Am I Really 26?

Oye.

That came pretty quick! But it definitely beats the alternative.

“Never regret growing older as it is a privilege denied to many” – Not sure where that came from

True dat.

Anywho!

I had a wonderfully fabulous birthday weekend! My birthday fell on a Saturday this year which is always awesome. I’m not one to take off work on my birthday so I appreciated the festive day off!

It started with Mom and I going to Mule Day. It’s a craft/foody event in Calvary, GA that we attend every year. I usually get some good stuff but for the first time ever I didn’t buy a thing.

Well, we had some corndogs but that’s it. Jumbo ones at that. They were good.

Mules lined up for the parade.

Making Cane Syrup.

That evening we went out to eat at my usual favorite dinner spot, El Jalisco’s.

My Momma insisted I wear the giant birthday pin. Since I forgot to wear a scarf, it completed my look after all!

My nearest and dearest were there and I loved every minute of it! Thank you SO much to those that came!

I also got my drinky drink on. Which consisted of 1.5 alcoholic beverages (AKA bowl sized fruity drinks) and a disgusting shot of tequila that I had to down because everyone was watching me while the sombrero men were singing.

Olé!

The Dawkins.

On my second and Renee’s still on her first…oh dear…carry us out!

 

<3 Family.

I’m a lightweight and we had fun. Renee was my partner in crime. She’s a lightweight too. We’re cheap dates

I got such thoughtful gifts and I’ve already blown through all but one of my gift cards. Is that bad? Nah, it’s my birthday!

After dinner some of the group came to my parents for a bon fire and birthday cake.

Favorite picture of the night. Love this girl  

Second favorite picture!

Love my Momma!

Ohhhh dear…

We all enjoyed our margaritas!

All the pictures that came out good are stolen from Renee!

I thoroughly enjoyed myself and had such a wonderful birthday! Thank you to everyone for making it so special!

I Jumped on the Engineer (Print) Train

And I’m in love with the result of a $3.50 print!

I took my picture on a jump drive to Staples and got a 24” x 36” Engineer Print done. It was less than $4 and the print really is huge.

Here’s an up close picture of the picture. The quality is really good too for being printed on plain old paper!

Oh, and make it black and white before you go if you can.

Here it is compared to a 43” TV. It really is big and great to fill a big blank wall!

It’s in an awful spot right now but to be honest I wanted it up so it didn’t get damaged and this was the biggest free space for it.

I got two printed when I did this one because I plan to make another with a different print.

There are tutorials floating around that use MDF, Foam Board, etc.

I used a canvas from Michaels. For this size I lucked out and found one 50% off so it was $17.

There are also different methods on adhering it. Take my advice (since I didn’t take Renee’s when she told me not to) and DO NOT use mod podge over the top. It instantly bubbled up the fragile paper and I had to peel up that corner and let it dry crispy then restick. I just knew it was ruined and I’d have to reprint it. Luckily I was able to make it work. 

Here’s what I did:

1) Spray canvas with Krylon Spray Adhesive ($7)

2) Stick print to it starting from one side and smoothing bubbles all the way across.

3) Let dry (or don’t if you’re like me and impatient) and hang!

Cost Breakdown:

$17 24” x 36” Canvas

$7 Spray Adhesive (already had on hand)

$3.50 print

Total = $27.50 for a huge canvas “photo”

Not too shabby!

Oh and when I get brave I’ll probably go back and seal down just the edges with mod podge but I was scared to get it near the photo at that point.

Sorry for the awful pictures too. Midnight shots without a tripod are not recommended.

I cannot wait to see it on our pretty gray walls in the new house!

Wall-E

First we got a slab.

Garage on the left, front porch straight ahead.

Then we got walls!

David standing in the “nursery”. His words, not mine!  

Isn’t the panorama feature so cool? I’m a little obsessed.

Back of house.

While David was standing there wondering what we’ve gotten ourselves into and if we’ll ever be able to eat something again besides Ramen noodles, we had a neighbor come introduce themselves! Turns out he was very nice and actually owns a tree clearing business so he was “team tree removal” and glad that we cleared the lot.

Well that’s good!

For my SIL(ly).

That’d be Kimbo, my Sister in Law.

This post is not meant to embarrass you Kimberly, just to give a tribute to show the closeness we share.

Insert evil laugh here 

We like to Facetime. We don’t do it as often as we should, but when we do we will easily be on the phone for hours. 

The other night when she was showing me around her and Joshy-poo’s new place, there was a stack of tin foil sheets on the coffee table. I asked what the heck it was for and she said they put them on the couch to keep Bailey (my fur-niece) off the couch during the day…

I absolutely busted out laughing! These are the things you’d never get to see if she’d have just sent me some pictures of the place because it’s likely those would have been left out.

I also got to see her entire bedtime routine including this beauty:

Hahah! I told her I was going to put it on the blog. I am a woman of my word!

Luckily she didn’t take my picture when I answered her Facetime call while I was still in the shower. Good times! 

I know this is a random post but this blog serves as a keepsake for me and I want to be sure to remember the “poised” times and the “not so poised” because that’s what makes life go ‘round.

Love you to pieces Kimbojangles!

And yes I know, payback is imminent!

PS- Kim started a blog not too long ago. She is a sparse blogger right now so I’m hoping by calling her out and telling you to go visit her, she might post more often for my reading pleasure! Find her here The Laid-Back Laus.

Throw Back Thursday #tbt

I had to learn what that meant by googling “tbt”. I’m cool like that.

I’m not sure if this will be a recurring Thursday post topic, but for today, it is Throw Back Thursday!

Renee and I were looking through her old photo albums and we came across these two lovebirds.

David and I, homecoming circa 2002 I believe?

We were just wittle babies. I love looking at old pictures!

Breast Cancer Walk 2012

It’s been our yearly girl’s tradition to participate in Southwood’s Brest Cancer Walk.

This year was no different! It was a glorious walk and the weather was absolutely beautiful.

Me, Mrs. Sissy, Brody, Savannah & Renee.

And we’re off!

That’s a lot of people!

Brody appears to be saying, “Faster Aunt Tam!”

Love it. Can’t wait til next year ladies!

Halloween Decor

Just a little bit of spooky décor to get into the Holiday spirit!

 

Still love my Ikea frame turned chalkboard! And I tried a white pumpkin this year.

I bought 6 $0.99 Ikea Tolsby frames on our last trip. I intended to chalk board them and use them to write the names of food for get togethers.

Well, I finally put the chalkboard vinyl on them that I bought months ago.

That stuff is awesome by the way!

 

PS - the tip to getting smooth and vibrant chalk writing is to wet the chalk first. It’ll go on hardly there but when it dries it’s stark white and smooth!

They turned out SO cute! I decided they’d serve several purposes as well as holiday decoration pieces.

And I can always turn them around and use the blank side to slip cute papers in.

 

1, 2

Like these! They can be spray painted too. I want at least a hundred more!

Anywho, that’s it. Not going too far out on the décor this year. But I absolutely can’t wait until Holiday decorating at the new house!

Trick or Trot 5k!

Well, I did it. It’s over, and I survived. I was not nearly as prepared as I’d have hoped to be. But I made it through!

Renee, Brittney and I ran the Trick or Trot 5k this past Friday. It was Renee and I’s first!

I was third place out of my group of three, but I did much better than I thought. I never did finish Couch to 5K. Only made it through week 7 of 9. And I haven’t run in several weeks.

So when I finished up the 3.1 miles in exactly 37 minutes, I was thrilled! Renee and Brittney came in at 34 mins + some seconds so to be only three minutes behind when these girls have been kicking that 3.1 miles butt in practice before hand, I was ecstatic!

 

Before.

And we’re off!!

Yay I did it!!

It.was.tough.

I ran 1.5 miles without stopping and then had to walk for a minute. From there I still mostly ran but had to stop for a few walk breaks. I know. I’m disappointed too.

We rocked it!

 

Renee, Erin, Me, Caitlin.

I hope to do another one in the near future. I just have to stick to that training schedule and maybe I’ll be able to run the whole time!