Oh What A Night...

We had a great weekend. We had Austin’s 13th birthday party. I had no idea that these boys could be so loud. Needless to say, I got no sleep! I was a little worried that I was going to wake up to holes in my walls and doors kicked in, but I was surprised!  At about 2:00AM, I heard the vacuum cleaner.  I thought, "DEAR JESUS, What are they doing now?"  When I woke up, the house was clean, dish washer loaded and had even been run!!!  I loved that!  So...the house was in one piece except for a window that my son broke!! I was livid, but I’m over it now. The window has since been repaired and my son is working off the $130 to replace it by being my beck and call boy. He will earn $1.00 for every beck and call completed (Not including his chores!). Should be a fun month...for me at least!

Also, last night was the 2011 SAG awards. I really don’t think anyone cares what I think, but I think it’s fun to decide who I like best and who I think is the worst.  I always leave out the OBVIOUS worst’s…Helena Bonham Carter, Cher, Courtney Love, Bjork…you almost always except something bad from them, so I quit even judging that!  And below is my list in no particular order.

MY BEST:

Lea Michelle, Sarah Hyland, Rosario Dawson, Tina Fey and  Jayma Mays

MY WORST:

Jane Lynch, Amy Adams, Eva Longoria, Eddie Falco, and Kim Kardashian

Finally… While Austin and his friends were busy tearing up my house, I was busy redecorating my bedroom. I got new floors, painted the base boards, walls & ceiling, I got new furniture and bed linens. Now all I need is some wall décor to go with my new girlie room. The bathroom is next…but that will basically be new paint and towels…that’s about it! I’ll get the before and after shots up soon. But my room is so pretty, girlie and tranquil now! I LOVE IT!!

Happy Birthday Austin!

Today is Austin's 13th birthday...I woke him up singing Happy Birthday.  I went and got his favorite doughnuts this morning and put candles in them.  He was pretty suprised!  He is now...officially a teenager.  And hairy, stinky...teenager!  And now...I'm off to get Botox...I need to give myself a little present too!!!

Dieting is for the birds....

I have been on a diet and I am not happy about it!  I wish I still had the metabolism of a 15 year old!  So...in order to get my mind off the food that I am depriving myself of, I have decided to move forward with the re-decoration of my bedroom.  The one thing that I have left from my marriage that ended 9 years ago is my bedroom furniture and 1 blanket.  I have gotten rid of almost everything else and replaced it.  Flooring, paint/wallpaper and furniture are all very difficult things for me to pick out because they all seem sooooooo permanent.  But yesterday began the process of my bedroom re-decorating.  I decided to get rid of the carpet in my room and put down wood floors.  I must say they look really nice.

Then I went and picked out new bedroom furniture.  I have decided to make my room VERY girlie and clean (and I don't like it when woods clash)...so I got white bedroom furniture.  The new bedroom furniture will be here Saturday!   I have all new bed linens...they are lavender, green and cream.  The walls are going to be painted white and I'm doing the same in my bathroom so that everything will match.  I may end up using some wallpaper in my bathroom, but right now, I'm not sure!  I'll post pictures as the room progresses...as well as the before and after pictures!

Now...where can I plan a blanket burning party?!  Just kidding...I'm donating the blanket to the homeless so they can keep warm this winter.  And after that...I will have officially replaced everything in my house that I acquired while married!

Devil in the White City

So I just finished reading Devil in the White City by Eric Larson.  It took me a while becuase of the holidays, but today I OFFICIALLY finished.  I have to tell you...I have not been able to put this book down!  It was great.  I learned so much.  It both intrigued me, horrified me and made me want to live back in 1893 so that I could experience the World Columbian Exposition first hand!  I highly recommend this book to anyone that is looking for something to read.

Some of you may already know, but Hollywood in already in the process of casting for a movie based on the book.  It's is set to come out in 2013.  I can hardly wait to see this book come to life on the big screen!  The whole time I was reading it I would think, "Now, how would they show this on the movie!"  It is going to be FANTASTIC!  THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILERS in the below descriptions...but it's history and a lot of people already know it! 

Below are some side by sides of the real life people and the actors that have been suggested to play these pivital roles:

Adrien Brody as George Washington Gale Ferris - The inventor of the Ferris Wheel, George's project was the cornerstone of the great fair. Brody is due for another great performance, and would fit in well with a large ensemble cast.

Jeremy Renner (from Hurt Locker) as Frank Geyer - It's all about the eyes with this one. Renner would be perfect as the detective tracking down Holmes.

Jon Hamm (AKA My Boyfriend!) as Daniel Burnham - Accustomed to playing "Mad Men's" Don Draper, Hamm has the bravado to take on such a character - the incredible architect and visionary being the World's Fair.

Jospeh Gordon-Levitt as Benjamin Pitezel  - Holmes's closet associate, Gordon-Levitt would be perfect for this role, coming off of his work with DiCaprio in "Inception." Pitezel ends up having his child kidnapped by Holmes, would could provide a very dramatic opportunity for Gordon-Levitt.

And last but not least, the only person that is for sure cast in the movie...Leonardo DiCaprio as Dr. H.H. Holmes - Leo has already picked up the project and plans to play the legendary Chicago serial killer, who may have taken out up to 200 people in his "Murder Castle," all under the veil of the 1893 World's Fair.

Now....what should I read next?  I am thinking Water For Elephants by Sara Gruen.  This too has been made into a movie that will be out soon.  I better get to reading!

2011

It's 2011...and I am happy that 2010 is finally over!  I usually don't saythings like that, but 2010 has been a heck of a year for me and my family.  So 2011 is a welcomed new chapter in life for me.  I have set a few resolutions for myself this year...they are:

1. Read the whole bible .

(This one I started in November, so I'm doing pretty good so far!)

2. Save more money.

3. Exercise more.

4. Watch less TV.

5. Work harder.

I don't think that any of these are unattainable.  I really feel like it is something I can do!

Christmas was nice this year.  Austin was with his dad, so it was quiet and calm.  We did have Luke, but he made it more exciting and new.  He woke  up at about 5:00AM on Christmas morning.  I stayed at my parent's house so I could be with him.  I went in and got him and we snuggled for about 45 minutes.  Finally at almost 6:00AM, my mom came in looking for him.  His face was priceless when he saw his new red car!!!!  He's only 17 months old, but he has this Christmas thing down!  It was a great day to just hang out with my family.  I haven't really broadcast this, but before Thanksgiving my dad was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer.  He has a very aggressive form and they can not operate on him.  Monday, December 27th, he started his cancer treatment.  So it was nice to have a lot of time to spend with him during Christmas.  I missed Ausitn, but I needed this time with my mom & dad!

New Year's was fun too.  I'm usually a stay home kind of girl for NYE, but this year I went to Jessica's work function.  It's called BLT (Black-tie, Lingerie, or Toga)!  We dressed up black-tie and had a great time.  But as usual, I was back at the hotel and in bed by 12:30!! 

Austin got home on January 2nd and has grown in the 2 weeks he was gone!  I hate it when that happens.  I measured him and he is 5'6-1/4" tall!  Can't forget the 1/4"!  He returned to school today, the 5th.  So...my life is FINALLY back in a routine!  A routine that I like!