Inspirations

As I'm getting ready to move, I find myself daydreaming about all the fun ways I'm going to decorate. In my head, my house is darling and welcoming, without being overly DONE. It's hard to explain the style I'm going for as it's an eclectic mix of country/vintage/modern.

So I've been working up a color scheme, and I've been mentally making a checklist of all the things I'm going to need. (*cough*PIANO*cough*) It doesn't help that I've subscribed to approximately 80 million design blogs this past month. I've almost convinced myself that I'm a traditional girl, even though I don't truly like the styling. Then I'll see a gorgeous kitchen that's stainless steel and granite, and I'll sigh a little and tell myself, "One day..." when in reality, I don't even like granite.

Anyways, since I'm just dying to talk about this with someone, and the DadGuy could care less, I'm going to show YOU what I'm currently loving.

1: Conservatories



Except mine will be black. And no mosaics. And sit on a small table. In my entry way. And be filled with something green and/or seasonal. And maybe I'll make an extra one for the 2nd floor deck. To grow my herbs in.... Maybe.




2. Amy Butler Fabric

pink + green = happy happy MomBabe. *Totally unrelated, my new couch (who's color was called "Espresso") is not even remotely brownish. Not even on a tan scale. It's PINK. A pale, dusty pink, but PINK nonetheless. **Also totally unrelated, DadGuy picked it out. At least the color will work well. Size and scale, not so much. ***Another totally unrelated thing, pick your battles. He got the couch. It's now my turn. ****Again, unrelated, mwuah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.




3. White Dishes

Once upon a time, I bought dishes that were patterned with strawberry vines. Then when I got engaged, I registed for a beautiful pattern from Lennox called Butterfly Meadow. Guys, those dishes have been in boxes for the last 8 years. Because I have never rarely use them. I wish I would have just gotten the plain white. Because they're pretty AND sensible and food looks so much better on white, does it not?




4. Peonies



Especially the pink ones. I just love them. How can you not?




5. Gardens in Small Places.



Like this one. THAT is a chicken feeder. But I'm thinking I could totally do that with a rain gutter, and THEN it would super easily attach to the deck railing... Because I have to figure out how to fit all the contents of my dream garden into pots and urns and chicken feeders. (*true story, when I moved here and had to BUY PRODUCE I pretty much died. I miss my fruit trees and my parent's garden. Like srsly, do you know how much they charge for lettuce? DO YOU?)




6. Painted Floors



{dies} I mean, LOOK at that, do I even have to explain? And I have this perfect little entryway spot that is DYING to be painted. Maybe not that ornately, but it's feeling neglected. It told me so. THE POSSIBILITIES!

And that's pretty much all I got right now because I'm sick of formatting, which is, I believe, single handedly responsible for killing the soul of many a blogger.


P.S. you entered to win a DVD, yes?

You Have Voicemail

*reposted from approximately one year ago because I'm lazy. Plus, it still pretty much applies. SO THERE.*

DadGuy heard the message on the phone for the first time. Then he got all pissy and said I need to change it. I told him he was more than capable of changing it himself.... but apparently he doesn't like to have his voice on the voicemail thing.

Well guess what? Me neither.

Which is why it is the way it is. Besides, it's not all that bad or anything. I actually got the idea from Kim, and she's sweet as pie so it can't be all that rude...

THE MESSAGE THAT GOT DADGUY'S PANTIES IN A BUNCH:

"Hey, this is the Bingham's. Thanks for calling. You can leave a message if you want but we don't ever check them and rarely ever respond. We're lazy like that. Thanks so much and have a Great. Day."


Of course, under direction of the King, I took it upon myself to record a new message. It should be a relatively easy task. It should only take a minute....

THESE ONES DIDN'T MAKE THE CUT:

"Hi, this is the Bingham's. {insert screaming children} We're obviously busy."


"Hey. It's us. Yes, we know it's you. That's why we didn't answer."



"You've reached the Bingham's. Leave your name number and a brief {insert someone biting me} OW! DON'T BITE! STOP THAT! I SAID STOP! KNOCK IT OFF!"



"Hi, this is the Bingham's and we're unable to answer the phone at this time (scream scream. whine. punch. slap. sob) "



".....Beep...........Beep..Beep............beepity.beep.beep.beeeeeeeeeppppppppppp..."



"Hey Hey! This is the Bingham's. We're totally screening you. Mwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!"



".....{whispering} Tad come here... Say 'This is the Bingham's'.... just say it. in the phone. right here. because I said so. come on! please? I'll give you a candy? FINE THEN!"


"This is the Bingham's. We can't come to the phone. Actually me. I can't come to the phone. Because I'm the only one that ever answers the danged phone. So yes, its' ME. It's my fault that you're not speaking to anyone right now. Why? Because I'm. Busy. Or I'm avoiding you. Or maybe it's just that my phone only rings three times and I can't ever find it in time and are you seriously going to leave me a message? Because I can guarantee that I won't call you back. and neither will HE. Because he never answers the phone or checks the messages because He is too busy and I apparently don't do anything all day."

THIRTY MINUTES LATER:

"This is the Bingham's. We can't come to the phone right now. Leave a message and we'll get back to you as soon as we can. Thanks so much and have a great day."

So that's it. The new and improved message that should not offend anyone at any time. Well, maybe they'll be offended by my wretched voice which is why I hate recording the stupid messages in the first place. I don't sound like that in real life.

Fine. Maybe I do sound like that. But not in my head. It's more like harps playing and angels singing and stuff. And the voice in my head is the only one that matters.

Don't even start with me right now.

Message this.

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Kai-Lan's Great Trip to China!

Ni Hao, Kai-Lan is a relatively new preschool series airing on Nick Jr. Kai-Lan is a cute little girl, who hangs out with her special animal friends, Rintoo the tiger, Tolee to koala, and Hoho the monkey. (Hoho is the cutest.)

Preschoolers can pack their bags and join Kai-Lan on her greatest adventure yet! Kai-Lan and her friends take on a new continent in the all new Nickelodeon DVD release, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Kai-Lan's Great Trip to China! In the double length feature, Kai-lan and her friends travel to China to meet a baby panda. During their journey, they are amazed by all the new things they learn about Chinese culture.

Two more episodes are included on the DVD. In Rain or Shine, your kids will help Kai-lan and friends figure out things that they CAN do in the rain; in The Ant Playground, they'll help Kai-Lan and friends see the ants perspective so they can help to build a swing for the ant playground.

Want to join Kai-Lan and friends on all her adventures? Good. Because I have a DVD for you to win.

To Enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Tweet it, FB it, Stumble it, WHATEVER. Then leave a link to the tweet/FB/stumble in the comments

3. Subscribe to this blog, or follow it, whichever it is that you do, then come back here and tell me.

4. Tell me which of the Kai-Lan characters you like best and why.

Contest will close Monday, July 20, at 12 noon EST. Winner will be chosen at random and announced that night.

Correspondence

Dear Taylor,

I know you think you're hot stuff when you get my purse and keys and put my big ole' sunglasses on your tiny noggin. Generally, it's harmless enough, what with me catching you before you do any real damage. But today, when you climbed onto the counter, took my purse off the top of the fridge, and rummaged through it looking for stuff, because I had the audacity to go to the bathroom alone, you misplaced quite a few of my things.

While I'm happy that I found the library card and our Costco membership, I really, really, REALLY need my driver's license. I was supposed to register your brother for school this morning.... and apparently, I need my license (which you lost) and my voter registration card (which you lost) to do it.

I know I looked frantically all over the house, and I know this amused you. I heard you giggling as I ransacked the toy box. You followed me around as I checked all the air vents, and when I started opening all the kitchen cupboards, because SURELY you had put them in there, you started jumping up and down clapping.

Here's the thing, I KNOW you understand me. You don't talk much, but you know exactly where my stuff is. I'd like it back pronto. Game time is over.

Thanks,
~Mom

---

Dear Department of Motor Vehicles,

My two year old lost my driver's license. I went online to see if I could just order a new one, instead of tromping down to your office to wait for hours with my oh so delightful childrens. I was so happy when I saw that YES! I could order a new one right away!

Then I clicked on the form. You see, I don't HAVE a PIN for the DMV. No worries though, there was an option for PIN-less people like me.

Except then you wanted my "customer number." The same "customer number" that is on the card that my two year old lost. Obviously, I don't have it memorized, because I wouldn't be writing to you if I had.

But I remembered that on your front page, there was an option that I could look up my customer number... So there I went. And you know what you wanted? A PIN number.

Do you see the predicament there? I can't have a PIN without a customer number, but I can't have a customer number without a PIN. Chicken. Egg. Chicken. Egg.

You're officially the dumbest DMV website ever.

Will be gracing you with my presence in the very near future,
~MomBabe

---

Dear DadGuy,

I know you think that this is my fault. I know you think I just leave my purse lying on the floor with the contents strewn about, ready for the taking.

But I don't.

The two year old monkey child cannot be stopped. And I honestly don't know where else to look for those stupid cards. Therefore, I give up.

You can be in charge of registering Tad for school.

xoxo,
~your wife

Boring Tuesday PSA and stuff...

So you may have noticed that there's more pictures on this blog now.

Yeah, that's called. "I'm lazy and combined another blog."

Good news, I'm down to just this one!

Well, sorta. I mean, I still have the MMB to take care of, but that's YOUR STUFF, not mine. Big difference.

(Not that any of you particularly CARE about things like that, but I'm excited so you should be too.)

In other unrelated and possibly boring news, I have Enrichment meeting tonight, and my printer is on the fritz. Which pretty much blows because I have all the answers to the family feud game waiting to be printed. AND my handout. (BOTH of which, I need to mention, are TOTALLY AWESOME)

So, do you live by me and if yes, do you have a printer that works and isn't out of ink?

Nature Walk

We went on a little nature walk today.

Notice: Daniel would not take off his pajamas today.

Also Notice: boys hand placement.

Why must they do that?

I don't get it.

We marched in a row pretty much the whole time.

Because we're awesome.

This little dock is at the end of the path....

Taylor kept trying to be like one of the big kids. Too bad she's so short.

That's better.


Getting a closer look.


Beautiful.

Monday Workout

<a target="_blank" href="http://thebinghamdiaries.com/"><br/><br/><img border="0" alt="The Bingham Diaries" src="http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e236/Caroline0330/blog%20headers/msadventure_Page_3.jpg" /></a>


I lost 3.75 inches overall this week.

I'll take it.

Especially considering that I missed 3 days of workouts.

Now I just need to get a scale so I can weigh myself.

Otherwise, I could just go "test" them at Target or something.

Yeah, that sounds like a good plan.

So.... how did YOU do?