Monday Obsession: Bethenny Ever After

As someone who has not been able to stomach any of the Housewives episodes in the past few years one thing I am obsessed with is Bethenny, one of the original NY Housewives. I adored her in Bethenny Getting Married and love her as well in Bethenny Ever After.  I usually DVR my Bethenny episodes and wake up early to have my coffee while watching them before #1 wakes up. She seems like such a hard worker and very real on TV. I mean, who lets cameras into their therapy sessions? Not too many people who are having their lives broadcasted on television.

I really haven't been watching much television at all lately. I've been reading or on my iPad. (Not that I've even bought March's PG Book Club pick The Paris Wife.) I have flipped on some of the college basketball games for background noise but otherwise not keeping up with any other shows. The Single Gal is interested in the GCB and plans to DVR that.

What are y'all watching these days? I am definitely excited about Mad Men coming back if you've never checked those out either. I love that Don Draper and Roger Sterling.

Have a happy start to the week!

The Housewife

Clutching Friday!

I have been dying for Friday to get here! I need more Fro-Yo and dinners with 3 Putt at Oak Street Cafe in my life and a little less work and nagging the GA Department of Revenue. 

Y'all I know I just got a new, super beautiful purse...but as I do more spring dating I realize that I also have some weddings and other events coming up this summer and I am needed a better purse option.  While I love {understatement of the year} my Tory Burch bag it's pretty much the size of luggage.  I really like that fact for work days and errands, but for the other stuff I am really dying for one of these fabulous envelope clutches! Finally they are making a clutch big enough for my main necessities! I might even be able to squeeze my Kindle in there {nerd alert}. 

ASOS Slot Cutch

ASOS Black Clutch

And how cute is this for the summer?

I may be grabbing this one up sooner rather than later! Looks good for festivals, baseball games, & the beach to me. 

Target Mossimo Striped Clutch

Happy Friday! Wishing you fun and lots of shopping this weekend. 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Remodeling Woes

Remember when I talked about my living room here? The Turtle and I tackled getting all the toys moved upstairs into out bonus room along with storage for those said toys, a TV, TV stand and a new Ektorp Sofa. I have been in heaven. #1 loves to go "upstairs" and it's working out just as I dreamed it would. Turtle had some trying trips to the IKEA store but he survived and he's a better man for it. Actually, all THREE of us managed a pleasant trip the second time and on a Saturday no less. Not super parents, more like "thankyoutheyhaveafoodcourt."

Here's where you ask, well Housewife, what is going on in your living room? Right now we are truly living a bohemian lifestyle.....it may not even qualify as bohemian at this point either. We had some decent furniture and we tried to move some of it on craigslist with no dice. Power tools and bookshelves were where it was at with selling our junk. So I called a local charity organization who took large items and they would send a truck and movers as long as everything was on the first floor. Perfect. The contact guy called me and I offered to send some pictures via email and he called a few hours later and wanted to pick everything up the next day. I even got the guys to move our heavy ass old TV into the back of my Jeep so I could drive it up to Goodwill. Just like that, there is nothing left in the living room.

We are having hardwood floors installed in about two weeks and they dropped off the wood today so it could acclimate. We've been in the Lazyboy store working with their designer for a sectional and an ottoman. I've called an electrician so I can have an outlet installed in the floor. We also have to find a place to live for the 5-6 days they are working on the floors. (Umm....hint, hint Single Gal?) We have existing hardwoods on most of the main floor except the living room and hallway to the other rooms. They will have to lace in new floors to the existing and sand and re-finish all of them.

These are not really "woes." We are savers and have had in-expensive items in the living room for a long time and we have finally decided it's time to update some things. The floors just seemed like a no-brainer since I could have most of the bottom floor empty before the new furniture arrives and the floors will add value to the house (even though that statement is a complete joke with the housing market right now but it will be worth it down the road).  I just hope we don't end up like this.....

Don't worry! I'll be posting the good, the bad and the ugly from start to finish. I even have a picture with all the kid crap in there. Just insert embarrassing and more embarrassing. 

The Housewife 

Date #2

I'd like to think you have all been on the edge of your seats dying for my date re-cap all week, but even though that's probably not the case I am going to divulge the details anyway. Well...most of the details. 

Again -- this weekend was so much fun! First -- I had the pleasure of an overnight stay at The Grand Hyatt here in Buckhead.  I never think much about our hotels here in Atlanta because I live here so I never really pay attention to one over the other.  Holy Moly! Wonderful, wonderful hotel and staff.  They even had a driver in the hotel SUV take us to dinner so we didn't spend money on cabs! Joe was our driver -- he was a darling to chat with and provided us excellent transportation. 

To say the least, I was really impressed with TDH {again}.  I was going to try to snap a picture of the beautiful view of the city from the 19th floor...but I would probably have to explain a few things...like blogging about him.  

Since I didn't have to work we went to happy hour at Dantanna's!  I don't really keep up with basketball but we had a ton of fun chatting, laughing and watching Norfolk State beat out the number two seed Missouri {this apparently screwed up a lot of brackets}.  Don't y'all love my basketball jargon? I  got carried away by how cute my koozie looked on my Coors Lights and almost had one too many beers before dinner...luckily I reeled my crazy ass back in and was able to maintain my ladylike composure {or, I really hope I did anyway}. 

I got the feeling that TDH really wanted to plan dinner so I gave a few suggestions but was really pleased to hear we had a reservation at Nava!  The Buckhead Life Restaurant Group has a ton of amazing places to choose from but with this gorgeous weather we were able to eat on their huge patio -- it was just lovely and the food was so, so, so good!  

And, no trip into the city would be complete without breakfast at The Flying Biscuit.  We grabbed spots at the counter because it was super packed.  Confession -- we got there a bit late because I dropped my contact lens on the floor of the bathroom while getting ready and ended up spending an extra 20 minutes in there crawling around on my hands and knees for what seemed like an eternity trying to find it so I could see farther than 3 feet in front of me. I think he probably thought I had died in there. For realzies.  But back to breakfast. Our server John was so kind and super funny!  Breakfast and coffee are some of my two most favorite things on the planet and honestly this was probably my favorite part of the weekend.

We also had some time to kill so we wandered down to Phipps to browse and had some St. Patty's Day beers at The Tavern.  I really can't believe he bought me those beautiful Kendra Scott earrings from my Monday post! I love them.

Clearly this Single Gal couldn't have asked for more out of a weekend at all!

Love you. Mean it.
~the single gal~

Monday Obsession: Sunshine & Kendra Scott

If any of y'all are in Georgia right now you know it actually already feels like summer.  The time has changed, the days are longer, and for some reason temps are in the 80's.  While I have really been resisting turning on the AC in March I have to admit there are many things I love about this time of year {even if it's already blazing hot}: 

1. The sun is basically out all the time. What's not to love about that? Sunshine = happiness.

2. Summer is just around the corner! This means that vacations and weekends on the lake are fast approaching. 

3. Sleeping with the windows open at night. 

4. Two Words -- Patio Drinking. 

And, if you are going to be participating in your share of patio drinking/dining, we all know you have to look good.  With summer coming and humidity on the rise I will most definitely be sporting a ponytail most of the time in this crazy Georgia heat.  With that said, I obviously needed some cute new earrings to wear with my summer dresses. 

I got these these Kendra Scott beauties this weekend.  

Ok,  I confess. TDH actually bought them for me {more on this later -- I will get a date re-cap up soon!}.  Swoon. 

My girlfriends and I are obsessed with her stuff right now.  These are my first pair and I adore them! 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~

Just Be Cool. And Wear Bright Lipstick.

Just doing a Single Gal "check in" for Wednesday! I am trying to allow the general public some peace and quiet from all the Taylor Swift songs I've been blasting for basically two weeks....but I can't stop.  I've tried.  I am the Single Gal and I have stayed up late way too many nights texting like a teenage girl with TDH (obvi). This is an activity which I am now trying wean off of because I am desperately trying to play it cool.  As I am sure you other Single Gals know -- playing it cool and being all "Oh I'm not really all that interested but you're so fun" is almost harder than waiting to see them again.  

I would like to say that I am trying to be rational about it and take this one date at a time since it really has no lasting future, but hey -- you have all probably read long enough to know that the Single Gal is really not a rational person at all. Not even close.  So, the "one date at a time" philosophy is hard.  Really hard.  Crazy hard.  Especially since the dates may be few and far between.  TDH is back this week and I decided I deserved some time off work so I took Friday as a personal day.  This way I don't die from staying up late.  You know, since I am not actually a teenager and I need some freaking sleep. 

Also, these dates are not helping my shopping problem. I just allowed myself to buy this beauty -- and then I caved and got a new shirt/lipstick for my date the other week. Total budget FAIL. 

I am obsessed with this purse.  I would have put it in the next "Monday Obsessions" but The Housewife keeps beating me to the feature and I didn't want to wait.  I also recently purchased a NARS matte lip pencil in "Dragon Girl" (because I am so pale I need a lot of contrast to look alive) for my date and it passed every test. Totally worth the $24 price tag. 

 It faded a little bit but totally stayed on through dinner and just needed minor touching up all night.  It's really red but if you have cool tones like I do it works because it's very pink at the same time.  Is anyone else braving the brightly colored matte lips? I really love it! 

I would say that I am going to spend the next few days trying to act a bit more sane, act totally aloof and non-chalant in response to all texts, and maybe borrow a top from The Housewife rather than buy one for my other date.  Except, what's the fun in that? 

Love you. Mean it. 

~the single gal~ 

Monday Obsession: iDid it.

I caved in. Turtle wanted to get me an iPad 2 since the price went down with the launch of the iPad 3.

I must admit, I'm really way more smitten with this device than I ever anticipated I would be. Turtle has an original iPad (remember I said as soon as Turtle gets something the new version comes out) which I use quite often. We basically just justified this because he wanted to be able to Face Time with #1 when he is out of town via his iPhone 4 that he got for Christmas. I've been busy using the calendar and finding lots of apps.........and maybe playing Majjong every time I have a chance. I am also waiting on the arrival of my most recent Amazon purchase of my iPad 2 case.  I can't wait!

What are y'all loving lately? I'm truly obsessed after 48 hours.

The Housewife

When The Single Gal and The Housewife Die

OMG I just read this article and had to share it with you. Good thing the Single Gal and I are not recluses and I have obviously married and had a child. But sadly, as women out live men the Single Gal and I have often discussed sharing a room at an assisted living facility together with our two future dogs.

Article


Love and Morbidly,
The Housewife

And In Other News...The Single Gal Actually Had A Date

I know y'all are probably raising your damn jaws from the floor right about now since I suddenly have a small bit of a social life again. Seriously--I am surprised, too. If you follow on Twitter (one day we will get a button up) you know that I had a date last Thursday.  A big one.  A date with a man I met like 2.5 years ago. In Las Vegas. Absolutely nothing ended up happening on the trip but we have texted and kept up with each other ever since. And if he happened to ever ask me to run away with him I would probably just go and see how it all panned out. Anyway, I guess we sort of became friends. But, who really knows?  I am obviously not a good person to ask about defining relationships. 

Long story short, Tall-ish, Dark and Handsome (TDH) travels a million air miles each year and happened to have a project/meeting in Atlanta (finally) and asked me to have dinner with him. I pretty much didn't really believe it was happening but y'all we had a real dinner date!!!!!!!  It was so surreal that it was kind of a blur but I'll give a basic re-cap. 

-8:30 dinner reservation at Murphy's in VaHi on Thursday night. I love this place and while I am sure everyone in Atlanta has already been there I would still like to profess my complete utter adoration of this restaurant. 

Dinner was amazing. We racked up a huge bill and they started cleaning up the entire place around us basically kicked us out/made us leave. 

-Fast forward to a bar across the street (Fontaine's). Not a stellar or very clean establishment but a good classic I suppose.   A few hours later they finally turned the lights up and also made us leave.  I didn't even realize how late it was. 

I was after 3 when I got to bed.  And then I had to work in the morning.  And I completely forgot that we had a meeting at 9:30...which I totally missed because I was just getting in the car to finally drag myself into the office. Then I begged to leave at 4:30 that afternoon because I felt like death.  It's never good to be on the boss's "Shit List", but I probably have never been on it in the three years I have been there (that I know of....).  I didn't even drink that much but I can't function without 7 hrs of sleep, let alone on the few I got Thursday night. 

But -- It. Was. So. Much. Fun. And totally worth it!  

Here are the "cons" of The Date:

 TDH is considerably older than I am.  So, probably not a future husband.  I really am not sure if I will see him again anytime soon, especially because he basically logs 60-90,000 air miles each year for work.  And he most definitely doesn't live nearby (obvi). 

If you need me, I will be dreamily singing Taylor Swift songs all week. 

Love you. Mean it.

~the single gal~

Monday Obsessions: The Hunger Games

Note to readers: If you have not devoured The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins please do so immediately. You are losing precious time before the first movie comes out on March 23rd. If you are anything like me you will also love the fact you waited to read this until all three books were published. There's nothing I hate more than waiting for the middle and final books of a trilogy to come out to end the suspense I am in.

I am really hoping this movie doesn't suck. I will be a little devastated. There's nothing I dislike more than a movie ruining a book. Don't even get me started on the movie My Sister's Keeper. It was blasphemous.

Have a great week!

Catch and Release

There was high drama at the Housewife household yesterday afternoon. The Single Gal can agree because she was on the phone with me during my time of need when it happened. First, let me introduce you to my new friend whose been hanging around my front porch.

I mean, it's not exactly the same one that is hanging around my porch but close enough. My guy is less scale-y and a dark grey black color, but potato pahtato. It's still a creepy amphibian. 

In the middle of having a phone call with the Single Gal I went to check my mail and I picked up a towel that had been laying on my front porch to bring inside. I get inside and shake the towel and hear a "thump." I looked down and guess who fell onto my foyer floor????? The mother freaking lizard. Ugh, you have got to be kidding me. Luckily, #1 was away spending time with a grandparent and not expected home in the immediate future. Great. The lizard has now scurried under my dining room table. So we start to size each other up. He tried to crawl up the chair legs and that's not working out. I'm freaking out on the phone with the Single Gal asking her what the hell I'm supposed to do. asldkfaitjhfglksjgalkfdjlksjf!!! 

So we decide I should get a bowl to trap the lizard under until possibly Turtle comes home and can get rid of my unwanted house guest. Seems reasonable. I do panic and tell the Single Gal, "I have to go. I mean, I just have to go." Then I hang up on her. I get my bowl and the little guy moves to the other side of the table and I'm praying to Little Baby Jesus that he does not go under my ninety thousand pound buffet with a hutch on top of it. I'm feeling bad that if I throw this ceramic bowl on top of him that I will inadvertently amputate one of his four tiny legs. I know that their tails are supposed to grow back but I don't remember anything specifically about their arms and legs/hands/feet growing back. Big Sigh. 

Then he decides to climb into one of my small plants because he's a genius lizard king. He starts climbing up one of the leaves and that's when I make my move. Bam. Bowl over the plant. I carefully scoot the plant over to the door while maintaining pressure over the bowl to avoid any criminal escape plots from the lizard king and manage to get the plant onto to front porch and take the bowl off. Whew. I cannot even imagine the chaos if #1 was home. 

I explain my feat to Turtle last night. He said, "So what the lizard alright?" I said, "Yes, we run a catch and release program here."