Stripe It Up

Our guest bedroom has gone through several transitions since we moved into the house in 2008. It first looked like this:

And then I 'traditionalized' it up with some gold tones and Ralph Lauren:

But now, I have transformed it into the most beautiful thing in the world. More beautiful than models, children, stuffed animals...and all those things combined.


Taping perfectly straight lines: 10 hours
Painting with Shane who whined about painting: 3 hours
Having raw, sore fingers from said taping and painting: 2 days
Ending up with the most gorgeous room you've ever seen in your life: Priceless


Behold:

So, whattya think?!?

So Stylin'...

Last week, my friend Kelly awarded me with the Stylish Blogger Award! So sweet!

So, the deal is that I have to share 7 things about myself and then give this same award to my favorite bloggers! Here are my little known facts (or possibly widely known facts to some):

1. I have been with my husband, Shane, since I was 15 years old. Don't do the math on our age difference. :)



2. I met said husband while he was dating one of my besties, Andrea. And, yes, we are still friends...she was actually in my wedding! Smooches, Andrea. :)


3. My favorite show, or series of shows, is Law & Order. It doesn’t matter how many times I see the same episode (thank you, TNT) I still love it…


4. I typically only read books that involve murder, mystery or both. However, I’ve been in a book club for a little over a year and it has totally expanded my horizons…but I still love a good murder.


5. When I was 19 I got a ticket for underage drinking. To get out of the ticket, I became a civilian agent and tried to bust restaurants and bars who served minors. You call me a narc…I consider myself an agent of the law.


6. I’m funnier than my husband…but we all know that.


7. I love to clean. I don’t always have the time to do it but when I do…hmmm…there’s just nothing like the smell of Pine Sol or sucking up a huge dust bunny with the Dyson.


And who do I bestow this award to now? A few of my favorites below...
 
Southern Circle of Hell Part Deux


All Things G&D


Adventures of Abra-Kad-Dasher and Rin-Tin-Tinsley


Three Men and a Lady

Straight No Chaser

Surprisingly, this post has nothing to do with alcohol. But it has a lot to do with an amazing a capella band...Straight No Chaser.

We had our annual corporate meeting yesterday and it was literally balls to the wall from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. - and those who know me know that I don't really do the 7 o'clock hour.

Anywho, these hotties were our entertainment during the event:

As we were running around backstage, we happened to walk by their dressing rooms...they had the door open...they all had six packs. Again, not related to alcohol but totally related to hot bods. I really wished that my friend, Danielle, was there so that we could find her a hot, singer husband that I could also be friends with. Love you, Shane. :)

And they did THE most amazing mash up of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean and Bel Biv Devoe's Poison. And all this is them - there was no speaker music...take a look (and as a side note - this video was not recorded by me...although I loved that the girl is a 'woo-er!' Kindred spirits...):



Awesome - right?!? 

Hope everyone has a great weekend! 

An Atlanta Restaurant Review: The Firkin & Gryphon

This past weekend, our crew went to The Firkin & Gryphon in Dunwoody to get some food, drinks and watch the Atlanta Falcons game. From the SECOND we walked in, everything went down hill...here is why:

1. Danielle, Mandy and I go to the bathroom when we first get there. A girl in a plaid skirt walks in and goes in the stall. We step up to the sinks to wash our hands...I'm putting on lotion (yes, they had lotion there and it was a very nice touch, I must say)...and said plaid skirt girl walks out of the stall and leaves. We all immediately look at each other as though she had walked by and spit on us. 'Did she not wash her hands?' 'Does she WORK here?!?' 'God, I hope that isn't our waitress.' We exit the bathroom, sit down at our table, and the nappy-handed waitress walks up to our table. Yep. That is pretty much how my life goes. ALWAYS.
2. They were having an event menu and beers were $1. 68 and cheese dip and chips were on special for the low, low price of $6. We order a couple of beers and some cheese dip. I swear, 10 minutes later, we get beers, approximately 15 stale chips and two tablespoons of Velveeta cheese with the rank skin on the top. 'Grimey hands' must have let it sit under the lamp for 8 of those 10 minutes.
3. And as she is placing all this stuff on the table...I see a scab on her finger. Gag me with a spoon.
4. The radio station, 680 AM, was broadcasting from this restaurant starting around 4 p.m. We got there around then so that we could get a table and have our spot for the game. Well, around 7 p.m. the crowd rolls in and people are everywhere. There was some guy sitting on the floor behind my chair, another whose breath I could feel in my hair...the restaurant clearly had no plans or space for this type of crowd.
5. Oh, and even during game time, we are still waiting upwards of 10 minutes for drinks. So, that confirms that it had nothing to do with the amount of people at this place.

Overall, I rate this place a 1 out of 5 with 1 being a big fat SUCKS. I will not be going back.  

Changing My Name – Interacting with DMV Employees

In mid-December, I finally changed my last name on my driver’s license! I am officially Stacy Wilson, according to the State of Georgia. It wasn’t really that hard to do – just had to find my official, notarized birth certificate; swing by the courthouse in Cobb County, pay $10 for an official copy of my marriage certificate; then beep on over to the DMV in Austell to get my license. Easy peesy during a one hour lunch break.

I think that we are all aware that, sometimes, interacting with government employees can be difficult…you know, because they act like they are better and smarter than you and all that. So, as I walk into the building, I’m greeted by a bunch of chairs and a bunch of reception stalls…no sign telling me to take a number, take a seat, take a hike…nothing. I clearly looked dumbfounded because one of the receptionists asked if she could help me…’Yes, I recently got married and need to change my name.’ She handed me some forms and I sat in the sea of chairs.

As I go to fill out the paperwork, it asks for my last name. Maybe I was reading too much into it, but I wondered ‘Is this my current last name? Or my new last name? I really don’t feel like having to complete another form if I get this one question wrong…’ I walk up to the receptionist again and say, ‘Ma’am, I’d just like to confirm…where it says ‘Last Name,’ I put in my married last name, correct?’ She responds with ‘You put your last name.’ ‘Right…my married last name?’ ‘That is your last name. It’s kind of like when it becomes a new year and you just starting writing the new year on all of your documents.’ I wish I had a picture of my face. It was a mix of ‘Are you effing kidding me?’ and ‘How do last names relate to years?’ and ‘I’m going to slap you.’ But my final response was ‘Yes, I understand the process of changing years…I’ll write my married last name.’

Then, the best part was that I had to take a new picture and I hadn’t washed my hair or put on makeup. And was wearing an army green sweater with a pink coat…which that was my fault – I shouldn’t have even left the house like that.

click to make larger

AND THEN, they print me out some sheet of paper that serves as a temporary ID until my real one comes in the mail. Um, where were these ‘temporary IDs’ when I was between the ages of 18-21??? I could have totally made this happen with a scanner, color printer and some gel pens. Hell, I wouldn’t even need the gel pens.

Movie Review Monday

With the holidays and the snowstorm and the ice - Shane and I watched a lot of movies! Here are five that I actually remember something about...along with my rating.

Black Swan:

This is the worst movie I've seen in a while. I'm all for the artsy-fartsy, make you think, make you want to be a deeper person...but this movie sucked. Her legs snapped back like a ducks and she began sprouting feathers...need I say more? This movie kind of pisses me off it was so bad...

True Grit:

Really liked this movie! Jeff Bridges and Matt Damon were hilarious in a very dry way...I give it 3.5 out of 5.

Kick Ass:

I didn't think this movie was going to be my style AT ALL, however, it wound up being pretty funny. Basically, a kid is tired of being a wimpy dork so he buys a scuba suit and becomes a real world superher...very funny. I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5.

Easy A:

Um, I pretty much loved everything about this movie. I want to rewind my life and BE this girl in high school. I'd give it a 4.5 out of 5. You should watch it...right now.
Due Date:

This movie was hilarious...I was that person that laughed at everything and laughed a little too long at some of the funny parts. Yep, I was that girl. Anyway, hilarious, I'd give it a 4 out of 5.

Watch your back, Ebert and Roeper.

Four Days in Captivity

It snowed in Atlanta...like, for real, snowed. Here in Smyrna, we got 4 1/2" on Sunday night. On Monday, it snowed a little more, and then started sleeting and then started raining...thus, creating ice.

People (mostly those from the North and a few snarky Southerners) say that Southerners don't know how to drive in the snow. That is incorrect. I KNOW how to drive in the snow but I choose not to. If I HAD to, I could do it. However, the real issue lies with the layers of ice and black ice that cover our roads. I'm pretty sure that NO ONE knows how to drive in ice.

The point is, we've had ice on the roads since Monday night. And Shane and I have been in the house since Sunday afternoon.

This is our house on Thursday...four days after the snow:

 Our driveway - a solid sheet of ice:

 And these are the back roads around our house...still icy:

 Looking forward to leaving the house - fo sho!

Christmas!

I'll make this brief since I am WAY behind...but we had a great Christmas with my dad, Greta, my mom, my brothers and the Llerenas!

 Christmas with the Carlisle's: Chris, me, Shane, Dad and Greta

 Fried Turkey

 Topher and Shane

 Me and Pat

Five dogs at my dad's - Brother, Maggie, Izzy, Kim and Beau

Christmas with Mom: Shane, Patrick, me, Mom and Topher

"Is Shane wearing one piece pajamas?" Yes, he sure is.

Beau and Brother's Christmas presents from Grandma...he patiently awaits. 

 Latisse...I was doing my best lash pose here. I'll let you know how this product pans out.

Christmas Snow at Mom's house!

 Manny's McCallan 12

 Debbie's George W. Book

Katie's IPhone dock and ITunes gift card

We had a fantastic Christmas, spent quality time with family, got some very great and generous gifts and just took it easy!

An Actual Conversation: Recalling 'Tipsy' Conversations

Stacy: So, I don’t know if I mentioned it, but I’m going to pick out bridesmaids dresses with Mandy on Saturday and then we are going to eat at Pappasito’s. I put it on the Google calendar too.

Shane: I know…

Stacy: OMG, did you actually look at the Google calendar?

Shane: No, we discussed all of this last night…after your book club meeting. Remember?

Stacy: Oh…well…I don’t recall that conversation.

December Pictorial

Here's another pictorial to sum up our December!

Happy 22nd Birthday, Topher!

Mom and Topher

The Wiltin Wedding in Denver, Colorado:

Me, Brian and Mandy

Mike and Mandy

Me and Shane on our way to the reception

Me and Mandy

Me and Shane

The Guys: John, Fisher, Mike and Shane

Mr. and Mrs. Brian Wiltin

Shane

 

Lessons learned from the videos? I'm a definite 'woo-er,' which I clearly need to limit, and I really like to sing along with the music...regardless if I know the song or not. Noted. 


More to come!

So, Where Did We Leave Off?

Happy Birthday, Shane! Happy Thanksgiving! Happy 22nd Birthday, Topher! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! Dang, it’s been a while…



In order to avoid another two month hiatus, I’m going to pace myself with information sharing. So, in this installment, we’ll be reviewing the remainder of the month of November. Sit back and enjoy the photos!

Happy Birthday, Mr. Wilson!

The Guys

Me and Shane

The Girls

Monica, me and Lindsay

Black Crowes Concert - Nov. 20, 2010 - The Tabernacle

Shane, me, Kelly and Austin

 The stage...very blurry

 Chris Robinson, Black Crowes...very blurry

 After the concert at Stout...or are we in a library? Hmmm.... 

 Atlanta Thrashers hockey game on Sunday

 Pretty sweet seats...

 My bros, Patrick and Topher