Sometimes I'm awesome

Sometimes not so much. But right now I have carpal tunnel from patting myself on the back. Due to the fact that I pour over an excessive amount of home decorating blogs I became drunk with idea that perhaps I, who posesses no tactile artistic skill what so ever, could indeed create what I wanted instead of buying it.

You see I had this old dresser, ugly, cheesey bad cherry finish. Thanks Al's Discount Furniture on Lankershim. What are ya gonna do when you buy a whole bedroom set for 300 bones? Ethan Allen it's not.

Anyway I recently became obsessed with having a red dresser for Max's new room. And so, the ever patient TOTT shuttled me off to Home Depot and purchased me a sander and a hist ton of colonial red paint. I must admit I was pumped up with confidence from the three years that WWJD and I stripped and stained furniture on the regular. But painting I had never done. And stain seems more forgiving.

But I figured what the heck. It's crap anyway, and if I ruin it then at least I've tried!

Behold!

From totally geek:

to totally chic!

Forgive the craptastic iphone fauxto. I haven't quite gotten the lighting squared away in there and also there was a small person pulling on my shirt hollering 'Both sides!'

Demanding little bugger.

It actually turned out better than I hoped and I am now looking at every single piece of furniture here at The American Dream as a potential project. I think my in laws are going to start hiding things. And also I can't find the dog. Which is a shame since he is all black. He could really use an accent color.

The next thing you know you're singing 'Surrey With the Fringe On Top' in front of Ira!

Ok, fine. I wasn't singing 'Surrey With the Fringe On Top' in front of Ira. Details schmetails. The next thing you know, however, I was standing in front of a huge blue screen filming a commercial. I never tell what product it's for.

I'm stoopidtitious that way.

Oh how I've missed you, my little bloggy world. From Saturday on it's been a whirlwind. First up we were getting the house ready for new carpet. The American Dream hasn't had new carpet since the folks moved in...like 20 years ago. And the old shizz was blue and pink. I tell you no lie, my friends, blue and pink carpet. Now imagine how much stuff you can accumulate in 20 years and the raising of not one but two children, so there was a hist ton of stuff to move.

Here's something you might not know about me: I'm a bit high maintenance. *STOP LAUGHING!* Alright, fine. You probably guessed that...but with the new carpet we seized the opportunity to move the kiddo from the delux  apartment in the basement to the guest room giving him his very.own.room. *sob*. So we turn the delux apartment in the basement into a playroom/tv room/office and with this move we decide to inhabit TOTT's childhood bedroom complete with baseball trophies and fantabulous 80's wallpaper.

Here's the thing kids, me and wallpaper...well we are the opposite of two great tastes that taste great together. There's only room for one of us in that bedroom, and it's me. So it was with the theme from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly playing in my head, and a Law & Order marathon playing on the tv, that I took to telling that paper to get to stepping.

It was three very frustrating hours later, and one trip to Target for a steamer (Dear God, thank you for the steamer, love me.) that TOTT burst in the room crying "We have VIP Wiggles Tickets! I got em!"

He might have even yelped 'beauuuuuuuty mate!' but I can't be sure because I was too busy trying not to fall off the ladder whilst holding a steamer full of boiling water. And we all know how klutzy I am just standing on solid ground.

I swear to you, TOTT wasn't even that excited when we got Paul McCartney tickets. Oh, small child, what have you turned us into?

People who will join the wiggles fan club in order to get advance VIP tickets apparently. So soon we will be boogying with those crazy kids in the big red car. Do you suppose Jeff knows he is the creepiest Wiggle? Ah well, M is all about Murray anyway. Murray has the guitar so Max only has eyes for Murray.

I cannot believe I just typed that sentence.

As we raced to get everything ready for the big move/ new carpet (which of course, you know, means painting everything in sight, refinishing dressers and new bedding...I must have new bedding!) I got a last minute call for an audition on Monday for a commercial that shot on Tuesday. Suh-weet. I always do good on quick decision calls!

My very first commercial evah was one of these, and I was so lucky to work with the awesomest jokester in the land- Joel McHale who for reals took such good care of me on the set that I thrill every time I see him on tv. He is so deserving of his success.

Also, I saw him at Aroma Cafe once and his kid and my kid had the same stroller. So obviously I can declare us B.F.F.'s in my delusional land.  I wonder if his stroller is as useless and broken as mine is. Harumph.

So the symmetry is not lost on me. My very first commercial ever, and my very first commercial back from having my baby were very similar experiences. Except this time no Joel McHale, just me and blue screen and a teleprompter. I'm like Obama, y'all, I do so love a teleprompter.

Welcome....welcome!! *passes out drinks*

Check out the new digs! Things are moving forward at the American Dream! We've had good news all around, and we decided to go ahead and make this thing legal. I'm married to a domain name now...eeek.

Commitment phobe.

But here we are, www.dialMforMinky.com 

I hope you'll all continue to follow along for more  of the silliness and comedy hijinks that is motherhood and living with you in-laws. 

Living with your in-laws. 20 kinds of awesome.

What?

Anyway, welcome! Help yourself to some champagne

Or perhaps you'd prefer a cocktail...

Everyone enjoy some delicious chocolates and petit fours.

Ain't I fancy schmancy with the petit fours?

I is! I is! 

What do you mean flip flops aren't Winter footwear?

Photo from OLD NAVY

First off let's just discuss how I finally got it into my head that the proper term for these lovely little slip on shoes is now flip flops. Where I grew up we called them thongs. Call them that now and you get quite a few odd looks. Not that I don't usually get odd looks, but it's as if I've said something very dirty calling flip flops thongs.
Ah, well.

This week Zach and I got a bee in our proverbial bonnets (I really would give anything for a picture of Zach in a bonnet right this very second) to go through all of our many boxes and weed out the stuff we don't even remember we have. And a lot of clothes we've not worn in ages. I am big on Spring Cleaning and was raised that in order for more to come in the house...stuff's gotta go! But when all of your stuff has been boxed up for over a year you start to realize that you have a ton more than you need. I'm not talking kitchen stuff because we are using all the in laws stuff now, but everything else. Doo-dads and what's its.  Just stuff. Too much stuff! We paid to move all this hist across the country twice and I'll be danged if I'm paying to move one more thing that neccessary once it's time for us to leave this version of the American Dream.

 Plus, I am going to nest like the dickens once we get our own space and make it MINE! ALL MINE!

While unpacking I tossed stuff out left and right, broke down boxes packed up three huge bags to take to the consignment store and 6 backs for the children's charity that will come by on Tuesday.

I also found 29 pairs of thongs flip flops. 29. I need FFA, Flip Flops Anonymous. In LA I wore them every single day unless I was wearing Uggs or heels. And pregnant? Forget the heels and Uggs. Nothing but flip flops. I've got three pairs of pink: baby, light and hot. Two green: dark and kelly. Yellow with a little buckle. Brown,red, white and blue. Floral, plaid ones with bows and( God help me) one pair with kitten heels. Remember those? Two of my favorite things...thongs flip flops and kitten heels. Two great tastes that taste great together? Not so much. That's a shoe that should just stay gone, n'est ce pas? The rest are all black. 16 pairs of black flip flops. Casual. Strappy ones with a little gold Bee (also have these in pink) patent leather, ones with a flower on the toe. No rubber pool flops though...just fashion flip flops.  The idea of fashion flip flops cracked me up.

I've weeded it down to 14 pairs of thongs flip flops. I don't think I can go any lower! I need them! I love sundresses and flip flops and sunglasses, it's my year round Summer (sob) uniform.

Today is sunny but brisk. The air is chilly and sharp, but I SO busted out my cheery yellow buckled flip flops. They make me smile. Also? Made an appointment for a pedicure. Winter does stuff to the toesies!

Flip flops, flip flops, FLIP FLOPS...If I keep saying it, maybe I'll get it through my thick skull that we do.not.call.them.thongs.

The I wants!

Oh how I have them. I do, I admit it. We are doing our level best to make our time at the American Dream count and are being very, very practical with our money. And so I've stopped shopping. Did you hear me people? I've.stopped.shopping.  Shopping for me is like breathing so it's been a tough couple of weeks but I think I am starting to get the hang of resisting. Sort of.
 Of course there are exceptions! Diapers, clothes for Stinker as he grows etc. I've no idea why I call him Stinker now, as he is a sweet natured little dude who most certainly doesn't stink! He pretty much smells like marshmallows and heaven.
Christmas will be small but lovely. Zach and I opting for practical things like contact lenses, headshots for me and a microphone to record mp3s ( not all of those!)so I don't have to drag the wee baby all over creation to audition for voice overs.
All great stuff! I've always believed that Christmas gifts are not for things you need but things you want. This year though, I want the things I need. I really want headshots! And contact lenses!

But...I also want this. It's so neat. I saw it on Cool Mom Picks  and got that lovely warm feeling in my tummy when I see something I want ever so much!
I love it in the gold, I've been wearing white gold and platinum for so long and now the gold just seems so warm and happy, sunny! I'm craving the bright colors of spring, greens and pinks...just in time for Winter (good timing, Tex!) but gold knows no season.

BUY IT HERE
Expandable braclets at Alex and Ani
Of course I want an M. M for Max. M for Minky. And if we are blessed enough to have another wee one M for them (probably), we very well might Duggar the initials! If you don't want an initial never fear, there are all kinds of charms. Religious symbols, cherubs. You name it, they've got it.

Since ZD and I are going to be good this Christmas, I thought I might post some things that I love. Perhaps you'll love them too and then you might go out and get them for you or someone you love and that? Makes me just as happy as if I'd gotten it my very self.


*BTW this isn't a sponsored post or review or anything. I just have the I Wants!

In case you've ever wondered

In case you've ever wondered what we do at the American Dream on your average Tuesday night in the kitchen.