1.09.2013

The Year of Getting Shit Done and an E True Chez V Story About the Internet


Onwards and upwards, as they say.  2013.  Boy am I glad to see you.  Let’s get on with it then.  I’m told people love lists.  I do lists.  Sometimes I even check things off my lists.  Mostly though, they contribute to one of the ever growing piles near my computer.  But whatever, the point is I feel better if I write something down regardless of whether not I cross it off my list.  So in the spirit of year-end reflection / new year delusions I am making a list of things that need to get done this year.  I do declare 2013 the year of getting shit done (GSD). 

To kick off GSD, a little nip/tuck action is happening to the blog.  A new year, a new look, a new me, a new chez V.  Changes will happen gradually as I transition to the new digs.  Got myself a right proper address a while back and it's high time I put it to use.  Forgive the rubble and any interruptions in the broadcast.  For this construction phase, you get a little tasty taste of the streamlined V in my banner above.


And speaking of streamlining my world, the mrs is going to get her pooper and home back in fighting form this year.  No more drooping poopers or sagging floorboards.  MFAMB must have sensed this need because to my delight and surprise I won her giveaway at the end of the year - I never win anything.  A lovely box arrived on my doorstep the other day filled with perfect things. It was like getting a care package from a dear friend who knows just what a girl wants.  What a girl needs.  Which I must say is NOT more Brittany.  This girl wants to streamline her mind, her bod, and her home in this year of GSD.  Coincidence that each and every item Jenny included in the box helps to support this desire?!  I think not.

I busted open all that goodness and tried everything immediately.  Just like a teeny bopper sporting her new Rick Springfield tee the day after the concert which, for the record I never ever did.  Never.  Except every time I went to a concert which was like twice.  And by immediately, it went something like this:
 
slice open the gold duct tape - nice – and promptly hand over empty box to child for hours of rocket amusement; meanwhile, light the my-most-favorite-awesome-smelling-ever candle; high on delicious Diptyque fumes, gawk at new painting and run around the house test driving spots; speed read new cookbook – weird, how did she know I have a minor obsession with cookbooks?  pick out recipe to make  for dinner; do some of the yoga because I don’t want to appear over jealous which was oddly enough, a lot like my dancingsinging indecipherable words, moving unwieldy body parts in opposite directions and hyperventilating while the breath of fire escapes from my nose or maybe my butt;  shower off the fire sweat so that Jeff Lewis can massage my head – because using Chaz Dean’s hair products is  close enough of a degree of separation for me;   with re-vitalized tresses and great smelling skin - that shit really worked on my tangly, color-stressed hair and I know about hair because my mom is a hairdresser – whip up that new recipe, a super fresh frittata using veg that I just happen to have in the crisper - not really, but really wishing I was the kind of gal that had a ton of veg on hand is a lot like it really happening; feeling like a better, more streamlined me, I greet my husband at the door with a smile, fresh face, smooth hair, sore butt and dinner on the table.

After spying the healthy fare on the table, sensing my glorious good mood and detecting the bounty of natural aromas all around me, he accused me of spending the afternoon at Whole Foods. A hard and fast no no in these fiscal times.  Conversation ensues:

‘no, no, Jenny sent me all this amazing stuff.  Isn’t it totally awesome?  She totally gets me.’

‘Who the hell is Jenny?’


‘my friend, the one from the internet, you know, the one with the really funny blog.’

Snorting, ‘Boris sent ya stuff, did he?’

‘real funny. not everyone on the internet is a russian robot.’

‘I would really rather you just admit that you shopped at Whole Foods then make up some story about how your internet ‘friend’ just happened to send you a box full of stuff that you just ‘happened’ to want.’

‘well, she didn’t just send it to me.  I won a giveaway, like out of a ton of people who entered.  I won.  This is the stuff I won.’

‘gee, really?  you won?  A painting, a cookbook, a candle that happens to cost more than my shoes that you have been going on and on about for months, a yoga dvd to reduce stress and anxiety. Did this ‘giveaway’ happen to ask for a few numbers at the bottom, you know, to ensure shipping? And perhaps your social security number and passwords to our bank account?  You know, to ensure your ‘identity'?’

‘Jenny is NOT a russian robot.’

Pieti, what did you and momma do today?’

‘we went shopping and Momma got a box from the mailman and we watched a movie with some lady who told momma to shake her body and talk crazy words like chinese or something.’

‘nice try.’

‘no! wait!  I mean, I know how this looks.  We did go shopping, but not at Whole Foods, and I definitely didn’t buy THIS stuff.  I might have secretly bought some other stuff still in the car but not this stuff.’

‘Sure hope Boris enjoys my identity.  Won’t get him very far.  Next time you waste my money at Whole Foods at least come home with some meat.  You know I hate sticks and berries.’

For the record, he loved that frittata.  So thanks Jenny Boris for all of my goodies.  You know just what a girl needs.


kisses,  mrs. V



12.25.2012

Merry Everything!


For Unto Us a Child is Born.  A very Merry Christmas from my family to yours!  And for those not celebrating, a super swell Tuesday to you.

 
















The Monster says hello with her new hat and I’m off to make the roast beast…

kisses,  mrs. V

12.17.2012

Christmas Tree Porch Canopy


I believe wholeheartedly in ‘better late than never.’  Admittedly, I was a little tardier than my normal tardy with Christmas decorations this year.  We have a tradition at Chez V of putting up the tree and decorations on the Friday after Turkey Day but this year was a different story.  And to think I had grandiose ideas for decorating this year with you lovelies in mind.  Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men…


But never you fear, I did finally get the tree up and I was able to execute at least one of my large marge schemes.  At long last!  I call her the Christmas Tree Porch Canopy.  This is the second time I have rocked this lil lassy and she’s even more fantastical than I remembered.  

The first time I did this was on a freezing December weekend back in 2004 when I was living with my sister.  mr. V and my sis helped me the first time – you know back when mr. V was still my fiance and up for anything so long as it impressed me.  Let me assure you those days are looooong gone.  So what took 3 of us one weekend to complete the first time, took me 2 weeks to do this time because I was Hans Solo and insanely busy with work.  I should say that this go ‘round mr. V did give me the go ahead, albeit begrudgingly (because I have been threatening to do this at Chez V ever since that first execution), and he did build my frame.  But no help for the labor intensive part which is weaving greenery, lights, and ornaments on a 20’ by 7’ porch ceiling.  Side eye.  


lots of this...

went into this - the frame with chicken wire

same view - completed

Not going to sugar coat it – this is a total pain in the arse.  It’s a lot like climbing up a ladder, bending in half backwards with a craned neck and up stretched arms to attach a sprig of greenery, climbing back down the ladder, moving the ladder a few inches and doing it all over again.  Times 50,000 times.




Pieti loves to photo bomb


I can not take one ounce of credit for the idea – only my execution.  I got the original idea from a 2004 feature of Lawrence Adkins and David Dempsey’s Atlanta bungalow in Cottage Living (RIP).

with lights on

Totally worth the shredded hands and herniated spine.  I walk out on the porch each evening and feel like I am under a huge Christmas Tree, dreaming of sugar plum fairies or red soled shoes…


kisses,  mrs. V

12.10.2012

The Power of Paint


Happy Monday, in spite of the brrrrrr around here!  Here’s a quick BEFORE/AFTER for you today about the amazing power of a few buckets of paint.   A certain eagle eyed chica commented about my painted brick on Instagram last night and it occurred to me that I hadn't shared this scary BEFORE with you folks.  A few years back I painted the brick fireplace wall of the living room in our ranch.  Now, for a little backstory, understand that this was battle royale between the mr. and me for about 4 years.  I begged him to let me paint the horrible orangey 70s brick – it was terrible, horrible, no good, very bad and dark in an already dark North facing room.  After years of my whining, he finally caved.

Christmas 2009 - so many sad shades of orange, brown and red - everywhere

Christmas 2012

What a difference!  The paint immediately brightened the room and had an enlarging effect.  Sorry about the grainy shot - late night Instagram pic.  Here are two from last year to give you a clearer picture.




Victory is always mine!

All photos by mrs. V
kisses,  mrs. V

12.06.2012

Looks a lot Like Santa's Workshop


In spite of the fact that I no longer have feeling in my right index finger, things are steadily coming off the Chez V production line.  Fueled by coffee during the day and wine in the evening, I hope to emerge on the 24th with everyone’s name crossed happily off my list and perhaps a tree put up.





Love your busy but happy little elf

kisses,  mrs. V

12.03.2012

Happy Birthday to Me, You're Welcome


Today is my birthday and rather than bore you with all the things that I will never get, I give something to you instead...


My sister and I visit with Santa in 1983.  Messy Marvin meets Ralphie much?!  And that Rick Springfield concert tee?  Wore it every day as evidence of my first rock concert.  Bah!  The real crime here is that our mother actually cut our hair like that.  As in, she’s a hair dresser and willingly cut off my hair.  Then stood by while I chose the most masculine pair of glasses.  Ever.  And then let my little sister follow suit as is the case with littlesI also blame her for soap poisoning.

So, Happy Birthday to me.  You know what sucks worse than looking like Ralphie?  Having a birthday in December that gets folded into all the holiday shenanigans.  If you want to remain my friend, never buy me a combined birthday/Christmas gift. Ever.

kisses,  mrs. V