually stick the Command hooks to the brick around the fireplace.  Last year, I decided to hang them beside the refrigerator.  It's not traditional, but it's different.

The next tree was a sale item I got at Target several years ago the day after Christmas.  It's different and I like it.

I bought the little gold tree below from a coworker who was selling items as a fundraiser for her daughter's school.  It's simple and doesn't require any assembly.  I like that.

The candle and hurricane on the dining room table are also from Target.  The candle will probably be used throughout the year.  It's a flameless candle that smells a little like vanilla.  I wish it was scentless, but the fragrance is so light that I don't really notice it.  It also has a timer so it turns on and off at night.

I got these two little guys and the tree in the background from Target.  The foxes remind me of Pete and Annabelle.  They're so cute.

The Merry Christmas sign thingy came from Target (do you see a pattern here?).  I got it in the dollar section several years ago.  I don't really know what you're supposed to do with it, but I hang it on the coat closet door knob.  It works for me.

This little wreath used to hang in my cubicle at work.  The cubicle wasn't large enough for a tree, so I hung this instead.  It now adorns the door knob on a hallway closet at my home.

I really like this pillow.  I have another one just like it on the love seat.  They make me smile.  The candle holder on the garden stool is another Christmas item I look forward to seeing each year.  I think it's supposed to be outside, but I use it inside with a candle.  The candle holder and the pillows are after Christmas Target finds.  Shocked?

 

I couldn't leave the bathroom unadorned.  This linen hand towel was an item from the gift shop.  It was a sample we used in the store that I got to take home after Christmas was over.  It's green and gold, so it's actually pretty neutral.



These hand towels were monogrammed by me.  I found the plain towels in Wal-Mart one night and grabbed them.  I added the tree and name at work the next day.  Several customers saw me working on them and had to have some of their own.  The store monogrammed probably twenty or thirty of these because of my two towels.

I bet you can't guess where this snowman came from.  It's a cookie jar but it's really too small for cookies.  I could use it as a dog treat holder.  Maybe next year.  This little guy came from the dollar section in Target.  It cost a whopping $2.50.

I'm sitting here thinking about how much I don't want to take down the decorations.  I like Christmas and hate to see it go each year.  I do enjoy spring, though, so that's something special to look forward to.

Hipe Bluetooth Shower Speaker

I enjoy listening to music while showering.  Anytime I'm at home alone, I crank up the speakers on my desktop computer in the guest room and shower away.  Luckily, the guest room is across the hall from the bathroom Justin and I claimed as the master bath.

 

The problem with this set-up is that I'm infrequently home alone, so I rarely get to listen to music while showering.  Justin isn't opposed to music, but because the speakers are in another room, I have to turn up the volume pretty high to be able to hear it in the shower.  This borders on torture to anyone not in the shower.

 

One afternoon, I searched for a bluetooth enabled speaker I could use in the shower.  I found some options, so I knew what I was looking for existed.  Win!  I shared my want with Justin and considered ordering the speaker for myself, but decided to wait.  It wasn't something I needed.

 

I had actually kind of forgotten about the speaker until my birthday.  Justin presented me with an Amazon box the morning of my birthday.  Inside was the Hipe speaker.

 

I am in love!  I immediately began charging the speaker so I could use it later that morning when I showered.  After it was charged, I paired the speaker with my mobile phone and opened Pandora.  I'm pleased with the speaker.  The sound is good and I don't have to wake the dead by turning up speakers in another room of the house.  Don't ask me how I know this, but moon walking in the shower is so much easier than moon walking outside of the shower.  Heee! (said in the style of Michael Jackson)

Thanks Justin!  I'm so lucky my husband listens and remembers things I say I want.

My Birthday

My birthday was Monday, July 2.  It was a low key kind of day.  I don't mean for this to sound negative, but because my birthday is so close to July 4, it has been hard for me to plan parties in the past.  Most people are out of town or have holiday plans that seem to begin on or before July 2.

My mother's birthday is on June 30, so in an effort to keep from having two birthday cakes, we usually got my mother a cake.  I've whined about not having a birthday cake for years.  To end this vicious cycle, Justin got a birthday cake for me.  I ran an errand and when I returned home, this cake was waiting for me.  He's really sweet like that!

Later that night, Justin took me to TWO Urban Licks.  TWO Urban Licks is one of my favorite restaurants in Atlanta.  We began with cocktails.  They have these liquor infusions.  I'm not sure how they're made, but they're potent.  My favorite is the key lime infusion.  It has rum infused with something, coconut milk, lime, and brown sugar.  Justin had a sangria infusion.  They were both quite tasty!

We also began our meal with the watermelon and yellow tomato salad.  It has watermelon, yellow tomato, feta cheese, mint, and a chili sauce.  It doesn't sound all that appealing, but it is fabulous.  We had it the last time we were there and it is wonderful.  So refreshing!

For my entree, I had the scallops.  Justin and I have eaten at TWO Urban Licks five or six times and I've gotten the scallops each visit.  They're that good.  The three perfectly cooked scallops are served atop Gouda grits surrounded by a tomato sauce and topped with a tomato salsa.  The blend of flavors is perfect.  You wouldn't think three scallops would be satisfying, but it is the perfect amount of food.

Because it was my birthday and the waitress noticed this while checking my ID (Woohoo for looking like a teenager!), she offered a free dessert.  Justin and I planned to have a drink after dinner, so I got the carrot cake without the ice cream so we wouldn't have to rush home.  I love carrot cake, so it was a win win situation.


We visited Sister Louisa's Church of the Living Room & Ping Pong Emporium (It's a bar.).  It is a local bar that has tasty drinks.  I had my usual cosmo and we headed home.

As I said, it was a low key day, but a great day.  Justin got me a recumbent exercise bike, which we put together on July 4.  I haven't used it, yet, but I'm planning to get on it later today.  It's gonna make me skinny!  While we met my family in Macon on June 30, I got my birthday presents from my family.  My mother and Larry gave me a pair of gold hoop earrings.  They're really pretty and I know I'll wear them often.  My sister and niece gave me a pretty blue ring.  I'm not sure if it's topaz or aquamarine, but it's very pretty.  Justin's parents sent a check which was used to purchase some clothes at my favorite store, The Limited.  Shhh...don't tell Justin I went there!  I also treated myself to a much needed pedicure.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to the love of my life! Justin, I love you.

We exchanged gifts on Saturday. Justin gave me a digital photo frame and a handmade necklace. He is so thoughtful and caring. He puts a lot of thought into all gifts. I wish I could be as thoughtful when it comes to gifts. I got him a gift certificate to Tower Wines. He loves wine and I wanted to get him a nice bottle, but he's so particular when it comes to wines.

My sweet hubby also surprised me with a bouquet of pink tulips. He came inside the house without flowers. I kind of jokingly said, "What, no flowers?" He asked if I expected flowers and I said, "No, but they would be nice." He ran to his car and came back with the flowers. He likes to surprise me.

How did I get so lucky?

Happy 16th Birthday!

My niece turns sixteen today. She has really grown-up so fast. She has a boyfriend, which makes me feel so old.


She had just turned six in this photo.

Now she looks like this:

Happy birthday! I love you!

Happy Birthday, Pete!

Guess who turns seven today? I'll give you a hint...she's a girl with a boy's name.

If you guessed Pete, you're correct!

She and Annabelle got their usual ride in the car to Brewster's to get doggie sundaes. Pete actually ate her sundae this year. Annabelle usually eats them both.

Happy birthday, Stinky Pete!

Here comes Peter Cottontail...

...hopping down the bunny trail.


Happy Easter! This bunny cookie was given to me by a coworker. It was delicious! From past experience with decorated cookies, I've discovered most don't taste very good. They're very pretty, but the taste is lacking. This cookie was the total package. It was pretty and the cookie was buttery and tasty. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Happy Birthday Darren and Francine!

Last weekend, Justin and I (and Pete and Annabelle) visited our families in South Georgia. Justin's brother, Darren, and their grandmother, Francine (Nanny) were celebrating their birthdays. Darren wanted to eat at Mori's in Valdosta (I noticed that Darren posted a comment at the website in the Mori's link.). We had a great time and yummy food.

Sunday, everyone gathered at Justin's parents' house for birthday parties. Since I was spending some time with my family, I didn't make it over there, but it sounds and looks like everyone had a great time. Here are some photos from the day:

Isn't Miss Olivia adorable?

Justin's cousins, Courtney and Alisa, and their grandmother, Nanny

Miss Olivia looks like she was having a good time.

Brad and Olivia

Nanny is opening her presents.

Nanny opening another present.

Darren and Olivia

Apparently, Olivia snatched the cash right out of Darren's hand. She's so smart!

Brad, Darren, Justin, and Janice. They're a good looking bunch.

Olivia likes to ride facing backward. I'll have to try this in my car.

Darren and Justin (and The Honda in the background)

So happy!

Valentine's Day Tulips

Justin and I celebrated Valentine's Day this past weekend since it fell on Monday this year. We ate at Canoe Saturday night and it was yummy. Sunday, I worked in the yard for a little while and when I came inside, Justin had gotten me tulips. I was so surprised! I love tulips!

Aren't they pretty? He did a great job arranging them.

They look really nice on our dining room table. Hint hint Justin, I need fresh flowers there all the time.

I told Justin that I have plans to get him an orchid for Valentine's Day, but I want him to pick it out. He had an orchid a couple of years ago that was pretty for a short while and then it kind of died back. We repotted it and it came back to life and was so pretty for a while. We moved it and it promptly died. I know we can get one to grow for more than a couple of months. I just know it.