Category Archives: 33 before 33

we got bikes!

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image via The Sartorialist

Hi friends! Our birthday month is over (tear.), and we were able to save up for a really exciting item, bikes!! I’m uber excited to share our goods! The picture above is how I think I look… Though, I’m pretty sure I look more like this:

image via Midnight Ridazz Bicycle Ride

If you are in the market for a bike, September is a great time of the year to buy. We read this article and set out to our local bike shop to wheel and deal (pun intended). They usually come out with the new models in September, so the older model (still nice) are discounted! The manager at Richardson Bike Mart reinforced this fact AND took $80.00 off the sticker price. Yay! I was pumped to have a new Trek!

The husband bought his mountain bike online! It was a little less than mine but assembly was required.

Both bikes are great! We even took them out yesterday morning and explored neighborhoods we would not have known existed otherwise. Plus, we stopped off at the grocery store for a couple staple items. There’s just something fabulous about biking to the grocery store or restaurants! I have missed that part of my “youth”, so it’s nice to have a little bit of it now! Lastly and more importantly, this checks off another one of my goals of my, 33 before I’m 33! Happy Monday!

city craft

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I have been really excited for a month now about my beginners sewing class! I signed up and have had it on the calendar for weeks now and was so excited to head out after work for the class!

City Crafts is a fabulous sewing and fabric boutique in downtown Dallas! They have an abundance of modern fabrics and such a friendly staff.

City Crafts offers sewing classes for all ages, too. They have classes where you make an oil cloth tote and zipper, a throw pillow with invisible zipper, one on modern patchwork quilts, and even summer camps for kids! Fun stuff is happening on Lovers Lane in Dallas!

In tonight’s class, we attempted to make a messenger bag!
We had the most adorable instructor, Kaitlan, that instructed and encouraged us through the whole process! It was so fun to walk away with a finished product!!
It was such a fun class, and I’m so excited to sign up for more and do a couple projects on my own! I encourage all to try or get your kids involved with sewing. Happy Weekend everyone!

frank lloyd wright

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Frank Lloyd Wright has always been one of my favorite architects. Though I’m not fond of his arrogance or family dynamic, he did build beautiful pieces of art, inside and out. I had the luxury of touring the Oak Park homes Frank Lloyd Wright build from 1889 to 1909 this past weekend with my best friend.

It’s amazing the lengths he took to get to know his clients, even making clothing that should be worn while entertaining in the home. Think about that. Isn’t the simplicity and convenience of today sad in some ways? Do you want model one, two, or three… don’t worry you can “customize” the shutters.

Our first stop was the Unity Temple commissioned for $60,000; Wright was one of the first to build with poured concrete.

Inside, his attention to detail does not go unnoticed.

We then headed outside to look at all the buildings Frank Lloyd Wright created in Oak Park. Some were even considered “bootleg” houses, which were commissioned and built by Wright without the knowledge of his employer… this caused Wright to “resign” after his boss found out.

We also can see the changes in his design through these homes. Some were requests from the home owner (a more victorian look), some gave Wright free reign.

This house is for sale!! If you’re in the market for a new house, it’s a steal at 900,000.

The Hills-Decaro Home, 1906, was my favorite.

This house was the one house Wright said he regretted building. Considering how arrogant he was, thats pretty amazing he admitted this.

Lastly, we walked around the perimeter of Frank Lloyd Wright’s studio and home.

We used Chicago Savvy Tours, and they did a great job. If I were to go again, I would take a tour of the inside of his studio and home!! All the more reason to take another trip to Chicago!

chihuly and the dallas arboretum

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I had one of those fabulous, successful weekends, where there was lots on the to-do list and lots more that got done! I started off the weekend by joining some friends at the Dallas Arboretum and marking off another 33 before I’m 33 goal! Yay! We wanted to get out early, before it got too hot to do anything outdoors, which meant I was out the door (on a Saturday) before 8:30 am.  This was new territory for me; I loved it and may continue to get up early! So many people out of their home before noon, who would have thought?!? Ha ha.

The Dallas Arboretum had Dale Chihuly’s amazing glass work on display, so it was even more exciting to see his work amongst all the beautiful foliage. We walked around the park oohing and ahhing at the wonderful sculptures, glass, and plant life.

We also considered that Chihuly’s inspiration may have come from Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory.  If only that was the case…  “the strawberries taste like strawberries, and the snozzberries taste like snozzberries”. It made us extra hungry for a great lunch, which Kameron and I had, but Amelia spent her lunch warding off all the elusive birds. Besides the crazy birds, we had a terrific time catching up with each other, surrounded by an amazing background.

All-in-all, it was a wonderful spot to visit, and I plan to go back soon! Here’s a couple extra shots that I really enjoyed!

I’ll leave you with one last photo with a little artistic flair?!? Can you see us?

I hope everyone enjoys exploring their own cities!

givin’ blood

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This Sunday our church was having a blood drive after the service, and I was so excited to donate!! Not only is it for a good cause (I saved helped three people) but yes, it was my number ONE on my 33 before 33 list! I honestly thought I wasn’t going to be able to donate because I answered “yes” to having had an aspirin within the last 48 hours! But luckily I was good to go!

If you haven’t donated, make sure to wear warm clothes. I was in a dress and super cold!  After going through the registration and questionnaire, I was set to donate. The phlebotomist said I didn’t have that great of veins, which is always great to hear as a first timer.

“Did anyone ever tell you, you have small veins?” Nope, this is my first time donating! I’m real excited and a little nervous.

“Okay. You’ll feel a stick and a burn.” Okay. Wow, is that a 16 gauge? “Yes, it’s big.”

And I start.

 

Meanwhile the husband registered, did his questionnaire, and got hooked up. He started about 5 minutes after me and finished about 10 minutes before me!

I was told “I’m not a bleeder”, which is funny because I always wondered where my patients got the notion to say “I’m a free bleeder”. I chuckle everytime I here it! After a while of slowly bleeding out (ha ha, that sounds gory), they gave me a glove to squeeze hoping to speed up the process.

It worked well considering my “small veins” and “slow donation” situation. I’m sure many have donated before but I’m glad I have and will probably do it again.  Maybe I’ll try my left arm next time?!?

oh, nat-ur-al!

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I did it!  I took the plunge on Friday and dyed my hair back to it’s (mostly) natural color. As close-to-a-bottle-of-hair-dye-could-provide natural color.  It took a little encouragement from a friend, a cousin, and a hairdresser (do you call them that?) to get the job done but it’s a fun new change! Gosh, I cannot believe my hair could possibly be this dark!

Usually, I would schedule my hair appointments every 6-8 weeks, and for the past three visits, I would tell my hairdresser, “I want to go natural”.

He would say okay. Are you sure?

I then would pause, and say, “no, the usual, please!”

He and I would laugh, and I would be blonde for another month and a half.

This time it was different, I had my 33 before 33 in mind, and I wanted a change, a big change! Like Carrie in the first Sex in the City movie!

Below is a picture of me semi-panicked as Blue (my hairdresser) mixes up the color!

Here goes nothing…

Processed and waiting for style. Still questioning, what was I thinking?!?

All in all I’m really happy I did it. For one, I think I look more like a mix of my parents. I have my mom’s eyes and smile and apparently her hair, too. I love that my eyes look more green than just brown and my skin tone seems to match better; who knew?!

And here’s the final, with a little curl.

I thought this would save us some money, but now I get to explore a whole new color scheme in makeup and wardrobe… eek!

garage sale & cottonwood

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Yep, we did it; we had our first garage sale ever! It was a solid day’s work, but I think it was worth the effort to de-clutter our house and make a few extra bucks.

Sitting around watching people rummage through our things and negotiate deals, I thought up ten pertinent things for anyone wanting to host their own garage sale. I referenced Restored Style, too.

Top 10 Thing (I learned to do) for a Successful Garage Sale

1. Signage – I would make the signs first!  I love art and drawing, but I waited to make my signs until Friday night at 11 pm, making them a little less appealing to the eye. Next time, I would make them first. Also, put yourself out there on Craigslist and in the local newspaper to get even more people at your sale.

2. Have a friend – I had my spouse, and honestly would have thrown the stickers out the window, if he wasn’t helping. The prep work can get long and tedious, but it’s more doable with a friend. It’s nice to have someone the day of the sale, too. To help stay close to the cash, answer questions, make lunch or get drinks, and make sure no one is stealing. We lost one portable mouse when we only had one person watching the sale. 

3. Price to sell – Sometimes the price we think is super reasonable is outrageous to the buyer; it’s not personal, just the way it is. Make sure you make adjustments to your prices throughout your sale. We reduced prices on items if we saw a lot of interest (items being picked up, etc.) but no sale.

4. Buy Prefab Stickers – I bought stickers that were pre-priced and blank stickers at the Dollar Tree. They worked perfect and were a lot less work than putting every number on each item. Also, work with quarters and dollars. Anything worth less than 0.25 cents, I put as free. It’s just easier to deal with than having nickels, dimes, and pennies in your cashbox.

5. Clump like items – When setting up your garage sale, people like the department store feel. Kitchen items on one table, electronics on another. It’s also easier to monitor. I would put the more pricey electronics on a table closer to where you are sitting.

6. Bags – Have a couple of plastic shopping bags available for people that buy multiple items. If people know they can walk away in one trip, they are willing to buy more goods.

7. Negotiate and Bundle – Be willing to negotiate; it’s a garage sale, and the items made it outside your home for a reason. Let someone enjoy your goods. If they want it for $3 not $5, I say sell. Also, let your spouse or friend know which items you won’t budge on. I had a couple of BCBG and J.Crew dresses priced at 20.00, which was my lowest price and Paul knew it. Otherwise, if you notice a person interested in a couple items make an offer. (Watch American Pickers, Frank’s the bundle master!) They come to your garage sale for a deal and a couple dollars off two items is huge! Be willing to be a salesperson.

8. Weather – Watch the forecast! This I know personally. Friday afternoon when I was setting up for the sale, I didn’t check the forecast, until there were thunder clouds rolling in; we had to move everything we set out into the garage. Also, in Dallas, I will schedule my next garage sale in March or April. This weekend, it was already in the 90’s, and humid! It was already hard for individuals to handle being outside for too long.  

9. Get Cash – I went to the bank prior to the sale and withdrew $70.00; $40.00 in $5.00, $20.00 in $1.00 and a roll of quarters. This was really nice to have to make change.

10. After Sale – Assess what you have left. I put my items in three categorizes.

  • Craigslist – Items that I think could still sell to the right buyer.
  • Donate – Things that were just not that great to put back into the house! De-clutter! We itemized our donations (use garage sale prices) for tax purposes.  Every little bit helps!
  • Store or Reinvent – This is a hard category. Try your best to really assess and reassess what you bring back into the house.  We had all but a basket left after our sale, and I couldn’t be more pleased.

I think this does it for the start of my de-cluttering adventure. It’s honestly so nice to start working towards being a little bit of a minimalist.

After all of our work, we made it to the annual Cottonwood Festival, which is just down the street from our house. It’s artist from all over the US coupled with live music. It’s cheap, fun entertainment.

I actually sprung for some artwork, too! Two prints; one for our kitchen and one for our entry! Maybe it was the extra cash from the garage sale that make me say “let’s?!?” But I’m really happy we got some solid art.  It was great to talk with the artist as well. He explained his thoughts on each piece, which was an extra special touch.

Sunday, I was able to frame it, and the husband hung it! It was a great team effort!

Otherwise, I’ll leave you with this lovely picture of the ducks at Cottonwood Park… they were enjoying the festivities as much as we were.

I hope everyone else had a productive and satisfying weekend, too!

a wedding and orange toes

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Springtime in Dallas is absolutely beautiful…. it has to be, to gear everyone up for the absolutely miserable summer to follow.  Luckily, brides in Dallas are smart and schedule their weddings during this beautiful time of year.  We had the pleasure of going to our friends, Taylor and Amber’s, wedding this past Saturday and seeing them start their new life together.

As I was a guest, I also took a couple snap shots of the fun ideas and details of their wedding.  The venue was an old warehouse with exposed beams and brick in North Dallas and the details were not overlooked.

They had a gift table with an adorable bird cage for cards… yes, I know this picture is blurry! It was dark and I didn’t want to use my flash. (tear).

On the sweet’s table, they had these adorable napkins!  They also had chocolate-covered strawberries, which was a fun alternative to cake!

Mason jars with vintage family photos were part of the tables’ centerpieces.  They also had placed vintage paper that were made into flowers throughout the venue… which I loved and took one home as a keepsake. Don’t worry, I plan to tell Amber.

and at home…

There was an entire wall in the bar area covered with vases and one yellow daisy in each.  This photo doesn’t give this massive  wall justice!

We sent them away to Costa Rica with sparklers…

They gave each guest seasoned walnuts in cute silver boxes. They were set in this adorable vintage suitcase draped with vintage lace. Love!

After saying goodbye to the beautiful couple, Paul and I walked across the street to a rooftop bar, where we talked and danced the night away.

During all the weekend activities, I did manage to cross one item off my 33 before I’m 33 list. I went to a local Palm Beach Tan, because they were having a 2 for 1 special on Mystic Tan; I figured it was now or never! Now, I’m not saying I’m an expert (look streaky feet.. okay my whole body!), but here are a couple of things I’ve learned from the experience.

  1. Exfoliate before you go; that way, the spray tan will be applied to fresh skin, giving you a more even tone, lasting longer.
  2. Listen to the mystic tan lady! I was supposed to rotate 4 different times, and I didn’t! Ha. I ended up getting a double coat on one side. Lesson learned.
  3. Work hard to wipe off your hands with paper towels and baby wipes, then wash them with soap and water before you leave, especially your palms!
  4. Make sure you give yourself time. You aren’t supposed to shower for a least 4 hours after the mystic tan, so if you’re planning on doing it for an event, plan accordingly.
  5. Mystic tan or bust… honestly, if you worked with me for a day, you would understand. And no, tanning beds ARE NOT better for you than regular sun.  Wear sunscreen and reapply often.  Make sure the sunscreen is UVA and UVB protective, and SPF 40 or higher is the best. All work the same, but some feel better than others. Here’s my favorite, Elta MD.

I hope everyone had as great of weekend as we did!