Other than the eminent guest bathroom remodel that we discussed yesterday, there are a few things on the horizon that have my heart going pitter pat.  Let’s get right to this

1. Bravo’s new show 9 by Design.  Ok, so the name is as cheesy as it could possibly be but I’m looking forward to watching this family of, yes, nine, run around Manhattan buying up vacant lots and old pawn shops to build and design new spaces.  I flipped through the couple’s design site and, sure a few of the spaces are a little cheesy now, but keeping in mind that they are a few years old, they were spot on at the time of the build.  I watched Brovo’s 30 minute preview dealie-dad a few weeks ago and all I can say is that they were putting in custom painted wood floors from some artist in the Netherlands, so this is not a show I will be mad at.

2. Metallic edible food spray.  Now I can make the 5 foot, 10 tiered gold layer cake of my dreams.  Enough said.

3.  Round Top.  I was actually pretty sure that I wasn’t going to be able to make the Round Top Flea Market this time around due to a hellish work schedule and a few different travel plans, but, luckily, I’ve carved out some time at the last minute and will be cruising the fields and eating BBQ sandwiches THIS WEEKEND.  Holla!

Brace yourself for lots of ranting, because yesterday was the lamest SXSW experience I have ever had, and that includes doing day parties while pregnant last year. Remember how I was supposed to go see all kinds of awesome bands and then hang with Snoop Dog at Perez Hilton’s kick ass night party? Well, screw that. First it rained and lightninged all over the place, driving me to skip the day parties. Then I waited for THREE HOURS in the longest line I have ever seen in my life, in really really really cold wind (like literally freezing. In Austin. WTF?), only to get all the way to the head of the line and be told that the venue was at capacity. This was the worst organized, most poorly planned event I have ever attended, EVER. EVER. EVER. Next year I am applying for press credentials, which is what I should have done this year, but Momnesia made me forget how crazy and overhyped this party always is.

Don’t worry — the night was not a total bust. My friends made it awesome by ordering me a fake birthday dessert for no particular reason, and then accompanying me to The Highball bowling lounge for a nightcap, which was pretty rad.

Austin Chronicle

Austin’s hippest designer Joel Mozersky consulted on the interiors for the Highball, and true to form, the lounge is as comfy/flashy as his other venues. Too bad the pics aren’t as flashy. (Note to JM: call me! You need to hire me to shoot your interiors, stat.)

Hello there, Hip Hop karaoke lounge.

With its tufted banquettes, David Hicksian mirrored walls, and sputnik lights, the Highball oozes retro glamor, dontcha think?

Karly worked with Mozersky on Bird’s Barbershop’s Eastside location, which you can check out here, and you can also see pictures from some of his projects in another post she wrote here. If you don’t feel up to click clacking all around the web to see his work, don’t fret. I’ve got a mini update of some of his latest work for you.

La Condesa

The Madison. Check out that Fornasetti wallpaper!

The Peacock

Dixie Chicks loft featured in Met Home.

That’s pretty much all I’ve got for today, because staying up late in the freezing wind, changing out of my pajamas, AND wearing mascara, was a huge shock to my system. I am one sleepy kitten.

I’m going to rest up and see you dudes on Wednesday.

Yep, it’s that time of year again. SXSW has taken over Austin, so yesterday we took Ike out and had a lovely afternoon. First we hit Emo’s to see The Magic Kids, and at least 15 people asked to take pictures of Ike in his Peltor headphones within a span of 30 minutes. Then we headed out to the French Legation (which is a super fabulous and totally under utilized venue) to catch The Antlers, Sharon Van Etten and Julianna Barwick, who were all both pretty good.

Tomorrow, if the stupid weather cooperates (thunderstorms, say what???!) I’m going out to partay sans Baby Ike, which marks the first night out on the town mama will fly solo in, oh, I don’t know… EIGHT MONTHS. I’m hoping to catch all kinds of awesome acts, including Rye Rye, Broken Bells and The Black Keys, plus lots of sweet new discoveries. But most importantly, I want to get into Perez Hilton’s closing bash so I can hang with Snoop Dogg. I’m sure Snoop will serenade me with the version of Sensual Seduction I rewrote for him, but not if we can’t get in. So Perez, please send me some passes and I will broadcast your pink shenanigans for the world for thousands to see on Monday morning. Otherwise I will be forced to party like a Momstar again with Ike at the French Legation.

Actually, that don’t sound half bad.

Have a good weekend, homies!

We love peeping into the homes of others — in a legal way, of course. Well, a week ago Launch787 presented their third annual Austin Modern Home Tour, and where were Karly and I? Uh, not there. As K-Dawg herself would say: lametron. Thankfully, our good friend and awesome photographer Cory Ryan was Johnny on the spot with her trusty camera in tow. Cory was kind enough to let us use her fabulous images to wow you with some highlights from this year’s tour. So, bust out your coffee and donuts because this is one long, mouthwatering post, and we can’t have you drooling on your keyboards, now can we?

Concrete and steel get the sexy treatment with acres of gorgeous glass windows.

Wild horses couldn’t stop me from moving into that snazzy house on the left, but the affordability index probably will. Too bad, because those limestone and gently pitched roofs set me a tingle.

Did I already mention gorgeous glass? Add in a fabulous indoor/outdoor living space and I’m sold. Also, after seeing this, I am never ever showing you people what my own backyard looks like. Its shame shall remain secret until the day we move.

Don’t know about you guys, but I am all about the kitchen and bathroom pics. Bathrooms first.

I love, love, love, the clean lines and wide range of materials used in these homes. It’s so hard to pick a favorite, but the skylit shower and double travertine showers are making me want to rip out my own perfectly serviceable, but snoozy bathrooms.

The kitchens ain’t too shabby, either. Look — even the rich and famous use Ikea cabinets (bottom image). Of course, they also use carrera marble counters and back splashes, as well as custom wood cabinets. Marble backsplash, you are a fancy bitch for making me love you.

Have I already mentioned that Cory is an awesome photographress? Check out this shot.

I have to admit that I find some of the living spaces to be kind of boring — a little too cleaned up and soulless. But these dining areas have some nice pieces in them, especially the wooden trestle table and artwork in the right image.

I also dig the painting in this bedroom.

And this wall/curtain treatment is interesting. How long do you think it took them to match up the stripes? I guess you hang the curtains first, then tape and paint the wall, then rehang the curtains. It would be awesome if there were 10 million stripes that matched…

Some cute details of furnishings for your viewing pleasure.

Honestly, though, it is all about the windows. If we didn’t have limestone exterior walls, I would totally get crafty with a jigsaw and start cutting.

Ok, ok, ok, I’m about to pee in my pants with excitement over these last images. Did you get your donuts ready, like I told you to? Because you’re going to need to bite down on something to keep from screaming…

THAT IS A MOTHERBLEEPING CANTILEVERED POOL.

With a view of lake Travis, of course. Do you think I got a little carried away with the images? Neither do I.

One last view from the pool. Hey, guess what? This little honey is for sale. Situated on Mt. Bonnell, she is 3.5 million dollars worth of awesomeness, and worth every penny that I don’t have. Actually, the tour was presented by my old buddy David’s marketing and PR firm Wyatt Brand, and I’m a little concerned that he didn’t feel the need to ring me up and offer this gem at a deep discount (like, free). Dude, we’ve known each other since high school. It’s the least you could have done.

So, how excellent was that tour? Don’t you feel like you were there in person? Thanks so much to Cory Ryan and her magnificent camera skills for inviting us along! You can check out the rest of the modern home tour on her Flickr set. Also, Cory is truly a multi talented lady, so be sure to take a look at her online portfolios and services here and here. Lucky Austinites can view her Holga photography until February 28th at Thunderbird Coffee on Manor. Not in Austin? Buy her Holga prints here.

Whew, all that lust has exhausted me. My head is spinning and I’ve broken a sweat.

Wish I were floating in that pool right now.

Every year I start off with a new laundry list of resolutions — eat better, exercise (ha!), make stuff, be cooler — but this year there’s only one resolution that really matters: LEAVE THE HOUSE. Yes friends, I am finally out of the Guantanamo Bay stage of parenthood and IT’S AWESOME. Baby Ike is now magically entertained by salt shakers and menus, and wouldn’t you know that mama’s boy loves a good bargain. Whew! Thank jeebus he takes after me and not his thriftphobic daddy, because then I’d have to check the return policy on both of them.

So, Karly and I took the Ikester out on thrift rounds recently, and I managed to score some great finds with my lucky charm in tow. In the spirit of my house sharing resolution, I snapped some pics so you could bask in the glory of my goodies, as well as in my delicious new freedom.

I almost had to scrap with some chick over my excellent new plant stand, which came from the Salvation Army for $25. Kinda steep, but it’s heavy and has a mirrored bottom, and the middle thingie moves. Plus someone else wanted it, so of course that made me like it even more. But it does look pretty smooth with my new tulip chair, which is in dire need of a cushion. One day at a time…

I totally had the Lichtenstein post in mind when I picked up this set of dishes, although Karly says they look like a Bill Cosby sweater… we can both be right, can’t we? $30 for the entire set, although I need more bowls. I found some replacements online, but two bowls cost as much as I paid for the entire set. Uh, no.

A closeup of the totally tubular 80s graphics. The Hunny stacked them all OCD like. I’m planning to display these babies on our newly installed kitchen shelves, which I was far too lazy to photograph today. What do you people expect??? I can’t shop, and take pictures, AND clean. Priorities, priorities.

I snagged this vintage teapot for $1.99. It’s marked Made in Sweden, which probably means it’s from Ikea. Still, he is very handsome, no?

Ike picked out a few things for his room, too, like this Red Cross lightbox for $4.99, which is brand spankin’ new. The hot gold lion came from Zid Zid, courtesy of Raina; Ike can look, but he can’t touch mama’s favorite stuffed animal. You can blame Karly for the boa constricted nightmare clown.

You can also blame Karly for spotting this badass giraffe head, a steal for only $4.99. Say what?! Yeah. It’s HUGE.

Speaking of huge, these roided out lamps make Lou Ferigno look positively diminutive. I’m planning to give them a fresh coat of white paint from tip to toe, and top them with black shades for my new Bauhaus bedroom. Hopefully my nightstands won’t buckle beneath them.

I scored some other sweet stuff, like a giant vintage painting and a ginormous mirrored picture frame (apparently I have contracted a severe case of megalomania), but I haven’t found a home for them yet — by which I mean they’re still stacked in the entryway. The Hunny is not excited that I’m back to shopping, not that I’m going to let it stop me from adding to the piles of unused lamps, chairs and frames I’m “collecting.”

Doesn’t he realize that I have six months of thrifting to catch up on?

Those of you in Austin know that this weekend is prime time for getting out your bike (yes, it’s still warm here) and cruising around the streets of the east side.  For it is weekend part deux of the East Austin Studio Tour, E.A.S.T. if you’re nasty.

E.A.S.T. is comprised of over 100 artist spaces and galleries along with several parties (read:  free beer) that takes place over 2 weekends every November in Austin.  It’s worth the hike just to pick up the beautiful printed map and guide alone.  But, if you’ve already gone that far, you may as well check out the spaces, here’s some of what you’ll see:

Okay Mountain Art Gallery (psst, this is where I got married)

Big Medium Art Gallery

The mural outside Domy Books.  I hear there’s a pretty rad interactive stop motion video project going on inside, you should check it out.  When else are you going to have the patience to make anything stop motion?  Really.

Grand Hall of Art And Industry Gallery Space

Mass Gallery

Bleep Labs

4ms Pedals designs

Eric Billing’s Workshop.  

Admittedly, my favorite stops are always the ones that involve custom furniture.  Shocking, I know.

Rival Metalworks.

 I kinda can’t wait to see this tree with limbs fashioned from reclaimed pipe, basketball and streetlight poles

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a party on the east side with out a big, fat event at Birds Barbershop:

Birds and Artifact Workshop present the Custodian CD release with a live performance by Custodian, more tunes by Andy (the mouth) and lots and lots of lone star

artwork by Kenneth Holland will be on display at Birds

As well as the metal works of  Rima Hyena.

So, after cruising around on your huffy all afternoon, come wet your whistle at Birds while listening to some sweet faux hip hop.  Whatever that means.  Here’s the scoop:

Saturday, 11/21 

5pm – 9pm

1107 East Sixth

Now that we’ve invested huge amounts of time and money into renovating our kitchen, landscaping the yard, and decorating the house, I’ve decided it may be time to move, which makes total sense to all you design junkies, right? So this weekend, Hunny Bunny, the baby, Karly and I, solicited the help of our realtor friend Kurt to look at a house in one of the most amazing neighborhoods in Austin — Travis Heights. Oh, Travis Heights, how I love thee! When we drove into the hood, I thought about living within walking distance of the shops at South Congress, and I looked at families pushing strollers down tree lined streets with a misty sense that this could be our new life.

And how cute is this 1930s house? With a little paint and some new plants, it could be killer. Plus, did I mention that the neighborhood rocks, and the lot is STUNNING.

Yep, that’s your own personal creek running through a little patch of wilderness, 5 minutes from downtown, 5 seconds from South Congress. Insane, is what that is. And astonishingly, it’s (barely) within our budget. Hmmm.

As we pulled into the carport, Karly started her “Unh, uh” routine. Ok, so the backside of the house was a little ramshackle… The picture above captures about 1/3 of the length of the house. The carport was caving in, there appeared to be a strange 1980s addition tacked onto the back, there were about 500 doors opening to various outdoor areas, and the landscaping was a bit odd, but still workable. What can you expect at such a bargain basement price? And then we walked inside.

Is this part of an old garage? What’s up with the “stairs” to nowhere? How come that doorway appears to be mounted upside down on the wall??? Why oh why does it smell like death in here…?

Ben held the baby into the mystery opening to get a closer look, and Ike — who heretofore was perfectly placid — started screaming BLOODY MURDER, which is obviously what took place in this room vampire cave. Now, normally I’d go spelunking to check out the “vintage” furniture in there, but I figured Ike knew something I didn’t. Obviously, he sees dead people. After that, things got hazy. Karly declared the house was “haunted as shit,” and decided to take Ike outside to calm him down, but I was not to be deterred from a bargain by a few measly poltergeists.

We pressed on to the 80s wing, which featured lovely wall to wall carpet in red — to hide the bloodstains, naturally. Sadly, I didn’t get a picture of the leg breaking spiral staircase straight out of Vertical Limit, or the disgusting bathrooms, but truly, these things were only pedestrian gross. You’ve seen them before. But I bet you’ve never seen this:

I’m just going to give you a second to reflect on the situation.

There is a TREE in the middle of the house — in the kitchen, for goodness sake, which is somehow even more offensive. And lest a tiny part of you think that it might be cool to have a tree in your kitchen, remember the other rooms. Whoever built this patchwork piece of shit house built it out of plywood, cardboard and duct tape. The roof leaked all around the hole where the tree is, and a foundation was laid over the tree roots. Not good planning.

Plus it looks like sandworms from Beetlejuice are attacking the exterior of the home, and nobody wants that.

Here’s another shot from the other side. DO NOT be fooled by my pretty picture. Imagine filth, crappy construction, and cheap materials everywhere. It is completely uninhabitable, and I have a VERY high tolerance for fixer uppers. Somehow I neglected to get pictures of the random door that opens onto an unstable, unfenced roof (dangerous, much?), or the creepy door to yet another pit of hell under the house that looks to be the spot where Buffalo Bill held his victims in Silence of the Lambs. The only thing that will save this house is a bulldozer.

And it’s sad, you know? The original house was probably 1000 square feet, with period hardwoods and built ins, and it was tiny and cute. Then some morons decided they should add on 2000 square feet of crappy disconnected boxes, with absolutely no floorplan in mind, and they ruined it. Plus there are the dead bodies. I know they’re in there somewhere — Ike saw them.

Oh, and when we left, Ben backed into a stupid, random brick mailbox that had fallen and was laying in the driveway. Our bumper is totally dented in, and now we have to hire a man that actually goes by the name of “Crackhead” to pull the dent out.

But, guess what? I was never so happy to pull into our driveway and walk into our own nice, remodeled house. So, stay tuned for my dining room makeover on Wednesday. I figure that — relative to this gem — it’s gotta look amazing.

*************************************************************************

UPDATE!

Kurt sent me the pictures he took that day:

Just a lil group shot. You can totally tell Ike is screaming his head off. Also, Karly is too tall to live in this hobbit house.

I have also been informed that “Kentucky” will be fixing our bumper instead of “Crackhead.” Good to know.

Ok, I think I’ve finally gotten enough sleep to ably recount the awesomeness of this past weekend, which Karly and I enjoyed with blog buddies Molly and Raina. We spent much of the trip shop shop shopping, with a healthy dose of boozing and shooting added in.

Molly and Raina, looking all cute and sassy at Opal Divine’s downtown location.

The ladies arrived late Thursday night and shacked up with Karly, since baby Ike makes me go to bed freakishly early. On Friday, we kicked off the day with Mexican martinis at Austin chain Trudy’s… mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Delicious. Then, we couldn’t let our friends leave Austin without visiting paint guru Sanders, so off to Benjamin Moore we went. After our paint powwow, we headed to South Congress to satiate the shopping bug, where we indulged in a day of vintage. Uncommon Objects took most of our time there with its elephantine selection of curiosities, but we also visited Prototype, New Bohemia and Feathers, all run by lovely Austin bizness women.

Image courtesy of Uncommon Objects.

Then we headed across the river with baby Ike in tow, to Threshold Interiors — which I actually did not set foot in since the Ikester decided it was time to fuel up. But it sure looked pretty from the windows.

Image courtesy of Threshold Interiors.

I’ll definitely be back someday, hopefully to nab that little gnome for the baby’s room.

After Threshold, Ike cried all the way back across the river until he got home to nap. Later that evening, we all headed over to Karly’s for an evening of steak and booze. Well, everyone boozed except for House of Slappy blogger Andrea, who’s due to provide Ike with a brand spanking new playmate in February.

On Saturday, we rose at the crack of noon to do some thrifting, then headed towards the skeet shooting range out in the rural wilds of east Austin. That’s right — us lady bloggers pack heat.

And if you mess with us, Karly will bust a cap in your ass.

I’m not sure how we ended up skeet shooting, but when in Texas, right? I can’t wait for my dad to see this, because he is gonna LAUGH HIS ASS OFF. He’s been trying to get me to shoot something for the last 33 years (yes, I was born with a pistol in my tiny baby hand).

Well, here I am, Dad, doing my best Annie Oakley Calamity Jane impression. Actually, he’ll be proud to know that I hit my very first target our instructor let fly. Not only that, but after shooting several clay pigeons, I had the strange urge to shoot anything that moved… including butterflies that fluttered by. Maybe I best avoid the gunslinging lifestyle.

Although I did respectably well, I would never engage in a gunfight with Raina. LADY HAS MAD SKILLS. Like, scary good. Stay out of her way, mean people.

Have I mentioned yet that we are the very best dressed skeet shooters in Texas? This is Molly, hitting targets in four inch heels. In case you were wondering, no one really noticed when we walked onto the shooting range. Ok. We got a few looks.

Because we are badasses, that’s why.

After getting our redneck on, the ladies went out to shop downtown. Ligne Roset had Raina rolling around on Togos like a wild pony in hay. Sadly, no footage of this exists — it’s a travesty that can only be corrected by another visit. In the meantime, enjoy this stock photo of the store:

In addition to Ligne Roset, the ladies hit Mercury Design Studio:

They have a gorgeous store with stunning merchandise, but they obviously need to hire me to shoot it (with a camera, not a shotgun), since they don’t have any pictures on their website and I had to steal this old image from the internets.

After shopping, we dined downtown. I headed home early like a good mommy, but Karly and the girls went out clubbing. I can’t really provide any details, but I hear that men in underwear were involved. I think Raina has further information for those of you with inquiring minds.

Molly flew out the next afternoon, but Raina’s flight didn’t leave until the evening, so we hit Room Service, where I found this guy waiting for me:

I may be watching too much Deadwood… nah. That’s impossible.

After tacos from Torchy’s (don’t get the turkey special, Austinites!) and some family time around the tv, it was time for Raina to board her plane. Karly and I were both sad to see our guests go, but we already have plans to visit New York and Denver. Thank Jeebus our buds have good taste in places to call home… not sure we’d be so ready to set out for North Dakota. Just kidding North Dakotans. And just kidding, Molly and Raina. We’d be happy to hang with you anywhere!

Since we’ve had houseguests this past week, I took advantage of the extra hands to help take baby Ike out and about in the world. He was such a champ for hours while lunching at Enoteca, shopping at Uncommon Objects on South Congress, and picking out toys at big box babytown, but actually transporting him was only slightly less painful than having your appendix removed sans anesthesia. Just buckling him into the carseat brings on apoplectic fits, and once the car starts the situation does not improve in the least.

So, guess what? We’re supposed to bring le bebe to our annual family Thanksgiving hoedown at the farm in less than a month, which is a SIX HOUR CAR RIDE AWAY. The very idea brings on nightmares at 3 am. Already. To go back to sleep, I am forced to retreat to my happy place:

Ah, holidays at the cabin. Ok, so this is not our cabin — this little farmhouse in the Catskills belongs to painter Sean Scherer and his partner Mark Mayer.

But that’s not stopping me from imagining that our cabin looks more like this one (no offense, Dad… ps, call me about interior design services).

Seriously, how amazing are those kitchen cabinets made from recycled vintage school lockers? Ok, so I wish I had them in my citified kitchen, too.

I am not hating the bat, either.

Or this Andres Serrano photograph surrounded by vintage anatomical models. Actually, I’m not hating a lot of things about this souped up quirky cabin.

Vintage Pompeii postcards flanked by mercury glass lamps and backed by a punchy wall color? Sure.

Clawfoot tub in a bathroom papered with vintage newsprint and AGITPROP posters??? Hellz yes.

I think I saw an ancient Trading Spaces episode where Vern Yipped a room by papering the walls with old book pages — not nearly as cool as this room papered with blank pages in a geometric pattern.

Do these vintage bird prints as wallpaper pass muster?

These dudes really have a thing for maps and anatomical diagrams, and that’s ok by me. I see they are also afflicted by a pottery collecting obsession, which I can empathize with. It’s a tough disease to cure.

What do we think of the yellow walls, anyway?

This cozy little nook is calling to me. During my 3 am panic attacks, this shall be my new happy place.

Somehow I don’t think I should end with this picture, but it’s the only one I have left, and did I mention that I am frequently awake at 3 am? But do you know what? I’m feeling better. There’s nothing like a little cozy countrification to instill a sense of calm and comfort in an anxious heart.

At least until tonight.

I’m still rubbing aloe vera into my sunburned chest and calves after Saturday’s marathon trip to Round Top with Karly, but it was worth it despite the hellish heat. I scored some goodies, saw some expensive shit that made me appreciate what I already have, and got a day away from the tasmanian devil that is masquerading as my baby boy. I’ll give the baby report at the end of the post for anyone who cares, but for all the rest of you good people, it’s on to the special awesomeness that is the Round Top experience.

Some vendors have a very odd sense of humor.

Too bad there weren’t six of these sexy chrome and leather cantilevered chairs, or they may have come home with me.

A pair of unaffordable blanc de chine lamps.

A monumental lucite chandelier for a jaw dropping $4500. No one ever said that Round Top necessarily equals cheap. if you like this, wait until you see what I bought for my dining room on Ebay (for much, much less)…

Awesome hooded wicker chair with groovy upholstery.

Big brass Polly.

Sweet little Asian credenza. The white is fly.

Brass cylinder lamp that Karly spied on Friday. I was considering it for my dining room, but ultimately passed. Hope I don’t regret it…

Three of six Milo Baughman chrome cantilevered chairs.

I really liked these barstools but didn’t even ask the price because homedude thought his junque should fetch a higher price per ounce than gold.

For unknown reasons, Round Top is very baby head friendly.

If baby heads can be friendly, that is. Somehow the packing tape makes the whole mise en scene much more ominous.

Hot pink poles make everything better.

Enormous 60s abstract that was about $4,400 over my budget.

At some point I realized that almost everything we spied with our gimlet eyes was made of brass. Chalk it up to magpie vision.

If you’ve got some spare change, you can add these trunks to your Louis Vuitton themed house.

I have a trestle table crush.

I reallllllly liked this long, sexy $900 table for my dining room, but A) it’s way too narrow and B) it’s 900 freaking dollars. That’s not how momma rolls.

Round Top is a haven for dead things — most of which are garden variety — but these birds are pretty fabulous.

Ok, on to the stuff that managed to find a way home with me:

60’s Italian hot air balloon chandelier for Ike’s room. The dealer had it marked at $135 and I took it home for $65. Boo ya!

Initially I thought I would paint it black, but now I’m wondering if I should do white with black accents or black with white accents? Will the details get lost if everything is black?

Crazy deco tripod lamp that may or may not live in my dining room. I am considering painting the shade black or gold… what do you think? Or are you a purist like The Hunny, who wonders why every purchase must be spray painted? Does that question even deserve an answer?

Lest you think that Karly and I only purchased lights, Look! I bought a lucite towel set to match a lucite towel stand I already have. The toilet paper holder alone is worth the $15 I paid for the whole kit ‘n’ kaboodle.

And finally, on to the baby Ike report:

So, my darling, sweet 11 week old baby stayed home with his dad and my mother in law, who did a very excellent job of keeping his antics under control. He took an uncharacteristically long nap, which was bueno, but then HE REFUSED TO TAKE A BOTTLE. FOR THE ENTIRE NINE HOURS I WAS GONE. They had to feed him with a medicine dropper. Gawd, just writing this makes me feel like the worst mother in the world, but he totally took a bottle from me days before I went to Round Top! I swear, this is the most stubborn child ever born — a trait he obviously picked up from his father. Anyway, he’s back to his normal fussball self, so I guess all is well, but I’m afraid it will be a long time before I get to leave for more than three hours again.

Ike with Grandma, doing the cute act. Don’t be fooled.