Master Bedroom and Bath

It's been a while since I've posted pictures of our home. As far as y'all know, we've been living in a kitchen, dining room and nursery all this time.

I've been trying to wait until every room is "finished" before I post pictures but am starting to realize my idea of finished might be a tad too exacting. As in, no room is really ever FINISHED-finished. So as long as there aren't huge pieces left to get or major improvements to make I'm going to try to get up pictures of the rest of the house as soon as I can.

Here is our bedroom:

As usual, most of the credit goes to my Aunt Lana who found the awesome floral that inspired the room. She helped me pick out the gorgeous blue on the walls and had the inspired idea to cover my headboard and the ottoman at the end of the bed. Thanks also goes to my mom and Nanny who put their sewing skills to use for me.

This mirror is probably my favorite piece in the room. My mom bought it at an auction for an insanely cheap price. It had a floral scene in the panel that I painted over. Then my mom painted our monogram in in and I think it looks lovely.

When we first bought the house, the master bath was my most hated room. It was weirdly arranged and had only a shower pod and a pedestal sink. I mean you can't get ready at a PEDESTAL sink. It's like against the laws of physics or something. I told Nicholas I would move in only if we remodeled this bathroom beforehand. We basically gutted the entire thing. Took out the shower and pedestal sink. Put in a beautiful new mosaic floor and soaking tub. Painted over the fluorescent turquoise and VOILA a spa-like oasis in which no boys are allowed. I don't care how cute and little they are. ;)

Day 296

Griffin and his Great-Grandaddy Bud.

Day 295

And the winner is...

I must share my snarky fashion commentary with the world!!!

7:16 - Cameron Diaz just said the EXACT same thing to Sheri Shepherd that she did to Ryan Seacrest.

7:21 - Tina Fey's ensemble is boring me.

7:22 - I don't know what pains me more Kathy Ireland talking or Miley Cyrus's posture. It's a toss-up.

7:23 - I think Jeff Bridges is sexy and I'm not embarrassed to say it. His wife looks fantastic. Someone want to buy me those earrings? Anyone? Anyone? No? ... And Kate Winslet's necklace. How about now? Any one feeling generous?

7:24 - Could I be happier for Gabourey Sidibe? I mean what if she won. I mean we all know Sandy or Meryl are going to win but WHAT IF? Either way she looks amazing so there's that.

7:25 - Meryl looks resplendent. That's right - resplendent! I wish she were my aunt. No disrespect to my current aunts. ;)

7:28 - I will not be seeing The Back-up Plan, in case anyone was wondering.

7:30 - Whoa whoa why are they making them all stand there? Tad awkward I think. HA! Gabourey Sidibe worked it! LOVE IT!

7:32 - I wish Neil Patrick Harris was actually hosting!?! I wish he were one of my gay best friends (no offense to my current best gays).

7:33 - I guess Steve Martin and Alex Baldwin were like "We don't sing."

7:38 - I don't like the stage. I remember really loving it last year and this year I think it looks cheesy.

7:39 - Why did Alex Baldwin dye his hair? I like the grey.

7:40 - Sam Worthington did not think the Avatar bit was funny.

7:41 - I really hope this War of Roses Cameron/Bigelow thing doesn't go on all night. It's getting old real fast.

7:43 - It pains me to say this but George Clooney does not look his best. He needs a haircut - just like my husband!

7:44 - I have Woody winning this. Let's see if I'm right.

7:48 - I know Christoph Waltz was the expected winner. I hope there are SOME surprises tonight or this could get boring.

7:51 - DUDE they're doing clips from ALL TEN best film nominees.

7:56 - Cameron Diaz looks dreamy.

7:59 - Up. Duh.

8:01 - Look! It's like how to be classy v. trashy!

8:03 - Nine was TERRIBLE - like I almost walked out terrible.

8:04 - Called it. T. Bone of course.... My mom thought Crazy Heart was about T. Bone Burnett.

8:05 - Nicholas, I love you more than rainbows.

8:06 - I've seen all of the Best Picture nominees except A Serious Man, because Netflix is a jerk. District 9 started strong but finished kind of lame. That's about all I got on it.

8:12 - I'm adding to what I said about Tina Fey. Her dress is boring. Her makeup and hair are just bad.

8:13 - Do you think RDJ purposefully matched his tie to his glasses?

8:14 - I'm predicting Hurt Locker.

8:15 - SNAP! Nicholas predicted Inglourious Basterds. I guess it's official - I'm the smarter spouse! ;)

8:17 - I was confused for a moment. Now, I get it. John Hughes tribute. I'm in favor.

8:18 - HA! What must it be like to walk around as Ferris Bueller the rest of your life? FYI I can quote ALMOST all of that movie.

8:20 - I watched Some Kind of Wonderful for the first time the other day. I didn't enjoy it.

8:21 - Did you know John Hughes had Beethoven's FIFTH? As in a FOURTH followup to Beethoven. Can't believe they left that out of the tribute. Sorry, I don't mean to speak ill of the dead.

8:22 - LOVING the reunion!

8:24 - If you didn't cry during Up, you have no heart.

8:27 - Zoe Saldano needs to have a piece of my coca cola cake. Girlfriend is T-H-I-N.

8:29 - Oh I'm feeling this. I mean who doesn't wonder what the heck this category is about.

8:30 - OMG that baby is so scary. We saw that when they rebroadcast all of Pixar's shorts on ABC a while back. Soooo creepy!

8:31 - I think I predicted Logorama. ... HA! I'm awesome!

8:33 - I picked the Rabit one. Oh well.

8:34 - WHOA WHOA WHOA Is this woman supposed to be up there? What's going on?

8:35 - Ok apparently she's supposed to there. I picked Miracle Fish for this one.

8:37 - Not to be a jerk but if you're going to wear tails your shirt shouldn't be hanging out the bottom.

8:38 - How many Avatars will there be at Halloween? A million. 2 million. I dread it.

8:39 - I predicted Young Victoria just because I LOVED it and I want it to win something.

8:41 - Ok so vulcan ears might be harder than making Emily Blunt look pretty. Whatever.

8:42 - Should I see Star Trek? Is it good? I think it's in my que.

8:43 - I mean come on - he's sexy right? WAY sexy.

8:48 - I wish Rachel McAdams was my friend. I picked Up in the Air.

8:50 - I'm happy with these results. I want Precious to win some statues.

8:51 - "This is for everyone who works on a dream everyday." Nice.

8:52 - U-N-I-T-Y

8:54 - If I am half as awesome as Lauren Bacall when I'm her age - or hell even now - I will be lovin life.

8:56 - Vera Farmiga and Penelope Cruz are wearing very similar dresses.

8:57 - Wait, who won best supporting actor last year? Why is Robin Williams presenting?

8:58 - "I type with purpose." I love that line.

8:59 - Not even kidding. I am sitting here dreading Monique clips because I will then be haunted by that character again for weeks and weeks. Shiver.

9:00 - An Education is really, really, really wonderful and Cary Mulligan makes it.

9:05 - The ribbon and the sash are too much. One or the other.

9:06 - I picked Avatar for all these boring technical awards.

9:07 - Seriously, do we really need to kiss James Cameron's ass anymore?

9:09 - I (heart) SJP I do and I will go see the Sex and the City sequel but that dress is terrible.

9:10 - Bright Star should win. Her outfits were integral and had a presence all their own.

9:11 - I mean is it me or do costume designers always look terrible!?!

9:12 - Here's fun story. As I was leaving Precious thinking, "I need a therapy session." I saw a girl - I'd say 9 or 10 - leaving the theater. It's a good thing I don't have DFACS on speed dial.

9:16 - Harold Wheeler does DWTS! I love him!

9:17 - Ok, it's 9:17 and we're only like a halfway through. Shouldn't we cut all the cutesy skits?

9:18 - Kristen Stewart Wears. Me. Out.

9:19 - Jaws is scary y'all. For real. I thought it was going to be lame. Not lame. Scary.

9:22 - Lovin Anna's dress. It's so lovely. I can't wear that color and it's not fair.

9:25 - Shocking! I was sure Avatar would win all these technical awards. I was also hoping they'd give Avatar a bunch of small awards and wouldn't feel obligated to give them Best Picture.

9:27 - I'm worried now. What if it works in the reverse?

9:28 - HA! Elizabeth Banks plunked down those stairs like she wasn't scared at all! Love it!

9:29 - I like her other dress better.

9:30 - I enjoyed Inglourious Basterds. It's weird to watch a WWII movie you know is completely false but still it was good.

9:34 - WHOA! Her dress looks about ten times of fantastic under those lights. It wasn't near that exciting on the red carpet.

9:37 - FYI Demi Moore gave birth to her first child in Paducah, KY.

9:38 - I always want to kiss James Taylor on top of his big old bald head.

9:39 - MARTY! Everyone should see that movie - it is one of my all time favorites.

9:45 - JLo's dress looks like bubble wrap.

9:46 - This reminds me of how excited I am about the new season of DWTS.

9:49 - Up should win. So wonderful and memorable. Didn't you leave the theater humming it?

9:54 - I do not find Gerard Butler attractive. He's getting by on his accent.

9:55 - Avatar winning Best Special Effects about sums up how I'm feeling about this Oscar-cast.

9:57 - Up in the Air was just well-done. Well written. Well acted. Well directed. Well done.

10:00 - That Modern Family commercial was funnier than every joke COMBINED in the actual Oscars.

10:01 - I want to go on vacation with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck and their families. I saw a picture of them surfing once and was so jealous!

10:02 - The Cove was so affecting. I hope it wins. Although if Food Inc won, more people would see it and that would be a good thing.

10:04 - Sweet! WAIT! Fisher Stevens did this!?! Wild!

10:07 - Seriously! Keanu got The Hurt Locker. They couldn't do any better?

10:10 - I have genuine affection for Quentin Tarantino. I can't help it.

10:16 - This guy is way cute.

10:20 - It's trite. It's lame. It's AVATAR!

10:24 - Dude, Michelle Pfieffer's dress looks a lot like Vera's and Penelope's.

10:26 - This is nice. Jeff Bridges looks like he might cry.

10:28 - I've met Julianne Moore in real life. She is tee tiny and very very nice.

10:28 - Dear God in heaven, Please don't let them do this for Best Director. If I have to listen to someone go on and on about James Cameron someone is going to get hurt.

10:31 - How do I arrange a lunch with Kate Winslet, Rachel McAdams and Julia Roberts?

10:32 - The Dude abides.

10:39 - Listen, I love Sandra Bullock but Meryl, Carey, Gabby ALL did better jobs.

10:41 - OPRAH IN THE HOUSE!

10:43 - DUDE Spoiler alert Peter!!! Some haven't seen the movie!

10:44 - So you're Gabby. You are nominated for an Oscar and OPRAH is introducing you. Whoa.

10:47 - Come on Academy. Surprise me!

10:48 - Wow. Even though everyone knew she was going to win, it's still kind of crazy. I mean who wins a Best Actress Oscar AND a Razzy in the same year?

10:51 - As a new mommy, loving her speech.

10:52 - If I sat through this whole thing and Katherine Bigelow doesn't win I am going to be so freaking pissed.

10:53 - YIPEE!!! It only took 82 years!

10:58 - YEAH!!! The Hurt Locker was brilliant. I'm so glad it won!

And I'm out! It's been fun. I'll try to get better live blogging software next time Dewayne. :)

Genius

Don't worry you will all be invited when he graduates college...at sixteen. :)

Hello GORGEOUS!

Day 293

Look at what I made!

And yes that's made out of what you think it is. :)

Day 292

This morning when Nicholas went to get Griffin. This is what he found.

BAM! Sitting up!

Like it's no big deal. Like he does it ALL the time.

dispatches from quilt city

Meet Speedy. One of Paducah's most famous citizens.

Speedy was a poor African-American laborer in Paducah during the 1920s. In 1928, Speedy went fishing and never returned. His body was turned over to the Hammock's Funeral Home for a pauper's burial. Instead, the owner A.Z. Hammock used an experimental super-preservative to turn Speedy into a type of statue.

Speedy spent the next several decades in a closet of the funeral home (except for a quick swim during the great flood of 1937) from which he would be pulled out occasionally for the entertainment of tourists and school children. He eventually became a bit of a celebrity appearing in Jet Magazine and Ripley's Believe It or Not.

Eventually, someone took mercy on old Speedy and finally buried him in Maplelawn Cemetery in downtown Paducah.

Now, if that's not a reason to come visit, I don't know what is. :)

Day 291

Griffin had a hard day today. He is apparently allergic to a supplement that we've been putting in his food. Every time it's been his food he's thrown up. For SOME reason I decided that maybe it wasn't the supplement so I put a tiny amount in his breakfast. When he woke up from his nap, he just started throwing up and wouldn't stop. On top of that, he was totally lethargic and would just lay on my chest. It was heartbreaking.

The worst part was I had to go to class but Nicholas came home and he and Mema took great care of him. By this afternoon, he was doing much better and was pretty much himself by this evening. Still, I feel terrible and will never never put that stuff in his food again.

Day 290

On Lists

I love lists. Not all lists. Not little to do lists or shopping lists. Big lists. Lists of what you want to accomplish.

When I was in middle school, I remember reading these self-help books for kids. They were all about motivating yourself and achieving your goals. They recommended writing a lists of what you wanted to do in your life.

So I did. I believe it included everything from "Meet Dean Cain" to "Read the Bible." Well, I have never had the honor of meeting Mr. Cain but I actually did finish reading the Bible before I graduated from high school. I guess I've been hooked ever since.

I made another list almost two years ago that has been our family's North Star ever since. It's the one pictured above. I made it in an attempt to convince Nicholas that the changes I were proposing were achievable. As a details man, he was overwhelmed by the prospect of uprooting our lives in DC and all that entailed. However, a professor in college once called me the Queen of Proximate Knowledge and I like to think this means I can also see the bigger picture.

"See this is all we have to do!"

A small list of seven things that would change our lives forever.

Well, that list is almost complete. Even though, the last unchecked item says "Sarah: Take Bar" I refuse to check it off until I've actually passed. However, for all intents and purposes, I think this list has done its job and I've decided to make another list.

I turn 30 on July 28, 2011.

Whoa. Typing that sentence made it seem real.

I'm ready to turn 30. The twenties have been great but I hold no illusions in regards to youth. I think it's because I watched my parents enjoying middle age so much I've always looked forward to it myself.

But just the same - turning 30 is pretty monumental and I was inspired by Making It Lovely who made a list of thirty things she wants to accomplish before turning 30. I decided to do the same and voila!

Thirty before 30

1. Have another baby.
2. Visit Abraham Lincoln's birth place and grave.
3. Watch Griffin play in the ocean for the first time.
4. Plan the most perfect first birthday for Griffin.
5. Read A Wrinkle in Time.
6. Have the most spectacular 30th birthday party.
7. Organize my pantry.
8. Learn how to play chess.
9. Make a crepe cake.
10. Landscape our yard.
11. Find a hairstyle I love.
12. Write a historical fiction short story.
13. Paint my den and kitchen.
14. Finish the ancestry book I've been working on.
15. Have a romantic weekend away with Nicholas sans bebe.
16. Start doing yoga again.
17. Run a marathon relay.
18. Read The Age of Innocence.
19. Visit my best friend Laura in New York City.
20. Buy another pair of Manolos.
21. Go to New Orleans for the first time.
22. Plan a fantastic girls weekend with my best friends from college who are also turning 30 very soon!
23. Make these chocolate chip cookies.
24. Find a job I love.
25. Turn my current laundry/storage room into a craft/exercise room.
26. Get a fantastic family portrait taken.
27. Go back to DC for a visit.
28. Read The Lacuna.
29. Go to Lillith Fair.
30. Learn how to play tennis.

Day 289

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

I dance now. :)

Day 288

When the moon hits your eye ...

March is a weird time to post about your New Years Resolutions...unless you are posting about giving up on themk.

However, my New Years Resolution was so big, so monumental that I wasn't ready to announce it to the Internet back in January. I wanted to be sure I was committed to the task. Plus, I was still figuring out the exact perimeters of the Resolution itself.

Internet, I gave up pizza.

I mean does it get any bigger than that? Well, it doesn't for me. I can tell you that.

Pizza is my comfort food. THE comfort food as far as I'm concerned. I mean I like sweets as much as the next person. I would never never turn down a chocolate chip cookie. But as far as a food food - food that passes as a real thing you can eat for dinner - pizza is it. My standby. My default. My "I'm hungry and I don't want to risk anything not being satisfying so let's just order pizza."

However, it was getting ridiculous. I was scarfing down three or four or even five pieces without even thinking. I don't like to eat it on real plates because it just makes it cold. So, I would stand by the box and swallow piece after piece. The last time we ordered delivery pizza right after Christmas I remember thinking, "This is so gross. I'm not even enjoying this." And that was it. I announced I was giving up pizza in 2010.

Then I got nervous. I mean that is EXTREME. Might as well give up sugar or chocolate.

So, I altered it. I gave up delivery pizza. No Dominos. No Pizza Hut. No Pizza Inn. No Papa Johns.

If we went to a restaurant, that was one thing but no more standing over the boxes. But I was still wanted to test myself. I wanted to see how long I could go without eating any pizza at all. I made it to the end of the month, when I decided I would only have pizza once a month. At the end of January, Nicholas whipped up some pizza one day for Sunday lunch - almost as an afterthought. It was nothing special and I regretted wasting my one pizza meal on it afterwards. Then in February, I went out with two of my sorority sisters to Joe Bologna's in Lexington the night before the Bar. I had loved their pizza in college and thought for sure it would be worthy of my monthly meal but even it was disappointing.

Now, I'm thinking of going back to my original resolution. I'm realizing my love affair with pizza has actually come to an end (or at least a hiatus) and that I might go back to not eating it at all.

We'll see how March goes. :)

Eye of the Tiger

I ran my first 5k!!! YIPEE!!!

This morning we woke up and drove to Murray so I could participate in the Run4Another 5k. I was a little nervous because I haven't run in almost 2 weeks because of the Bar and I'm used to running on a treadmill. But the sun was shining and I had a rocking playlist, so all was well.

My biggest fans were at the half way point cheering me on.

I made it the finish line at almost 40 minutes exactly. Considering I've been running just over 2 in 30 minutes recently, I was pretty proud of myself.

I think there was someone else who was pretty proud...or at least happy to see me at the finish line. :)

Day 286

Everyone has fun in music class!

Over the past couple months, Nicholas and I have been taking Griffin to a children's music class on Wednesday nights. We sing and dance and play instruments. It's been so fun to see Griffin take it all in even if he doesn't exactly sing and dance yet. His major skill is learning to shake the little rattle egg - which is pretty impressive since all he did in the beginning was put them in his mouth and drool.

I put together a little video of our last class set to some our favorite music class tunes.

Enjoy!

Music Class from hollandnm on Vimeo.

Day 285

Reaching out

So...about that whole changing every single thing in my life.

Turns out. The teensiest bit harder than I expected.

Look, I've been honest about how totally and completely I hate transitions. (See here) I do not handle them well. You would think at this point I'd see the stress coming from a mile away. I'd steel myself. I'd prepare. I'd do yoga.

You'd be wrong.

I was genuinely unprepared for how different my life would become and how intensely that would affect me. I think on some level I thought since I was choosing these changes the transition wouldn't be so hard. What could be so stressful about having everything you'd hoped and planned for reach fruition? A lot actually. Go figure.

On top of everything else, when I was at my lowest or most vulnerable I thought I couldn't say anything because I'd seem ungrateful or annoying. I could just hear the chorus - "But this is what you wanted!"

So, I've kept my head down and my fears and anxieties to myself. In the mean time, I was getting buried somewhere beneath the rubble of my old life and the freshly laid foundation of my new one.

I'm beginning to realize that discussing things with the not so reasonable voice inside my own head is not working. I'm also beginning to realize that just because huge changes got me to this place doesn't mean only huge changes are going to get me out. Instead, I'm taking one day at a time. I'm facing the fears, learning their names, and inviting them to calm the hell down.

And I'm reaching out.

Reaching out for help, for support, for a listening ear. In other words, if you like your baby pictures with a side of emotional confessionals - you've come to the right place!

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Day 283

A new leaf

The Best Blog Ever is no more. After almost seven years of posting and a whopping two different layouts, it was time for some change.

About a year ago I decided to change every thing in our lives. Every. Single. Thing. I figured it was time the blog reflected that.

So, welcome to a new day.

Welcome to dispatches from quilt city.

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Call me crazy...

But I much prefer this:

Or this:

To this:

Day 274

Giggles from hollandnm on Vimeo.

Day 273

The ubiquitous baby-in-laundry-basket shot :)

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Mema taught me to paddycake!

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While visiting the doctor about his diarrhea, Griffin had an accident. Surprise! Because I'm a terrible mother, I didn't have a change of clothes. He had to put on a little hospital gown.

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I had to hold him upside down in order to get a good picture of his new front tooth!

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