Sticks; the modern alternative to (gasp) fake flowers

Back from my summer hiatus a quick modern design hack..
Fraggle Floral Arranging. Sticks of all kinds are a simple solution when you tend to kill plants. I found these feathery sticks from the dollar store! (8 bunches total) They are about 4ft tall. Love em'!

A few must bookmark links

• A Simple Mom blog; Life Hack for Home Managers

search the archives, for helpful tips on everything mom and house related


Gomestic; Content rich with easily searchable tags with helpful advice on everything from 17 Uses for Toothpaste to 15 ways to be a Cheapskate.

Whos prettier Madison or Scampers??

The puppy undeniably takes after sister. They have the same figure(long lean legs), the same diva attitude and they are both easy on the eyes.

Lawson Room Redux

Quick post as I am about to collapse. We worked so hard to "repurpose" furniture from other rooms, finish painting, install crown molding and put this room together.
My husband has got to be the most awesome man alive! Big props to Mike for putting up with my little (he-he) project. I am going to hook you up, baby!

Tiffany's Soundtrack...The coming out party.

I had this unwritten rule than I wouldn't blog after 2 am or 2 beers but I am breaking both of them this evening.
I had this surrealistic moment where I had a full body realization of how weird I am. Dont get me wrong. I embrace this weirdness, in a positive way. I have this juxtaposition of personality traits: the traditional wife who believes your not a good woman unless you remove your husbands shoes and detail his boat..to this polar opposite... independent, idealist, alternative, Type A big thinker...

What triggered my coming out party of weirdness was a list I stumbled upon on MTV. com of the top songs of the year(check it out).
Music is such a strong mental trigger. As soon as your hear a song you heard.. you played in the car you drove before it had car seats in it, you are reminded of who you were then. You can physically feel mental state, your youth, angst, happiness.
I have always been a music fanatic. If I loved a song.... everyone knew it. I played it over and over. Whether it be a 45 single (remember those), CD , MP3 playlist. I am just a music person.
Being reminded of the songs that defined me, not in there inherent content but by just the groove.
I made a random list of my all time favorite albums, that pretty much sums up my "weirdness".
(Links just so you could be included in my party, all radio edits, for the children )

Pink Floyd~ Animals
Madonna ~Confessions on a Dance Floor
Black Sabbath ~We Sold our Souls for Rock and Roll
Eminem~ Slim Shady, Marshall Mathers, Eminem Show (its a tie)
Disney~ Fantasia Soundtrack
Dr. Dre~ The Chronic

***Just a quick update on my previous post.. I look amazingly awesome in a swim dress.
Rock on middle age!

"What do I want to be when I grow up?"

I dont know if it was the purchase of a skirted swimdress or the disdain of driving a minivan that led me to the revelation that I am having a mid-life crisis. I just feel too normal and lacking. Its not that I am depressed ... just kind of stuck. I am in a constant state of gratitude for my many blessings, so I feel guilty for even wanting.
Before I pierce something or take on a new car payment I will recommit to my exercise routine. I feel that if you are totally hot only then can you proudly drive a mini-van.

I will leave you with a link to the Newport News Shape FX line. Not only are these garments slimming but comfortable and affordable. Highly recommended.
(Somehow maybe I will look as cute and young as the model in the photo)

We love the Wii!

If you havent heard, this is one kickin' video game system. Madison is the champion bowler, stealing my thunder with her impressive 211 high score. Grr. Michael is obsessed with Tiger Woods 2008.
He has ascended to pro status, with sponsors and monster pay checks for all of his tournament wins.
If only this was our real life.

I have yet to master golf. My score ends up being something like +15 but it is still a whole lot of fun.

On another note... I am having a television dry spell. I can find anything good to watch ever!!! Does anyone want to recommend some must see TV??

Thank you for being a friend...

I have become increasing thankful for having a this group of people I call my friends.
Witty, articulate, kind, solid. Just good peeps.
Photo taken at a celebration of Shannon's 29th birthday!

Thinking Summer!

I am having some Winter blues, not from the weather really, but from our schedule. The running from one school to another, Boyscouts and my zillionth trip to Madison's dance studio. Spending my evenings rushing the children to finish homework, shower and all the hecticness that family life entails.
I posted this photo to remind myself of easy, warm summer days. That there are actually times when my children get along. We are lucky enough to live 10 minutes from the beach where it warm enough to enjoy for a 1/3 of the year. For just a few minutes I am thinking summer.

Over the River and Through the Woods

The children were so keyed up Christmas Eve we took them for a walk in the woods.
Mike and Lawson have been working on clearing a trail to my momas house. We still couldnt see her house but we could here each other shouting back and forth. I can not wait to send the children down the path to grandmothers house!!!!! It always nice to have a nice roller set for a walk in the woods. (photo shown)
I wanted to post a photo for my sis-in-law of the house Christmas Eve because we never get to see each others decorations.
Speaking of my most awesome sister in law she gave me the most awesome Christmas gift.
A game of Yahtzee!!! I highly recommend a spirited game of Yahtzee with a few adult beverages and some money on the table.

Wii Merry Christmas from The Evans Family

I think these 2 photos pretty much tell the whole story. (Disclaimer: We didn't give the children Godiva Liquor)
Announcing the adoption of our 4th child, Nintendo Wii Evans.
The best family experience ever created.

Absentee blogger returns.....

With seasonal craft.....
After seeing Ali Edwards Advent boxes , I wanted to do some with a modern spin. I had a blast with this mixed media project.
I sure have been missing my scrapbook table. It seems that I have lost my night owl side after turning 35. I have always scrapbooked at night. I just cant do it anymore. I am going to have to make time because I just feel empty without a creative project.

Also included a photo from Thanksgiving after a purchase of mustaches from The Mast General Store. Pictured myself, my daughter, my sis-in-law and niece.

Grandmommy wuvs Puppies!

I love this photo. Although Mom is going to kill me for posting it!
Look at her face, she a wonderful grandmommy even to the dog. He loves her.
Scampers looks very tall.
Is it obsessive to want to photoshop out the cords in the back ground?
Because I want to badly!!!!!

Shes so cool.....

Miss Thing has this enviable ability she got her father...just an inherent understanding of music. Notes, tempo, agile fingering. She picked up the clarinet amazing fast last year. She didnt hit every note or anything but you could see how easily she got it. Yesterday she picks up her Dad's classical and in two hours she had MASTERED 3 simple 1 note songs. Too bad her new band teacher is doing her part to rid the world of musicians. They have spent a month ,"Hot Cross Buns". Torture....

Here another opportunity to show off another super cute set of bows. And yes she wore them!

must....craft ..something.

After an insanely busy few weeks I was itchy to be creative this weekend. I took one step into my craftroom and turned right around because it was trashed!!!!! I didnt have the energy to tackle that massive cleaning job but I still wanted to create. I decided to make some hair bows for my 12 year old daughter. (Ones she would acually wear.)It was a small project, I could do downstairs hanging with the family. So I made these. I found this awesome resource for all sorts of hair bow tutorials. Here is the link. What helped me make these loopy bows was the mini BOW-DABRA. I love saying that...BOW-dabra. These were so fun. Especially if you are a scrapbooker who hordes ribbon.

For all my crafty friends out there, save the hair bow link above if you are looking for a fun craft.=)

A very wide stripe...

I was inspired to get back on the decorating bandwagon by my friend Terri.
Just a simple quick fix to a very boring room. This used to be the Lego Spot until we got the puppy.
We are looking into getting a ping pong table for this space.

Bamboo Update

I had a request from a friend to post an update on our bamboo babies. 11 out of the 12 plantings are flourishing. One of the largest of the black bamboo plants is not as full as the others, but have hope for him. We planted at the very end of the growing season. Bamboo usually grows in Zone 8 from about mid-March until June. We were lucky to still get one large culm which grew to 12 feet in a week. It is quite an amazing plant. Its like a pet!=) Pictured is the first site of the culm, It is about as big around as a quarter and about 1/2 an inch tall at this point.
In the foreground, you can see it at its "mature" height. Its a little difficult to see but its bright green.
Black bamboo darkens as it ages.
I will go as crazy as our Spring planting budget allows next year. Moso and Grey Ghost are my favorite species, we will be using these as our privacy fence.
*** On another note if you are not watching WEEDS on Showtime your missing the best show since Sex in the City.
We just got caught up after the DVD release of the 2nd season. It is worth the $ to subscribe to the network for this show only.

Reunion

Miss Thing has returned from camp. She will only admit to missing her puppy for the 2 weeks. (But I am pretty sure she missed us a little)
We are settling in for the dog days of summer. 100% humidity and easily 95 degree temperatures. That is life in the South, we dont love the heat but we love being southern.
I have scrapped a little, enjoyed some quality time with the children, rode some water slides, chilled by the pool, watched a lot of movies(Transformers rocked). I feel like the luckiest woman alive.
We are 4 episodes into season 2 of the Showtime series Weeds. Season 3 starts August 13. Michael and I are connoisseurs of excellent television and we highly (he-he) recommend this series. Seasons 1 and 2 are available at blockbuster. Kevin Knealon steals the show as the city council, toking straight man. I love the comdey drama genres from HBO and Showtime. Now if they only had not canceled HUFF.

Maddie Goes to Camp

My baby bird has left the nest, for camp that is. I am completely rethinking sending her for two weeks. I know shes fine, I am not so sure about me and the puppy. He has been acting up today.
We drove the 5 and 1/2 hours to camp on Sunday. We had gotten her settled in and then we were saying our goodbyes. Blinking away a few tears she did not want to fall she skipped to her bunk. Mike and I were hiding outside the door and I caught this photo of her checking out her name tag on the bed.
I had made her a scrapbook and hid it in her trunk. I had so much fun making it.
It reminded me why I love this hobby in the first place.

a very patriotic yorkie

A puppy is similar to a toddler, they are into everything, there is no telling what you'll find in their mouths, and generally run you ragged... until they do something so cute you will forgive any naughty behavior.

Scampers is having a bad hair day. Tomorrow is bath day though, so I'll give him an extra special top knot.
We take Maddie to camp on Sunday. She is going for 2 weeks this year! The only sign of nervousness I've seen from her is when you mention the dog. She will miss him soooo bad! I on the other hand, am a wreck. This is such a tangible venturing out of the nest. I am so grateful that she has these opportunities.(mostly thanks to her Mimi) She may even miss her brother a little bit.

Rock on Girlfriend!

Note to husband
You need to take these shoes out, I mean take me out.
Why did I buy these? Not too practical for cleaning. I feel so "schelpy" in my momwear and the mini van, I just have to embrace that rocker chick that lives inside.
I have had a little more incentive to rock with the new White Stripes, Led Zeppelinesque single, Icky Thump.
Happy Tuesday Bitches! (and that means you Ridgley! BTW... whose white shoes rock harder????)
If you like this check out their cover of Dolly Parton's "Jolene". It just makes me want to drink draft beer, scream the lyrics and hold a lighter high in air.

Greg Patillo biggest fans

The family is inamored with the talent of Greg Patillo, a beat boxing flutist.
This rendition of Inspector Gadget is my favorite but his version of The Super Mario Bros Theme is a must see Never have band geeks looked so cool.

not a mini van kinda gal

I am so thankful for my 2000 Toyota Sienna. Its reliable, perfect for children and thrifts shop trips.
However I have a burning fever for a stick shift, a 5 speed manual transmission. To be exact, this 2.4 liter, 16 valve turbo charged, w/ chrome wheels and Bose speakers 5 speed dream car.
Plus it's Pearlescent Orange!!!!!!! Hello, doesnt this scream Tiffany.
Michael, what exactly can I do to get this PT Cruiser??????

taking a breather

After several rounds of guests and incessant scheduled activities, we are finally enjoying having NOTHING official going on!
Just a few quick updates on the state of the Evans household.
*Lawson got glasses. He is no longer squinting and looks rocking cool in his specs.
** My sweet girl, my 7th grader, has had several major milestones recently. She went to the mall w/ her cousin, they shopped (now abercrombie not Limited Too) and ate at Ruby Tuesdays, sans the parents! She lost a molar and shaved her legs. Now I am embarrassing her.
***Michael and I, being quintessential Sopranos fans, mourned the end of the series, but like most were disappointed by the finale. Completely unsatisfying, slow in pace, ironically anticlimactic.
****I am desperate to get to my craft space to tackle any creative project. My goals for this week:
learn some new about my camera everyday. find a good photo printing service and place a large order. Last but not least, scrap!

I have to share some awesome links with y'all
* This is a Flickr photo group, 70's retro interior design photos for inspiration or nostalgia!
Definatly worth flipping through. Flickr photo pools are too much fun.
* The New Shelton Wet/Dry is best described as a topical adult magazine blog. I surfed through the older posts in the categories on the left for days, happening upon an intriguing article about these 20 somethings, having these 3 day long "Shabu" parties Craziness.
* If you haven't heard of Etsy yet you certainly must head right on over. The Ebay, of the handcrafted, there is no limit to what you may find. This "R" rated coin purse is just a small example of the creativity available for purchase. Take a look at this sellers other items marked "The Britney".
shown madison and lawson 6.24.07

Introducing...Evans Black Bamboo babies

Our children have been replaced...by our new babies. Introducing... our black bamboo.. planted with love on Saturday. The tallest ones are 18 or so feet. Mike and I are already obsessed looking twice a day for new growth. We bought them locally from Love Bamboo check out their website.
They have got some Moso and Giant Timber bamboo which are next on our must have list.
It is an amazing plant.

Just wanted to share=)

a few of my favorite websites.

moco loco: interesting, artsy, fun design blog
woot : people become stalkers of shopping site that offers only 1 item at a time for an outrageous price
geekologie: a definite bookmark, smart and entertaining, you'll surf this one for awhile
flicker craft room group: huge collection of peoples craft rooms, inspiring
3d sidewalk art: this is just a plain have to see, unbelievable!

Again I recommend stumbled upon and the browser!

Photo courtesy of geekologie, to give you an example of the random of cool S**t blog

Most awesome surface ever.

Did you see Bill Gates on the Today show this morning unveiling the Microsoft Surface. Its an interactive, touch screen, table top computer. If you haven’t you have to ...see it here.
Can you imagine this as part of the family living room?!?! The decorating, modern design possibilities are endless.: Picking a coordinating desktop wallpaper... displaying your latest digital photos on your coffee table as soon as you take them... pay for your online line purchases by laying your debit card on the table!
(Did you notice how great Meredith Viera looked on that Today show clip? She is just rocking the Today show, LOVE HER!)

Here is another link with a sleek demo of how Surface works.

We are still prepping for the bamboo. This is the barrier we were told to use if you are interested in planting some yourself.

Bamboo for Modern Landscaping

My newest obsession … Bamboo. I absolutely hate a shrub, way too normal and expected. The clean lines of the bamboo culm are an obvious choice if you want that more modern look. If we even mention to people that you are going to plant bamboo the seem horrified and immediately tell us how much we will regret it. Running Bamboo will propagate underground 20 or 30 feet from where you plant it, new shoots can grow into hard canes 10-25 feet tall in days! The secret is to properly prepare with commercial root barriers to stop the runners (rhizomes).
We are buying the Black and Moso bamboo as pictured.(photos courtesy of Lewis Bamboo)

We will be doing lots of digging in the next week but I am so excited!

American Bamboo Society

Quick update...

Its amazing how end of the year school activities can consume the family for an entire month. EOG’s, class parties, band concerts,(Madison, Clarinetist, rocked the Year of the Dragon) dance recitals, assessments. I work harder on my children’s education than I ever did on my own schooling.

It’s a little know fact that I am a Detroit Pistons fan, this is their 5th consecutive year in the conference finals. As of this moment, it’s the 3 quarter of the 2nd game and they are down 5 points. I have this strong desire to drink beer and holler at the TV.
Hold up…They are only down 1 point now, I am no longer breathing

.

Rob gave me one of the best hair cuts of my life today. I was thinking of getting Heather Locklear bangs but he talked me out of it and I am glad he did.

*** My moma totally restored me to sanity this week. I could not get caught up on my chores and she took off work to help me clean. We got virtually the whole hose clean in 4 hours and still had time by the pool. I love you, mom!

What I’ve learned about boys 7 years after having a son...

Boys will make a weapon out of any available object, wear the knees out of their jeans, eat a lot more than girls, have an innate ability to make realistic battle noises, if allowed boys stay in perpetual motion, and little boys truly love their mamas.
Happy Birthday Lawson Dare Evans!

We celebrated with more of the magical Oreo cake, the worlds most caloricly dense food. Mike guesstimated that it weighed 5 lbs. The perfect storm of ingredients, combining the moist fluffy cake with the course texture of the Oreo.

Cake Mix (Milk Chocolate batter was preferred to white)
Duncan Hines Whipped Vanilla Frosting
1 Package Oreos
1 package Double Stuff Mint Oreos

generously frost your first layer, then crumble about a half an inch of the plain Oreos,, place and frost the second layer, crumbling a more course, but equally thick layer of Double Stuff Mint Oreo on top.
(Please be aware that one slice will pretty much induce a sugar coma, it is like the Jagermeister of desserts.)

I am not a landscaper...

One hundred sixty something plants later... Almost one year to the day, we moved into or new construction home without including any landscaping . We did manage to finagle some grass last year so this spring it was all about plants. I know virtually nothing about landscaping. This is foreign territory to me. I dont want a formal look...more of a casual/modern california style. Not sure if I have done that. I have found that I am good at digging holes, not quick, but capable. The yard is looking more like a real yard. I am really pleased with the back, our grass is becoming incredibly lush after much watering and fertilizing. Michael and I waxed on about this gardening thing... its expensive, exhausting and not really fun. But incredibly satisfying. I am so ready to get back to my scrapbook table. I wanted to include a view of our grass, Mike and I are so proud. (yes I know this officially means we are old farts)
**A new website discovery this week www.geekologie.com. Lots of random very cool photos.
It worth bookmarking for sure. Take some time to surf around.
**Mom lets reschedule mothers day for next Sunday. We will include the sun this time=)