Sunday NATALIEDEE

[courtesy of toothpastefordinner]

I heart Ingrid

Eeek! Sorry I have been kind of MIA this week. I've had so much to do for classes, and I stayed down at school for few nights making it hard to blog. ["I thought you were someone who wanted to blog about their ideals...." if you know what that is from, we are meant to be best friends for life] I also made a ride down to Christopher Newport University, in Newport News VA, yesterday with one my girlfriends. We had a really fun time visiting friends and hanging out! It was their homecoming so everyone was in fine form [read: my friend spray painted a sign and put it on his lawn reading 'you honk, we drink.' and he lives on a major road... You can imagine.] ANYWAY, the point of this silly story is I'm sorry I haven't been around, but things are calm now! Yay! 

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One of my favorite things in the world is music. I love everything about what I call, "The Music Process" (Don't be jealous of my super creative title. It's a gift really.) I love finding artists, interpreting lyrics, and internalizing the fabulousness of songs. Who doesn't? 

A few summers ago, my friend I went to see Ingrid Michaelson. At the time she was playing in a coffee shop type venue. I found her completely randomly on myspace, when she was trying to find a record deal. Her concert honestly changed my world. She has the most beautiful, soulful voice that sounds just as amazing in concert as it does on her CD. Her style is folky pop, and her lyrics are heartfelt, quirky and FUNNY! I was able to go up to her after the concert, and tell her how awesome she was. She was so gracious, during the concert she even said, "I can't believe you all came to see ME!!" If you don't know about Ingrid, you are surely missing out. Her song, "the way I am" made that Old Navy commercial about sweaters seem cool. When I saw the commercial last Christmas, I FREAKED out because I didn't know anyone knew about her. She is fairly well known now because of that commercial, which makes me so happy for her :) Just in case you aren't familiar, her new record, BE OK, just came out!! GO to iTunes and listen to it! She is coming here to D.C. at the end of November. I AM SO SO SO EXCITED!!!! 

Here is a really cool video someone put together to her song "breakable", off her album Girls And Boys Watch and listen to her BEAUTIFUL voice!

xo,

Charlie

dining room walls

Hello beautiful people, late breaking newsflash here. I painted my dining room walls a dark espresso brown this past weekend. Here was my inspiration:

I ended up going with a shade closest to the last picture you see here. It was called Pebble Mosaic because its so dark it almost is a dark brown/grey. Hard to describe but it's fabulous.

OK--here comes the hgtv moment of inspiration. We (Mr Lulu) painted the walls above the chair rail in flat pebble mosaic paint and below with simple bright white paint. THEN my dear MIL came for the weekend and helped me measured and tape vertical stripes of high gloss paint...oh snap. You know it is so high style and looking like the park avenue chic I see myself as...

My actual pictures to follow.

havetolearnthefastwaytodownloadthecamera.......

night night,
Lulu

I get one morning to feel like this...

It's times like this that I wish I had the luxury of caring a little less...of having a little less at stake.

I know what I'll be clinging to over these next few years.



A little Naval shout-out to John McCain;) My husband has this flag on the wall of the garage..over his work bench!! Very cool.

I had been meaning to order this poster....how CUTE is this vintage print in pink?? I need it in my office now---and the message is a soothing affirmation;) When I figure out where to buy it in pink, I will share with you all!

xo,
Lulu

PS--today's the day to start the glad game again

Reason #709 to VOTE

[courtesy of someecards]

Awards season (part deux)!!

Just a quick post of appreciation!! Lulu and I have been given a couple of great awards in the past few days!

Clarabelle over at Pink Cupcake AND ;) Miss Mojito at Make Mine a Mojito gave us this little guy. How cute is he? Thanks girls!! We love how original and creative your blogs are. They always make us happy :)

The only rule is we have to pass it on to five other bloggers:

1. Jill at Peeptoe Pumps and Pearls

2. Ann at Bountiful Business

3. Melissa at New Girl on Post

4. Casey at The Ever-Changing Life of a Military Wife

5. Amy at Chapters

Hope you enjoy this cute award!

Ann at Bountiful Business gave us the smile award! Yes! This award makes me particularly happy, since the last few days have been kinda blah for me. Thank you, thank you :) :)

The qualifications to receive are:

A. Display a cheerful attitude

B. Love one another

C. Make mistakes

D. Learn from others

E. Be a positive contributor to the blog world

F. Love life

G. Love kids

The [intense] rules:

1. must link it back to the creator

2. post the rules

3. choose 5 people to give it to

4. recipients must fill the characteristics above

5. create a post to share this

6. you must thank the winner

phew! that was a mouth full!

1. Mel at I Pick Pretty

2. Milltini

3. Darci at Life @ the White House

4. Ms. Mindless

5. Hollie at All Things in Moddy

Are the ladies we choose for this award! All of your blogs are a complete joy to read :)

xo,

Charlie

p.s. 

Question: How amazing was GG tonight? 

Answer: Extraordinarily amazing. Amen.

"A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future."-Coco Chanel

[perfumes! by hOshi metamorphosis ]

I really really love that quote. Coco Chanel is the kind of icon that can get away with saying anything. I love how straight forward it is- honestly I don't disagree!!

Anyhoo...for various reasons, it's time for me to choose a new scent! Any suggestions? Since we are heading into the winter months, I am leaning toward something less floral, and more rich smelling. I need help, and I thought who better to ask then my lovely blogging beauties! I'm sure you all smell fantastic! Ha! Let me know what you think :)

xo,

Charlie

Sunday NATALIEDEE

[courtesy of toothpastefordinner]

The first of an ongoing series

xo,

charlie

You want some fries with that shakeeeee?

I seriously, seriously love the Sonic commercials. They always provide 30 seconds of joy to my world!! I recently read an article that said all of these mini skits use improvisation. An improv commercial? That is unheard of!!! They have a couple different themes, "the couple", "two guys" and "two girls"....I don't see the two girls commercials very often but they are SO funny. The two girls one below might be my favorite of all of them. 

Anyway if you haven't had the thrill of seeing these mini glorious wonders, here are a few of my favorites:

File Under: the simple pleasures in life

 Hope you all are having a happy Saturday!

xo,

Charlie

Springfield, VA Nov 1st

Sent via BlackBerry from T-Mobile

-----Original Message-----

McCain rally!!!