week in review

Is anybody else out there listening to Dolly Parton on Pandora? If you're not, ya need to be. I just heard the Judds, Kenny Rogers, Loretta, Tammy Wynette, … it's amazing. Trevor says I say "ah-mazing" all of the time and he's right, I do. Stick with what works. I rarely listen to the current country music playing out there, but there's just something about those old timers that I adore. Nashville in my blood. How can you not love you some lyrics like… "I like my lovin' done country style".

I've taken a bit of a blog reading hiatus lately. My biz partner, Currier, and I were just chatting about how blogs can kinda feel overwhelming sometime. Do you ever look at blogs and think oh my gosh, these folks are way cooler, more organized, craftier, prettier, and just generally more on top of it than me? I do and that's when I know it's time to step away, close the computer, and focus on whats happening right here in my life.

But, because I can't stay away for long, I have some finds to share…

Just when I thought Pinterest was the bees knees of it all, I discovered Instagram. Do y'all use it? You basically can follow your friends and see their camera pics they choose to share. I get to see regular pics of cousin Charlie and see what some of my blog buddies are up to. And this way I can share a ridiculous amount of silly pics with people who want to see the Moosh in action.

Food… I have been cooking it up lately. Lucky husband. I made BBQ Chicken + Tri-Color Slaw + Harriet's Cornbread + Banoffee Pie and wowed a small crowd with this menu. People say you shouldn't try a new recipe when you're having company, but when else are you going to go so much trouble? The only thing that didn't turn out was the pie, but I'm pretty sure it was my fault. The boys went back for seconds on the chicken, so I can really recommend it.

One more thing and then I'll get back to work. We got a babysitter last Saturday and spent the entire afternoon antiquing, lunching and just exploring the city. We hit the design district in Dallas which was very cool. Lot's of antique stores on Riverfront Blvd. White Elephant Antiques was great. What we were really looking for though was something with a bit more funk & country chic and less vintage. I suppose we have to get out of the metro area to find the cheap stuff. Anyone out there know of a spot? Anyway, we had the best time with our daytime date and ate lunch at Meddlesome Moth which was the best part of the day. Craft beers, cobb salad, and a BLT that about blew Trev's mind. We sat at the bar with some beer nerds which was hilarious and perfect.

fresh ideas hatching

Something special happened last week with Tenn Hens.

About seven years ago, Currier and I were working together at a Nashville agency, but we were ready for a change. A big one. We were the only two ladies in our department and we were growing tired of working for the boys! It was  an amazing experience and one we do not take for granted. But… we were dyin' to do our own thing. It just took us a while to jump ship. After much discussion and after getting blessings from all our family, we quit our jobs and started Tenn Hens. We had no idea what we were doing (for a while actually), but we had the best time doing it out together. There were a whole 'lotta mistakes! There were lots of ups & downs, and late nights, long Friday lunches, but by golly we were doing it and we hung in there together.And now we've been in business since '05.
Along the way we kept discussing the idea of creating a line of Tenn Hens products. It got pushed aside when times were busy, but it kept tugging at our souls. "Some day" we'll design our own stationary. I remember some folks from our past life in the advertising world kind of looking  down on that. I guess it wasn't as "serious" as designing campaigns for national brands and I think we kind of believed them for a while. But what we discovered over the years, besides doing what makes YOU happy, is that there's more than one way to run a design business.

Years went by and we worked, we changed, we survived, we grew and we decided we loved designing marketing pieces for businesses, but we also LOVED designing invitations + stationary. Currier is an artist to the core. She sketches, she watercolors, she even paints river rocks. The girl just brings a magical daydream quality to her art. Me, I'm the designer and font picker, the organizer and arranger. I put all the pretty pieces together. Friends and partners and confidants, we're better together and we make one heck of a team.

So, what I'm saying with all this rambling is… we finally went back to that little dream of ours from the very beginning. We hatched the Tenn Hens Etsy site.

It will be evolving & growing just like us. And who knows what will happen, but it is one dream come true. I sure hope you'll check it out and spread the word my friends!

post of pics

cute babies, boys, beer, and best friends… a mighty fine day

miss bell + miss miriam…two peas in a pod

 

happy 4th

One on the couch and one in the crib. My two nappers have left me with some rare quiet time this afternoon. Even though I badly wish we were up in the Tennessee mountains with my family, it is so nice to have a holiday today. It's hot and lazy and breezy here. We made smoothies for breakfast and it was my best one yet. Only downer was I spent the evening and morning cuddling with a sick toddler needing some lovin. Poor girl had a low fever, but I'm thinking it was just a 24 hr bug. I hate it when she's sick, but she couldn't be any sweeter when she is. We rubbed her hair and let her eat warm toast in the bed. Hopefully we can make a it to a cookout this afternoon and really celebrate the day. Happy 4th friends!

balloons and beer garden

I was up and at 'em this morning bright and early. Lots of work to do and I felt my mind racing already. Two little toddlers kept running into my office and fighting over the leftover birthday balloons so I made my escape to a nearby coffee shop. My friend Whitney and I hired a new nanny to start sharing and this week the girls are at my house. So far so good, but it meant last week I had to fire the previous girl. Very awkward and I completely rambled on, but it's really for the best and that's all that matters. Childcare has been such a source of frustration and worry, but that's for a whole nother post.

Around the house things are FINALLY wrapping up in the bathroom re-do. Yahoo! We have a tile floor, water and a working shower and a toilet… wait, half a toilet. Yes, the workers somehow "lost" the top to the toilet during renovation. Now come on… tell me, just how do you lose a toilet top?? I'm sure what really happened is someone broke it and decided not to mention it. Lordy pete. I promise to take some good pics very soon.

The guys were still working last Saturday around 5, so we decided to get out of the house and try Goodfriend Beer Garden. It was cute and even the 100 degree heat couldn't keep us off the patio. We're from Tennessee where the humidity is thick so we 'aint scared. Well kinda. My car read 109 yesterday at lunch. It's going to be one long, Texas summer!

t w o

Every morning I hear peeps and talking and funny noises coming from upstairs. Ever morning I open the door and greet Miriam with a big "good morning baby". This morning was different. Today, I got to say "happy birthday babycakes", to which she repeated right back to me. My little mynah bird. Two years ago we were in the hospital steadying ourselves and awaiting the big arrival. She was perfect and new. Tiny and pink. My baby girl. Now, here we are at two with scraped knees and little hands that can reach up to the kitchen counter.

I remember thinking how much I loved the six month mark, and then eighteen months was so blissful and now at two I think this is my favorite. I think you love it all when you're a mom. The good and the bad and the hard all roll into a love you can barely express, but it's there and it fills you.

T W O… Loves music in the car. Went potty for the first time (but not since). Awesome eater, but loves to ask for yogurt and then not eat it. Says "ok" instead of "yes". Likes to put hats on and play cowgirl. Very opinionated about what pajamas she wears. Still obsessed with lovey. Great sleeper. Still not sure about sharing…bit of a mine-o-saur. Helps mommy put away groceries, but insists on putting everything in the bottom bin. Favorite thing to "draw" is moons.


Says hi to everyone at the grocery. Puts herself in time-out when she's had enough. Goes swimming in the bathtub and eats bubbles. Requests a band-aid almost daily. Asks for one wipe during diaper changes so she can then go wipe down her toys. Feeds elmo chair milk. Insists on a bib at meal time.

current Miriam phrases…i not like mommy music / i wear dancing bears shirt / my daddy go work / sipsie girl love bananas / cows love grass / i go belle's house / i'm making cookies, i'm making milk / garage door not open, oh no / i want sing dance / i need change diaper / i want dance on mommy bed/ i not want take bath / mommy need potholder … obvi I could go on!


You make everything better and everything more beautiful. I'm sure glad I get to be your momma. Happy birthday baby!

mommas visit

It's been a while so I'm just going to dive on in y'all. Momma came to town and arrived just in time. I was missing home and feeling exhausted and irritable over our renovation saga. I needed a hug and a familiar face to help me sort it out and buck up a bit. Moms are good at that.

We lunched and shopped and explored this big ole place, but we also stayed in a lot and worked on the house. It was all and all a relaxing week except for a crazy break in the weather. A hail storm cam out of nowhere one evening around 5 and produced baseball size ice balls flying everywhere. It was so loud you wouldn't believe it. They were bouncing off the ground and tapping our windows and pegging the roof. It was nuts y'all. Mom and I were completely freaking out (actually, mom was freaking out), but leave it to the baby to remain cool and collected during an the chaos. Our neighbors were out in it and their back windshield was totally cracked and had holes all in it. Can you imagine? Thank goodness we were home safe and sound and there was wine in the fridge.


Anyway, we survived the storm and went about our momma/daughter week of fun… touring the Nasher Sculpture Center, finding antique row downtown, getting me some neon shorts, watching the grout go in the bathroom, eating at the Zodiac room in the original Neimans (they start your meal with warm chicken broth & a cheese wafer which sounds bizarre, but it totally warms the soul!), celebrating my birthday (34 durn it), and perusing a fabric warehouse for drapes. Apparently the bamboo blinds I bought, while inexpensive and pretty, are not great for blocking out light. Oops. At least they look good.

One morning we went to the Dallas Arboretum to see the Chihuly exhibit which was seriously gorgeous. Everything was blooming and the blown-glass was twinkling in the sun, but I had to keep one eye on Miriam who wanted to dive into every pool of water we came upon. Lordy, toddlers are fast! Speaking of being a toddler, we're in a total Mommy mode around here. "No daddy hold hand, no May-May push stroller… I want Mommy, Mommy, Mommy." Oh, my silly Moosh I hope you love me this much forever.

The week was all too much fun and all went by entirely too fast. Momma leaving was sad and a few tears were shed, but it also re-energized my spirit. I'm feeling grateful and bit tougher like I can do this. I can live in a brand new city and be happy and find my way. Plus, my house is looking mighty fine with her special touch. Did I mention she rearranged all my knick-knacks, styled every table, fluffed, straightened, and helped me finally put stuff on the walls? She sure did. Thanks Momma. I needed you more than you know.

dinner dates and digging ditches

Wanna hear what put me in a really good mood last weekend? Two dinner dates out. I felt like I was all young and hip again. I actually used the word hip while we were out though and Trevor said using that word definitely meant I am by no means "young." Durn. Anniversary night we tried Bolsa. It reminded me of going to East Nashville back home. You wonder a bit about the part of town you're entering, but then you hit this foody mecca that makes the trip totally worth it. Bolsa was so good I can barely pick a favorite bite, but that okra & cornbread stew sure warmed my heart. That and the good lookin' guy across the table. He's pretty special to me and I'm glad we're doing this together. We had after dinner drinks at Oddfellows which was my kind of spot. Pretty branding caught my eye and they made me a mean dark & stormy. Our restaurant hopping continued on Saturday with some friends at Salum. All the food in this town is on a whole nother level people. Brownie points for the big D this weekend.

And here's my happening on the home front : Yesterday we got new plumbing installed. Two huge holes in our backyard and no bathroom floor remain. It went from crazy busy all day yesterday as they installed our new plumbing to crickets today. When a contractor says "sure, no problem" we'll make your timeline, be wary. I've been stewing all morning as I watch workers next door get after it, while our job site stays quiet. Never mind that we discussed our deadline ad nauseum and that my mom is coming on Sunday. If this guy ever finishes our bathroom it will be a small miracle. Ughh, construction.