Gaudy Gold Gone

Last weekend, we did such an easy fix that I'm almost embarrassed.  Like, I should have done this two years ago when Ryan hung the screen door.  But I didn't, and I let the gaudy gold finishes dominate our entry for far too long.

Finally, my friend Sherry (yes, I called her my friend even though she has no idea who I am) over at Young House Love inspired me to make a change in my life with this post.

So I said, "Hey, I can do that!" and I did, for about $10 at Home Depot.  And maybe Sherry should teach me about taking "before" pictures, so the "after" is more dramatic.  But picture a really worn out and extremely dated looking gold before so that this after works for you.

For deets on how, hit up YHL.

Horsing Around

I said the day Alli was born that I would never force anything on her.  I'd never make her do any extracurricular activity that she didn't enjoy, and if she ever told me she wanted to stop something, I would let her, no questions asked.

Of course, that applies to everything but horses.

I bided my time.  I waited for her to get old enough.  I focused on dance recitals, gymnastics, birthday parties, church activities, and all the things that keep little bitty kids busy.  But on the way back from Destin this year, I decided it was time.  The time I had been waiting for.  The time for Alli to start riding lessons.

Finding a hunter jumper barn in Arkansas is a challenge, as most people ride Western 'round these parts.  I finally came across a great barn in Fayetteville called Deer Creek Farm.  So I gave them a call to set up a lesson, hoping little six and a half year old Alli was old enough to ride.  I started when I was seven, so I reasoned she had to be decently close.  After a week or so or trading emails and phone calls, we set up a lesson two weeks out, and I was overjoyed.  At the recommendation of her new instructor, the week before we hit up a tack store owned by one of the riders at the barn - Everything Horse and Hound off Township.

Hello?  A tack shop in Fayetteville?  How did I not know this existed?

So we headed there and met Katy, the owner, and got Alli fitted for boots, jodphurs, and a helmet.  Oh how I wish the colors had been as fun and girly when I was a kiddo.  She got to pick between black, tan, and purple jodphurs (those are riding pants for those of you who don't know), and guess what she picked?

Duh, purple.  Did you have a doubt?

The bigger test came with the helmet selection.  Ms. Katy had one size small helmet in stock, and it was purple to match the pants.  Unfortunately, Alli spied the medium pink helmet.  We went back and forth discussing the merits of pink vs. purple, but at the end of the day, she decided she wanted to order the pink helmet in her size and wait for it.  That's my girl.

Seriously, I may order one for myself.


Tune in for a later post about how lessons are going - we just had lesson #3 yesterday!

Vacay Baybay

Yeah, so I've been off this summer.  I wish I had a super great reason, like being out of the country, undergoing a major life change, or turning off my internet.  But since we're in the trust tree, I was just being lazy.

We've been up to quite a bit here around the Lowe castle this summer, including our annual pilgrimage to the beach with my family.  This year we got to go back to our favorite spot in Destin, FL (I can't remember if I mentioned last year, but we had to reroute to Myrtle Beach, SC due to the oil spill).  We hit up the same fantastic condo Breakers East and cozied up with the Holloways for 7 days of bliss.  There was a notable addition to the packing list this year that made Ryan the drink mixer a much happier individual.  I wish they were paying me to push this product, but I'm just an avid, unpaid fan.  Budget it in.  You need one.

Going back to Destin meant we were able to hit up some of our favorite spots that we missed last year, including The Back Porch, The Harborwalk, and Harry T's.  Alli especially loves Harry T's because it's right on the harbor,  and if you time it just right you can sit outside and watch the ships come in for the night.  There's always a lot of waving and yelling and greeting the ships, and they often blow their horns or hold up the day's catch.  Very fun atmosphere.  Plus their drinks are huge.  Just sayin'.  We also hit up a great new place called Fishbar.  The food was ah-mazing.  I think we spent all of our eating budget for the trip there because we just kept ordering and ordering.  So good.

As always, no one wanted to leave and we condo-shopped while we were there.  A family can dream, can't it?  Where'd you go on vacay this year?  Are you the type who loves tradition or are you always trying out somewhere new?

Oh, and yet again.  I'm back, bitches.

Waiting on our table at the Back Porch

Mama's baby loves the ocean

Shrimp and Corona for breakfast

Alli with rescued parrots on the Harborwalk

Drinks at Harry  T's - I told you they were huge

Lowe family at Harry T's

So Hot in Herre

This weekend I did something I said I'd never ever do again.  I went to Riverfest in Little Rock.  After Hank Williams circa 2005 or so, I said I'd never again darken downtown Little Rock at 9PM on Memorial Day weekend just to see a concert.  The cigarettes, drunk people with their kids, and walking just aren't worth any artist who decides to come.

And then, Nelly came.

Oh yes.  My favorite artist in 8th grade (and every grade since then) signed up to come throw down in the Rock town.  I was in a dilemma.  And I broke my pact.  I had to go back.  I had to see Mr. Derrty Entertainment himself.  I wanted to ride wit him.  I had to batter up and practice my country grammar.  I wanted to see his grill, what, his grill in person.  And no, I didn't wear Air Force Ones, but I wanted to.  Because I am #1.  And I think that's the last of the song title references.

Nelly put on a super show.  I've said it to a few of you, but honestly, I didn't expect much.  Rap concerts are touch and go.  I saw Snoop Dogg (from just a few rows back) this year and he was awesome.  I really didn't think I'd get two good rap concerts in a year.  But Nelly can entertain!!  And knowing every single song he sang helped a lot too.  I think I screamed over him half the time.

And how cool am I?  I went with my siblings and my mom.  Seemed like the best way to spend Riverfest, having beer slung on you and seeing people with their newborns at a Nelly concert - with my own mom screaming "Girl, I think my butt gettin' big!"

Roomies

About two weeks ago, we added to the crew here at Chateau Lowe.  Can you guess what's going on???

Via

Squelch the rumors.  No babies.  Mama just likes brownies.  And I stuck to my word - Landry is the last furry addition for a long time.  Better than a baby or a puppy - my sista sista moved in!!

Did you all just breathe a collective sigh of relief???  You were afraid I thought I could squeeze one more animal in here?  I'm pretty sure that would short me one husband.

So yes, my gorgeous, vivacious, fun-loving, polar opposite of me sister is cozied up in the former cat room - ahem, guest room - and yes, I did buy her a new bedspread.  And move the condo and litter box out.  Now they all reside in my room for now and we all know just how happy that makes me.

It's only been two weeks, but I've so enjoyed her living here.  I seriously needed another partner in crime to watch trashy TV and eat junk food with.  Poor Ryan hasn't watched ESPN in weeks.  And I think the estrogen is getting to him - he actually commented on Real Housewives of New Jersey last night.  Anyway, she's been a super roomie, a big help, and a lot of fun!

Welcome to the casa, seester.  Now move over so Cash can get on the couch, get your dishes out of the sink, and fold my clothes.

Kidding...really.

A few of my favorites

I'm sorry, but there still isn't a lot going on at Chateau de Lowe right now.  We are spending lots of time outside, but don't have any major projects going on to share.  So I'll talk about my favorite subject - me!  Similar to the theme of the fill in the blank post, I'll fill you in on some of my absolute favorite things.  So you know what to get me on my favorite holiday or Christmas. 

Favorite non-horse animal:  Dolphin

Favorite animal print:  Zebra

Favorite non-Arkansas SEC team:  Florida Gators

Favorite season:  I've said before, I like them all as they come, but I really love fall.

Favorite place to vacay:  Destin, FL - such good memories there with the fam

Favorite city to visit:  Dallas  (I love STL as well and went to Chicago for the first time earlier this year and I think it could grow on me too.)

Favorite non-Mexican food:  Italian

Favorite professional teams:  Dallas Cowboys, St. Louis Cardinals, LA Lakers

Favorite Disney movie:  The Little Mermaid, Finding Nemo (I'm a Pisces.  I love water.)

Favorite blog:  Young House Love - so evolved my style.  Live The Home Life is a close second though!

Favorite place to eat breakfast out:  Common Grounds.  I still love me some Waffle House though.

Favorite swanky place to eat dinner:  Bordinos.  After that, Bonefish.

Favorite car I've owned:  My 1999 white Honda Accord that I got when I graduated high school

Favorite candle:  Yankee Candles Farmer's Market.  It's like fall in a jar.

Favorite non-pink color:  Teal or purple

Favorite animal at my house:  Lola.  Most of the time.

Favorite dinner I can make:  Braised chicken cabernet from Pampered Chef.

Anything I left off?  Anything else you've been dying to know?  Any one of these your favorite too?  I'd love to hear about it!  Happy weekend!!

Living Room Lowedown

Nope, I didn't float away.  But I bet you were worried.  We've had some serious rainfall here in the past few weeks, and all Mrs. Lowe wants to do when it rains is zzzzz.....  It's pouring right now, lightning flashing, thunder rolling, and I can barely keep my eyes open.  I'll try to get through this thriller of a post, but no promises.  You only get so many good rainy nights to snooze to.

What a great weekend we Lowes had!  Despite the rain, we managed to attend 2 birthday parties for Alli's classmates, have the cute little twins who are exactly Alli's age over for the afternoon, go see Rio, and shop until we dropped!  The last part is probably the most interesting - I got some finishing touches for the living room and I'm ready to reveal the whole room!  Get crunk.

We've repainted the walls a few....thousand times.  Ok, this is just the third paint job, I promise.  And they've all been blue, I've just had to tweak the shade.  I'm so in love with this color, I continued it down the hallway and into the kitchen, as you saw here.  I'm not super great with the angles, but here's a few shots of the progress:

Yes, I have little doggie followers who creep in my pictures.  You can see I've tried to mainly stick to blues, creams, and browns for the big pieces with fun pops of color like the hot pink table and frames or the green storage ottomans.  I'm really loving it!

Sorry for the severe lack of your usual wit, humor, and joy...but I warned you.  It's raining.  G'night.