On My Bookshelf

Right now I am squarely in the middle of two books with one on the back burner and one for an occasional glance. I am FINALLY utilizing my public library and I love it! Especially now that I can go online, reserve a book, and then pick it up and scan it out all without having to speak to a human being! I know I know, I shouldn't be so excited about that last part, but let's be honest, I am .

What I am reading:

Lean Mean 13 - Janet Evanovich (so funny and total chic-crime fighting - fluff)

Deep Economy - Bill McKibben - My brain's answer to the fluff and my insatiable thirst for what is good. So far I am really enjoying it.

On the back burner (for now):


The Reagan Diaries - Ronald Reagan - I am SO looking forward to reading this book. I don't care how huge it is. (696 pages) I think it is really important to read about Reagan in his own words and remember (or not) what made him such a "thing" Can't wait.

On the shelf awaiting my kind perusal:

I Like You: Hospitality under the Influence - Amy Sedaris - This book is so fun to look at! Definitely not the sit down and read it type, but I am getting a kick out of it and I actually want to try her meatloaf recipe :-)

Overall I think it's a pretty well rounded list for right now. What are you reading??

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We have worms!

We started a compost pile soon after we got married and you'll be glad to know that it is thriving! With worms! It's so great that we don't want to use the dirt! But we will...If and when we can plant a vegetable garden.

Another plus side to having a compost bin is not having stinky trash! Our indoor pail has a filter so you never smell it. And I think the outdoor bin is being put to better use now that Jerry stopped pretending he is Darth Vader.

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It's Business Time!

You may have heard that 50% of marriages end in divorce. Well, in case you've missed the news in the past couple days, I would like to introduce you to the 30 day Sex Challenge.

Basically, the folks over at Relevant Church in Ybor City, FL believe that if married couples have more sex, they will communicate better and learn to care for each other, which in turn will lead to fewer divorces. Sounds good to me!

Below is a parody of a Flight of the Conchords bit and it is hilarious. We've recently been watching this show and we can't get enough! When I saw the clip of this parody on the news I couldn't believe it! Can you imagine your pastor doing this? Let's just say, I hope not.




Here is the original bit - just for fun :-)

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Wow How Did I miss this!?!?

I was going through some wedding pictures from Jerry's family tonight and I found this one of my parents from our rehearsal dinner last August. It might be one of the best pictures of them I have ever seen!

Thanks Uncle Jimmy!

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Are Ya'll Ready for this?!

Oh boy it's almost time! Time for what you ask?

TIME FOR WILL FERRELL THAT'S WHAT!

Let's back up. One of the first conversations Jerry and I ever had was during band practice at Vintage. One of us made a reference to the movie Anchorman and the other responded in kind. I think it wasn't long after that we knew we'd be sharing children.

Enter the engagement. When deciding on our guest list we heard of celebrity invitees. So of course we sent one to Will Ferrell. He didn't make it to the wedding, but when we heard about the Funny or Die Tour that is making a stop in Chapel Hill, we were in! Ferrell will be doing stand-up with some other great names in the business, Zach Galifianakis, Demetri Martin and Nick Swardson.

Folks, we have had these tickets since DECEMBER. I am so excited! Only 2 more days!

Maybe we can get him to sign our marriage license.

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Sing...sing a song....

Many of you know that Jerry and I attend a church downtown called Vintage21. We love our church and the community we are in, so when we were asked to contribute to a new music CD, we were thrilled! Jerry plays bass and I sing in one of the bands at the church so we knew the songs already. We have some incredible talent at Vintage and it was an honor to be a part of the CD!

see how happy i am!?

Now all the vocals and music have been recorded and they are in the mixing stage. I think they are hoping to get the CD done by Easter! I am SO excited and I can't wait to hear it! Recording was really fun too and SO different from singing on stage. When you hear that playback and your voice is completely isolated it is so raw and scary! But I know they will do a great job of mixing everything together.

Jerry and JB breakin it down

On the last night that I recorded, they asked for a few extra people to come over and get "crowd background vocals". So we all stood in a semi circle in Taylor's basement and sang at the top of our lungs. Then we had to record the clapping! It was a lot of fun and again, can't wait to hear it!

Ok so this instrument probably won't make the cut, but it sure was fun to play with!

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I am loved.

And what a feeling it is! Last week as we all know was Valentine's Day. We don't usually make a big deal about it and that is fine by me. Also last week, I was out of town on Monday and Tuesday on a work trip. Tuesday I was to arrive home before Jerry and he knew this so he planned a little surprise for me. He bought the most beautiful tulips and had them waiting on the dining room table with a welcome home note! This was not a valentine. It was a gesture that meant so much to me knowing that he missed me while I was away! I am so blessed!

On Valentine's Day we went to a hockey game with Jerry's IT department from his job. We had a great time. During the game he asked me if this was a weird day today referring to the fact that the date of my first (and very short-lived) marriage was on February 14th.

I can honestly say that it hadn't even crossed my mind! Those memories are completely in the past no longer haunting me as they once did. I know that I got here the way I did for a reason and I have never been happier in my life! I am so thankful that God led me to this amazing man! He's definitely a keeper.

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The Circus? No Thanks....

Look, I'll be the first to admit it. Clowns are scary. I don't remember ever particularly being ok with clowns in my lifetime. I did go to the circus as a child but I was never that impressed with the sloppy, drunk looking middle aged men running around in full makeup and costume. The creepiness factor was only intensified the summer I worked at a hotel on Clearwater Beach in FL and there an entire Clown Convention took over the first floor. Yes, they came in costume. These memories have come to mind not because of the Circus being in town, but because of a little game Jerry and I play called, Find Mr. Clown.

Mr. Clown isn't actually a whole clown. Actually, he only has a head and it is quite creepy. One of the creepiest in fact.

Find Mr. Clown started one Saturday a few weeks ago when we started moving around our furniture and getting rid of things. Figurines were some of the first to go in this major overhaul. Mr. Clown was a given because, well, he only had a head. However, instead of throwing him away, we decided to hide him around the house for the other to find, and hopefully get a little scare out of it all.

Today Mr. Clown showed up when I went to take my wallet out of my purse and he was staring at me. Jerry must have found him in the refrigerator last night after I went to bed. He was in the meat drawer.

So far the scariest Mr. Clown sighting was when I opened the medicine cabinet and he was hanging upside down by a piece of floss. Genius.

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Who Revived the Electric Car???

Big news today for North Carolina. Governor Mike Easley stated this morning:

The state, N.C. State University and North Carolina's two largest electric utilities will join to create a plug-in car research hub on Centennial Campus in Raleigh, Gov. Mike Easley said Tuesday.

Jerry and I watched the movie, Who Killed the Electric Car? a couple years ago and were really impressed with the technology and innovation of these vehicles. The were completely removed from society and recalled due to "cost restraints" and "low demand", which is of course, debatable.

Well, it looks like we'll be getting our own electric cars within a few years. Even Progress Energy is on board to create charging stations. Though we always need to look for new and better technology, I think this is an excellent step in the right direction of reducing our need for oil. I hope to be zipping around in no time!

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Live Video Stream This Friday!

Hey everyone! I just want to promote a new program my friends over at NBC-17 are starting up called Video Snacking. It will be a live interactive video stream this Friday at 12:15pm. If you sign up ahead of time, you can ask questions live to the panel of local Raleigh Bloggers! Here is the link:



Bloggers include:

David Millsaps - New Raleigh Blog
Jason Peck - North Hills Buzz

Ginny Skalski - Ginny from the Blog
Doug Sutton - Raleigh Native Review
Wayne Sutton -Local Conversations

I hope you can check it out! And who knows, I might pop up in one of these in the future! Have a great day!

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Ahh the merging of lives....

Jerry will have been living here with me for 6 months in just a week or two. And you wouldn't think it would take so long, but it feels like the "mine and yours" is finally "ours". We have been diligent in methodically weeding out the unnecessary and it has been real work. There have been a lot of fun moments but I am sure none that rival staying in bed all day watching The Anchorman.



However, the benefits are far greater than rest and muscle atrophy. We are watching our lives merge and in essence continually making it happen. It's fun!

Our Ikea trip was a big deal to me. Not just because we got some new stuff, but because for the first time in my life, I have someone to share a real home with and it is just so much better than I ever imagined! SO, I will continue to share our progress. It's fun to go back and look at what once was to see the changes!

Here is our Ikea haul

Bedroom so far

Wall of Storage (bedroom)

Living Room (from Kitchen)

Living Room (from Hallway)

Hand carved/painted Peruvian vase we got on our honeymoon!

Dining Area/Kitchen

So that's the update for now! I want to bring more color into the living room and get more art on the walls everywhere. I also have this crazy idea about putting a rug under the kitchen table??? I welcome any and all suggestions! It's a work in progress but it's fun!

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Did Romney Just Hand the Nomination to Huckabee?

This New York Times article tells that Mitt Romney has just "suspended" his Presidential campaign. He also sings the praises of McCain and his Foreign Affairs experience as well as his hard line on Iraq and Terrorism.

However, more people split the vote between Romney and Huckabee than those who voted for McCain thus far in the Primaries. So, while many pundits are speculating that Romney just handed the nomination to McCain, I am thinking not so fast.

McCain is definitely more of a National Figure and has more money as the article states. But Huckabee could surprise us again. So far his ideas are catching on. Abolish the IRS and institute a 23% sales tax? That just sounds crazy enough to work!

I've said it before, I don't think he is going away. So here's what I propose. Read up on Huckabee. The NC primaries might just make a difference after all.

Here are 29 things about ol Mike that you may not have seen in the news (from his website):

1. He narrated the Doctor Suess book, Horton Hatches An Egg in a high school play.
2. He's a big fan of The Three Stooges.
3. He's a great cook.
4. He rides his bicycle to the grocery store.
5. He likes Yarnell's guilt free ice cream.
6. He likes to snorkle.
7. He likes the The Colbert Report.
8. His favorite actor is Robert De Niro.
9. His favorite actress is Meryl Streep.
10. He reads a chapter of Proverbs every single day when he wakes up.
11. He is not fond of heights.
12. He's like a kid at Christmas because he wants to open Christmas gifts early just so he can see what he got.
13. He organizes his socks, and everything else.
14. He prepares his own breakfast the night before to save time in the morning because getting up no later than 4:30 might not be enough time.
15. He talks to "the Boys" (his three dogs) and acts as if they are listening.
16. He graduated from College magna cum laude with a 4 year degree in just over 2 years.
17. His Dad picked him up from school once in a car that had no body, just a frame and wooden boxes for seats.
18. He does great impressions of Billy Graham, Jimmy Stewart, Ronald Reagan, and Ross Perot.
19. He was left handed but was made to write with his right hand in elementary school.
20. He wanted to be an astronaut in first grade.
21. He was a pretty shy kid.
22. He can't sit still. If there is ever a free minute he feels the need to get up and immediately start on a new project, for instance the minute a meal is over he has to get up and start putting things away and doing dishes.
23. One of his favorite television shows is The Sopranos.
24. His favorite snack food is movie style popcorn. And he likes it so much his wife Janet bought him a popcorn machine for christmas.
25. He gave Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones a pardon when he was Governor.
26. He loves to play practical jokes.
27. His favorite movies are To Kill a Mockingbird and Casablanca.
28. His favorite church hymns are A Mighty Fortress is our God and In the Garden.
29. One of his dreams is to watch a game in every Major League baseball park.

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Bath or Shower?

vs.

Stemming from an ongoing conversation that Jerry and I have been having, I wanted to ask the public, do you prefer a bath or a shower? And which one is better for the environment?

While I like both, I am definitely a bath girl. Love the bubbles, love the heat, love the relaxation. Especially in colder weather. Well, since the water shortage, we have been trying to conserve and it came up that maybe my baths were an excessive use of resources. Not so, I said, our bathtub is a small enough to be acceptable. (we're not talking garden tub here) Well that wasn't enough apparently so my darling husband decided to do an experiment.

He took a shower and plugged the drain for the duration. Now he normally shaves in the shower so he did the whole routine and wouldn't you know it, the tub was full! Now, on the days he doesn't shave he would obviously use less water, but I argue that on the days that I shower, it's usually quite fast so it all evens out.

Therefore I ask you, bath or shower?

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Baileys Fine Jewelry

I have to take a moment and spread the love to my favorite Jewelry Store - Bailey's Fine Jewelry in Cameron Village. This is one of those places that I am scared to even enter because I might have a violent turrets flare up and end up owing my life to pay for a pile of broken china and repairs.

However, a few years ago, I was invited by a friend to an after hours Christmas party in the store where they serve yummy food and drinks and let you try on all the goodies you want! Since then, I was hooked. And I have to say, I misjudged these people.

I have gone in on several occasions to have my rings cleaned or re-sized and have always been met with exceptional service. We got my wedding band from Bailey's and have been consistently pleased with it. What stands out is the fact that they are not concerned with how much you spend. They don't try to up sell and completely respect your budget. This excerpt from their website says it all:

The Bailey’s Fine Jewelry story is one steeped in family, tradition, innovation and excellence. We are so blessed that Bailey’s has become synonymous with quality, trust and superior service all the while adhering to our humble roots and fun-loving approach to the jewelry business.

From the early days in eastern North Carolina where “Big Clyde” Bailey and “Mama Ann” Bailey began arose a spirit that is alive in every Bailey’s location today. Their friendly approach and willingness to think outside the box created a larger than life corporate personality that is now the Bailey’s culture.

Continuing in their tradition, Clyde jr. and Jane built on the strong foundation of trust and loyalty Clyde’s parents helped to create. We would soon see that Clyde had big dreams for Bailey’s and in the next 2 decades under Clyde’s direction he would bring Bailey’s Boxes to 2 new cities—Raleigh and Greenville.

Let’s not forget the third generation of the Bailey’s family, Trey Bailey; a graduate gemologist continues the tradition. With Trey, come fresh new ideas and selections that continue to make Bailey’s North Carolina’s premier destination jewelry store.

For almost 6 decades we have been inspired by our patrons to excel in every aspect of our business. From our service, which include the finest custom design, watch and jewelry repair, appraisal and bridal registry, to our extraordinary selection, which includes works from today’s most esteemed designers, exquisite diamonds, fashion accessories, fine timepieces, and wonderful gifts—there’s simply no place like Bailey’s.

Bailey's in the 1970's

Yesterday they cleaned my rings AND changed Jerry's watch battery all while we were waiting for our lunch across the street. Good service should be recognized so there you have it. If you need some jewelry, go to Baileys!

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Oh Spring! (almost)

This weekend Jerry and I had a pretty full schedule. But one thing we knew for sure, was that we were going to take care of the leaf problem. We live in an established Raleigh neighborhood with lots of trees. This is something we love about this house. However, those leaves aren't gonna rake themselves!


I have to give Jerry credit, he did most of the work (several weeks ago in freezing temperatures mind you). But this Sunday, we both tackled what was left behind. To the tune of about 25 bags full! Jerry even got up on the roof with the leaf blower and cleaned out the gutters! What a guy. I tell you what, I married up!



We are really pleased with the results and I hope that this year we will be able to focus more on getting things planted. 2007 was the year of cleanup to this long forgotten and overgrown yard. Now we have a clean slate and I can't wait to get started! I will definitely keep you posted on the progress.

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I love my fish

Clay fish - hand painted from Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
Currently residing on my new bookshelf!

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Merry Stussmas

Krusty got a new bed for Christmas.

It's too bad he hates it.

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Standing in line at Harris Teeter...

I came across this book....... I'm pretty sure that's all I need to say.

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Super Week!

Wow, what a lot going on this week. It kicked off with the Superbowl and tomorrow is Super Tuesday. I'll leave politics for Wednesday, so today let's talk Superbowl.

I, like many half-hearted football fans, didn't really have a favorite going into the game. I heard a clip on NPR about New England's near perfect season and while I usually default to the underdog, I was hoping the Patriots would get their final win. Good thing I am not a gambler!

We enjoyed the game and of course the commercials. I have a list of favorites that I thought were memorable:

- The one with the screaming animals was the first one that made me laugh - in that haha animals who think they're people kind of way

- The Macy's Parade where Charlie Brown wins the coke was just downright touching. In a world where Peanuts are all but forgotten, the context of football was the best place for CB to finally win.

- The E*Trade commercial with the talking baby. The first run was amusing, but the 2nd was downright FUNNY

- I would be remiss if I didn't mention the Will Ferrell Bud Light commercial. Will does his best Will and that's all I need.

- Another Budweiser commercial, this one with the Clydesdales. Specifically, the new kid on the block who gets trained by a dalmatian. I think Jerry teared up.

We spent the evening at Kim and Reid's and we had a great time! Lots of food, good friends and football. Who could ask for a better evening? For a full write up on the Superbowl commercials, check out the NY Times. And to view them and vote for your favorite, check out the Wall Street Journal!

Which one was your favorite?

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Bags. BAGS!

You might be wondering where Jerry and I stand on the whole paper vs. plastic vs. reusable bag issue. Well, I'll tell you. Basically, we would love to rely completely on reusable bags and we are pretty good about it to a degree. However, we do have a dog to clean up after so I usually get plastic some of the time to keep them in stock at the house. But as we all know, they are a pain in the neck to keep up with and after several solutions, we finally found one that works for us.

Initially, we had a hand-made bag holder similar in shape to this one. Not as tacky as this, but I couldn't resist adding that picture. We didn't care for it because it was the wrong colors and we tend to like things to be nailed down. So the cloth bag just swinging around wasn't cutting it.

Lucky for us, we found the SimpleHuman Bag holder. We were SO excited about it and couldn't wait to put it up. However, it was a disappointment in the end. We had a hard time getting the bags in and out without having to wrap them very tightly. No big deal except then you don't have much to grab onto when you want to retrieve one. We mounted it vertically and if we were going to continue using it, I think I would put it up under a cabinet or something. It never really felt secure.

But then we went to IKEA. We had no intention of changing out the system so soon, but we came across the Rationell Variera Bag holder for only $1.99 !!! We thought we should try it for such minimal investment. Well, that was the best $2 we've spent in a LONG time! It's perfect! As you can see you can add and remove bags just about anywhere and it's so lightweight that mounting it was a snap and it can stand up to the constant manipulation of stuffing and pulling.

We love the bag holder and we hate to admit that we still feel that we need these pesky plastic bags. But everything is a process and for now, this is working :-)

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