weekend notes

This has been a great weekend, I have been home alone! I realized that this is how I used to spend a lot of my weekends and while I thought I was happy then, I had not yet experienced true happiness. I might have had all the time in the world to shop for shoes, fold and iron the contents of my linen closet (?) and go on a hot date or two (ok, sometimes three :) but I miss Brett so much this weekend that I almost can't wait for it to be over 'cause then he'll be back. OK, so that might be a slight exaggeration, slight.

I got rid of a bunch more stuff this weekend, I just put it out by my dumpster and people help themselves. Saves a trip to Goodwill! I don't know too many of my neighbors but I bet I'd be served out of one of my old champagne flutes if I dropped in for some bubbly :)

I do know one neighbor really well, Tiffani! We've been tight for about a year now, she is a fellow designer and we like to spend our together-time antiquing, shopping for cupcakes, watching Gossip Girl, cooking soup and going to arty, indie events that my other friends aren't into. She likes to try to flatter me into buying dresses I will never have an occasion to wear and I like to smother her baby niece with my motherly instincts. Last night we did the Halloween thing. She came up and we drank the remains of a bottle of Gray Goose Vanille, mixed with coke and outfitted with cinnamon stick stirrers. Then we used the holiday as an excuse to wear crazy outfits and eyelashes and strutted down to the Silver Scream Spook Show for a screening of the 1932 classic White Zombie. This is one of my favorite Atlanta activities and last night was one of the best ever shows. Home and in bed my midnight :)

T and T's Halloween self portrait

Today was more cleaning out, I organized my collections of the good home decor magazines that are no more (sniff), roasted a chicken following closely the instructions in Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking (another favorite wedding gift) and then decided to step into fall with a small, conservative shopping trip.

Brett and I figured out our family budget last week and it was a true wake up call. I am embarrassed to admit, I have never done a budget and have always followed the close enough school of thought when going about my finances. I usually just go shopping and buy what I want, trying not to be too extravagant and to buy only stuff that I L-O-V-E. But I have spent more than I should. Now I am on a clothes budget. Sort of stings to think about, but I am considering it a challenge. Today I bought some awesome skinny jeans at Ann Taylor Loft, which is sometimes at risk of selling mom-jeans, but I love these. Not too skinny, perfect length, teeny bit of stretch and the best part, $60. And a great sweater coat thing with a big chunky collar for about $25, originally $80. I wanted a $50 cardigan but decided to leave it behind and check back for a sale. Then onto DSW. I have been craving black patent pumps for about 2 years, but just keep putting it off. I got a great pair today for $35! Steal. I resisted a cute pair of open toe ankle boots :) My one splurge was a full price metallic skinny belt at the Gap, but I had a gift card :)

I think one of the keys of not buying too much is wearing unflattering clothes and not doing hair or makeup before going out. Admittedly, the fake blue mole I penciled on last night was still hanging on and was probably a tad inappropriate, oh well. My point is, if the clothes you are trying on still look good with a sports bra and clogs, then they are worth it.

But in addition to my self-centered ramblings, I wanted to congratulate J & K and A & T on their new babies! Can't wait to see more pictures of all that cuteness :) Happy Birthdays, M and J!

And now it is getting dark and 6pm. And I don't really mind. Have a good week!