by Mojito Maven on September 29, 2009
In my rant dedicated to Restoration Hardware, I mentioned that nearly 80% of my house is decorated and furnished by this store. I received an outpouring of emails asking to see pictures of the inside of my house and to provide a breakdown of each piece.
So, stealing the idea of my dear friend Erin over at Blue-Eyed Bride, I am also going to devote every Tuesday to posting photos of the house and give all of you a glimpse into our home.
Some background:
We moved into a newly built townhouse in a suburb of Dallas in December 2007. In the past two years we went from having virtually no furniture to slowly filling our home with pieces that will hopefully last several years. Also, please keep in mind we plan on having a child-free home so many of our purchases would never work in a house with kids.
First up on the tour is the kitchen…
Breakdown:
Backsplash: Daltile’s Glass Reflections in Whisper Green, 3×6 Subway
Paint: Restoration Hardware Silver Sage
Curtain Rod and Rings: Restoration Hardware Solid Wood in Espresso
Curtains: Restoration Hardware Thai Silk Drapes in Silver Sage
Cabinet Knobs: Restoration Hardware Aubrey Knob in Polished Chrome
Barstools: Crate & Barrel Allegro Barstools
Dog: Oliver Pancake. He is a permanent fixture in the kitchen.
And yes, my counters are always that clean and clutter free. I like to keep everything except a fruit bowl and knife set in a cabinet or drawer.
This room (and the adjoining dining room) originally had basic beige tile. We replaced it with hardwood floors to match the rest of the house. In addition, the original backsplash was a green/brown tile placed on a diagonal. We obviously replaced that with Whisper Green 3×6 subway tiles from Daltile. We LOVE it. And finally, our cabinets did not come with knobs so we added those to finish everything off.
Next week: the dining room!
by Mojito Maven on September 28, 2009
This Halloween I REALLY want to be Jem from Jem and the Holograms!!
Was anyone else obsessed with this show as a child?!?
For those people not familiar, the show focuses on music company owner Jerrica Benton, her singer alter-ego Jem, her band the Holograms, and their adventures.
So in layman’s terms, Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana COMPLETELY RIPPED OFF this amazing late 1980s television show. This adds yet another reason why I despise Miley Cyrus.
The big secret of the show is that Jem is in fact the alter ego of Jerrica Benton, owner of Starlight Music, who assumes this persona with the help of Synergy, a holographic computer designed to be the ultimate visual entertainment synthesizer built by her father, Emmett Benton, who left it to her on his death.
COME ON! How awesome would this be for Halloween?!? Big ’80s hair, flashy costumes, the opportunity to play musical instruments, clown make-up…the reasons are endless.
Now all I need are some band members…hmmm, Slynnro, Kate, and Maggie, I’m looking at you right now…
Just saying.
by Mojito Maven on September 23, 2009
Dear Restoration Hardware,
As you know I have a long-standing love for you. Nearly 80% of my house is decorated and furnished by your wonderfulness.
Let us take a moment to swoon at some of your new arrivals:
I really want this trunk as a side table. Want to send me a pair to try out on your behalf?
And these French wing chairs and weathered pedestal table? Sigh.
This bench would look amazing at the foot of the bed. And the detailing on the mirror? MUST HAVE IT!
We already have the crystal lamps and bed, but I think it is imperative to also have these industrial night stands to complete the look. Don’t you think?
I would gladly buy every piece of furniture mentioned, but there is this itsy-bitsy, teeny-tiny problem preventing me from purchasing the entire store.
THE PRICE!
REALLY Restoration Hardware?!?!?
$995 for a trunk? $1600 for the French wing chair?
$560 for the bench? $795 for a mirror?
$1350 for a NIGHTSTAND?!?!?! It is a freaking bedside table. Is it laced in gold? Platinum? Does it have hidden compartments filled with diamonds?
WHY is your shit so expensive?!?! The economy is in the toilet. Did you not receive that memo?
Can we just hug it out and come up with a compromise? Please?
Regards,
MM
by Mojito Maven on September 22, 2009
Side note: Chapter 21 of Somewhere In Between Us has been posted. Happy reading!
Those that know me well know I have some really weird habits. One in particular is my obsession with naming inanimate objects. It started when I was young and has slowly progressed from there. Yes, I recognize I am a freak. I embrace it.
Almost anything of serious value to me has a name:
Car: Betty Boob (She’s red with black interior)
REI Backpack: Steve
Favorite Pair of Reef Flip Flops: June and July
Lucky Swimsuit: Speedy
Favorite Mouse Stuffed Animal: Mr. Phelps
Favorite Cereal Bowl: Tony
Computer: Kogsworth
Scotty Dog Bobble Head: Mr. Jackson
Engagement Ring: Ms. C
The list could go on and on…
So, dear readers, what are some of your quirks and odd habits?
by Mojito Maven on September 17, 2009
I am probably going to get tomatoes thrown at me for this post, but I just have to rant.
Between blogging, twitter, Facebook, and real life, I have been bombarded with people talking about their children as if they are nothing more than a pain in the ass and an everyday chore.
WHY do some people have children when ALL I hear about them are disparaging remarks? (Yes, I know not everyone is guilty of this…)
Some of my favorites include, but are not limited to (and yes, these are actual quotes I stole off blogs, Facebook, and twitter):
“We only have five more years until the kids are out of the house so we can have peace again.”
“We spoiled them as children and now they are ungrateful brats.”
“I have to take my children to school AGAIN. How many more years until they can drive themselves so I can stay home in my pajamas?”
“The kids are running around and giving me a serious headache. Can I ship them off to boarding school? I need a vacation.”
“A date? What’s that? We haven’t been on a date since our daughter was born six years ago. Do people with children actually go on dates with their spouse?”
“I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in fifteen years. I’m exhausted.”
“Enjoy your life now because your children will suck away all of your energy. And don’t even get me started about sex.”
“I can’t wait until we can have an actual conversation that doesn’t involve our children or our busy schedules. We have no life outside of them.”
“I swear God gave her that bratty personality to torture me. It’s working. FML.”
I understand not every day is a bed of roses. I also understand that there is some level of sarcasm and snark involved with these comments. BUT SERIOUSLY?!?!
As someone already aboard the no baby train it just baffles me and pushes me further into the ‘no babies ever’ camp.
Just once I would love to hear some of these people say something wonderful about their children.
Can someone please explain this to me? Or am I completely off my rocker because I do not have children, and therefore, cannot understand the difficulties of being a parent?
by Mojito Maven on September 14, 2009
Side note: Chapter 20 of Somewhere In Between Us has been posted! Happy reading.
Conversation with my boss via Sametime (internal work messaging similar to gchat) earlier this morning:
Mr. Boss Man: Mojito Maven, are you busy?
MM: I am just working on a stress analysis and thermal prediction, but I can take a break. Why?
Mr. Boss Man: The VP of Engineering and Technology is here today and I wanted to introduce you. Can we stop by after lunch? I think this would be good visibility for you.
MM: Sure, I would love it if you stopped by!
Mr. Boss Man: Great. We will see you then.
I quickly remember I am wearing glasses, yoga pants, a t-shirt, six-year-old Reef flip flops, zero make-up, and my hair is thrown into a pony tail.
FML
AHHHHHHHHHHHH
by Mojito Maven on September 10, 2009
As many of you know I am a HUGE foodie. I could easily eat my weight in food on a daily basis and drop an entire year’s salary on dining out alone.
Imagine how thrilled I was the first show to break my self-imposed television hiatus was none other than Top Chef!! Love me some Tom Colicchio and his restaurant, Craft!
Is anyone else watching Top Chef Season 6? Currently I am rooting for the Voltaggio brothers, Bryan and Michael, as well as Kevin Gillespie (who reminds me of Zach Galifianakis from The Hangover).
Come on, how cute is this man? Does his round cheeks and boyish smile not melt your heart?!? PLUS, he can cook!
GAH!!
Edited to Add: Laura B kindly pointed out that Kevin looks like Yukon Cornelius from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. She is totally spot on! He looks EXACTLY like him!
Who are you rooting for this season?
by Mojito Maven on September 9, 2009
I, along with thousands of others, would GLADLY donate a shit ton of money to charity to be first in line to shove a cupcake down Jon Gosselin’s throat to get him to shut the hell up!
Listen, we get that being married to Kate Gosselin was a beat down. She was controlling, possessive, emotionally abusive, and sexually frustrated. I think at one point she even called Jon a lame fish, completely emasculating him. It sucks. WE. GET. IT.
BUT REALLY JON?!?!?
Enough of this crap! Stop being an acrobat in the media circus. Stop partying in Vegas. Stop dating disgusting, younger women. Stop showing WAY TOO MUCH chest hair. It freaks me out!!
When are the Real Housewives of New York coming back? I need me some Count-less and Silex!
by Mojito Maven on September 7, 2009
Side note: Chapter 19 of Somewhere In Between Us has been posted. Happy reading.
Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon is a trivia game based on the concept of the small world phenomenon and rests on the assumption that any actor can be linked through film/TV roles to actor Kevin Bacon within six steps.
The game requires a group of players to try to connect any film actor in history to Kevin Bacon as quickly as possible and in as few links as possible.
For those people that follow me on Twitter, you may have seen Erin from Blue-Eyed Bride, Kate from Elefantitas Alegres, and me engaging in a rousing game dedicated to Sir Kevin Bacon.
I thought it might be fun to make this a blogger interactive game. It is rather entertaining. I promise!! Not to mention it can get really challenging.
For those that choose to play, I will start by providing an actor’s name. The next person to comment provides the links that lead back to Kevin Bacon and a NEW actor’s name. Then, the next person to comment answers for the that actor and provides a new actor. And so on.
Each new starting actor must be different, but the links that lead back to Kevin Bacon can be repeated.
Each comment is given a number, so in your answer make sure to put the comment number you are answering.
I will start. I asked Mr. Mojito to give me an actor’s name to link to Kevin Bacon. He chose Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Philip Seymour Hoffman – MI3 with Tom Cruise – A Few Good Men with Kevin Bacon.
OR
Philip Seymour Hoffman – Doubt with Meryl Streep – The River Wild with Kevin Bacon.
For the next person who comments: Liam Neeson.
GO!
by Mojito Maven on September 3, 2009
Chuck Taylor All-Stars are the born-again shoe of choice for many teens, college students, and adults.
Originally designed for basketball, the canvas and rubber shoes produced by Converse have experienced recent popularity thanks to a resurgence of old school trends in the fashion and design industries.
Personally, the last time I wore a pair of Chucks was in middle school, but I would consider wearing them again on more casual days.
What are your thoughts on Chucks? Love them? Hate them?
