1. Read 50 books (5/50).

Last year, I heard a piece on my beloved NPR that featured filmmaker, Ethan Coen and did a review of his new book.

Generally, I'm not a lover of poetry, but this segment stuck with me.

On the day that I heard this piece, I happened to be giving my friend Cassie a ride home from work and I mentioned it to her.

For my birthday at the end of May, she gave this to me as a gift!!! I couldn't believe it! I had totally forgotten about it.....what a clever girl!!! She must have a memory like a bear trap.

Sorry, book swap buddies. Unlike most of the books I read that get handed over to friends and fellow lovers of stories, this one is going onto the shelf to be part of the personal collection.

2. Watch a movie for every letter of the alphabet.

Y. Youth in Revolt

Loved it!!!! Not really much to be said about it except watch it!!!
About 25 min into it, J. mentioned that he wasn't really feeling it so much. Literally, with in seconds of him saying that, things started to happen and the movie really picked up!!! At some points it was a little hard for me to see exactly where they were trying to go with it, but just wait it out. It's a good one!

L. Love Happens

The movie was alright, but the flower shop that Jenn Anistons character owns and works in, it absolutely to die for!!! If you're not a fan of J.An or Rom/Coms (guilty......I love both), I would skip it, but I think the interior design inspiration alone was well worth it.

It has me dreaming of a career change. Ahhhhh......how I would love to show up to work and just smell the roses.

12. Try 100 different beers (9/100).

For the first official weekend of fall, I celebrated with a few of my autumn favorites (even thought there was no noticeable difference in Las Vegas, 100 + degrees is 100 + degrees no matter what the calender says).

Harvest Moon is another one of Blue Moons seasonal brews. It isn't to heavy or too pumpkin-y, it's got just the fight amount of fall flavoring.

I'm definitely going to have to throw a few more of these bad boys back this fall!





And one of my all time favorites no matter what the season is Wyders Cider. It's light, crisp, bubbly, comes in delicious flavors, like pear, apple and rasberry......and....it's gluten free.....who knew?!

Just an idea......

While watching football this weekend with some friends at the Out Side Inn something caught my eye.

Generally I'm not a fan of themed restaurants and bars. Or the kind of franchise place with walls that are just completely filled with random crap and pointless memorabilia, and generally this place was the same.






The Out Side Inn had walls covered in fishing gear and rustic hunting pictures, there were canoes hanging from the ceiling, a fake antler chandeliers.......the whole tacky shebang, but then I spotted this interesting specimen.

They've made lights out of old fishing hats!!!

Although I'm not a fan of the fishing gear, I think this is an AWESOME idea!!!

But how about something a little more classy...........

......................or maybe................

.......hanging in a cluster like these lights.

Weekend garage sale score.

This Saturday I was walking around the neighborhood with Dara, enjoying the awesome weather we've been having in Las Vegas the last few weeks and I came across a moving sale that one of our neighbors was having.

Look at this baby I scored for just.....................TWENTY FIVE CENTS!!!!!

They had a ton of jewelry boxes in a bunch of different sizes in this Asian-ish, mother of pear, inlay style, but they were all broken or missing drawers and pieces.

The only reason I even looked twice at this one was because as you folks know, I'm a sucker for any thing peacock and by some strange chance it was the only one that didn't have any major defects (and who am I kidding......it was only a quarter).

The fabric in the drawers and on the top tray was all ratty and torn up, so I cut up an old American Eagle shirt I had in a fabric pile and just replaced it.


I originally thought some of the inlay pieces were missing, but it turned out it was just
REALLY grubby, so with a bit of cleaning up it has found a home with the rest of my jewelry stuff.

The full collection.

12. Try 100 different beers (7/100).

Last week we stopped by my friend Kat's house so the handy BF could check out her hot tub.

Turns out the spa worked all along (just needed the door the be shut.....damn safety mechanism), so we ended up having a beer on the patio, just enjoying the beautiful weather.

For beers, the lovely and talented Miss Kat, shared with us her personal favorite, Honey Moon by the Blue Moon Brewing Company.

Later in the week we hung out with some more friends for Taco Tuesday and got to have another beer!!

Moose Head brewery is Canada's oldest independent brewer, and really, they've been doing a good job.

Asian Orange Mystery

I'm not really sure what this stuff is, but it was sitting in my bosses office for about a week before my interest was sparked enough to ask what it was.

Boss: "Oh, that's for you. Some one gave it to me, I don't want it, and it seemed like something you would want."

Kylie: "What is it though?"

Boss: "I think it's tea."




Well.......nothing on it says "Tea" (actually nothing on it is English), and it looks a lot more like chunky orange marmalade to me, but I'll give it a shot.

So, I put 2 spoon fulls in a mug with hot water this morning and it was good!!!

It tastes like fall. It's got a strong orange/honey/ginger taste, but you can also taste cloves and cinnamon in there too.

I'm still not sure that this was the appropriate use for this mystery Asian orange product, but it works for me. I'm also going to put a few dollops in the mix next time I make blueberry or cranberry muffins.

21. Re-hab 10 pieces of furniture (1.5/10)

I'm going to count this as a 1/2 completion

because I painted these before I started the list

but I did "finish" them by replacing the cushion.

These cute foot stools were scavenged from my neighbor a few months ago.

I was taking the trash out before work one day and caught her right as she was throwing them out. I had to argue with her a little before she handed them over. She was convinced they were junk and told me that they were older than I was. This may be the case, but with a quick glance you can see that they are NOT junk!!






As was the case with the bed side tables, these babies were used outside, so already had most of the sanding done.



I painted them with some left over teal spray paint, and replaced the old cushion with prettier ones from Pier 1.

Sept. 15th - Oct. 1st. (#25.)

Since I got started a little late in the month on this one, I only made the list half as long.

September 15th- October 1st.

1. Completely clean out car.
-wipe down
-vacuum
-set up box for the trunk

2. Consolidate all Christmas stuff into white boxes.

3. Walk/run at least 3 times a week and finish at least 15 miles at the track near the house.

4. Empty out both bins of crap in back room.

5. Do another sunset hike at Red Rock before it gets too dark to go after work.

6. Organize master bedroom closet.
- get more white boxes
- throw away mismatched plastic bins
- fill one plastic bin with cloths & items to be donated

7. Get the internet hooked up in back room and organize computer desk.

8. Put together a weekly menu for both weeks.

9. Steam clean master bedroom & office carpet.

10. Organize laundry "system".

18. Take sunset hike up to Red Rock.

Last night, J. my friends Allison, Steve and my self went up to Red Rock Canyon for a sun set hike. We did the easy, 2 mile Moenkopi Loop and it was great.

It was absolutely stunning up there. The sun went behind the mountains about 20 min into the walk, but it stayed nice and light until we were finished with the whole loop.




When left alone the desert is really beautiful. It's crazy to me that such a secluded place can be so close to all the madness of Las Vegas, just 10 min away.

25. Make monthly & weekly goal lists.

This goal address my deep desire to finally achieve some kind of control and peace over my completely disorganized, unstructured, and chaotic life.



This will be my attempt (and the documentation of it) to declutter and reorganize as many aspects of my life as possible, to refocus my attention and energy on the things and people I really enjoy, and to finally learn what it feels like to cross off EVERYTHING from my "to-do" lists.





By the 3rd of each month have 15-20 (at least 10) goals, tasks, responsibilities and projects to be completed in that month.
~carried on an index card in my calender
~written in the journal being used for the list
~posted here on the blog


If the list has less than 20 items on it, new ones may be added up until the 15th of each month.


On the last day of each month, if a task/goal is left incomplete, it must go to the top of the following months list. Nothing else may be added to that months list, until the original projects are completed.




Get Organized Now

The Fly Lady

Home Organize It

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

25 years ago today, the stork dropped off this lovely boy!!!

I hope the next 25 years are as good to you as the first 25 were!

2. Watch a movie for every letter of the alphabet.

D. Date Night

Loved it!!!!!! Tina Fey & Steve Carell were both awesome. They made a great couple and plopped in a few reminders to not just be "really excellent room mates" with the one you love.

Round Up: In my dream living room......

Here are just a few of the things that I've been ogling over and picturing in my living room for the past few months. I know that almost none of this stuff matches each other, but if you know me, or have ever been in my house, you know that's just the way I like it!!!!!!

Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Bank Rug

Elephant Side Table

Melting Wall Clock

(It's made to order. I would really LOVE one with a black or silver frame around it & Roman numerals!!!!!)

Decorative Birdcage

There are at least 5 different things I would like to do with some pretty, delicate birdcages like these......plants, candles, Christmas lights.........................

Starry Night Throw Blanket

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Hand Carved Statue

Mona Lisa Beaded Curtain

2. Watch a movie for every letter of the alphabet

V. Valentine's Day




Julia, Jamie, Bradley, Anne, George, Ashton & Topher ( who were both on That 70's Show.........I can't believe I didn't put that together until just now) all some of my favorites!!!

Pretty sappy. The eye candy was great, but it was just one of those all start studded, "oh-how-our-lives-interchange", nonsense movies.
Alas, I still love ever one that was in it.

1. Read 50 books (4/50).

I didnt have a problem with this book, it was actually a really enjoyable, easy, light read, but I am getting pretty tired of reading about over privladged whingy girls who are having issues with living in New York City.


I'm looking forward to picking out a few books from the shelvs that are a bit deeper. We'll see.

Tutorial Tuesday: Decoupage Tray

I know, I'm a huge liar/slacker, and yet AGAIN this tutorial comes to you on a Wednesday!




You will need:
Tray (or other various other flat, smooth surfaced items)
Clear polyurethane (I like MinWax)
Mod Podge (or white school glue)
1 solo cup
1 paint brush
1 piece sand paper
A bunch of images
-magazines
-news papers
-maps
-print outs

Lightly sand the tray (nothing serious, just so the surface is a little scratched up).

In your solo cup, mix 1 part Mod Podge (or your standard kiddie glue) with 2 parts water.

Cover the tray with a generous amount of the ModPodge mix.

Now, arrange your images, and continue to cover with the Mod mix (you want the paper to be wet, it's ok if it's a little soppy, just be careful not to rip your pictures).

Make sure to layer them and not to have them all facing the same direction (if your are going for a more organized look, disregard those instructions) to give it a random, more sporadic vibe.

These are the final products from last nights Crafts & Drafts.

Kyli

Rachel

Allison

Steve