Last weekend Jason and I had a couple of opportunities to go scootin’ with our buddy Leila. It was so fun! So, yes, now we want one of our own. Again.
Phone Photo Friday
04/30/2010
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Posted by mahlbrandt
Weekend Update – part 2
04/14/2010The Laren Brumley/Waterside show on Friday night was just the start of a wonderful weekend. We took a mini-vacation Saturday-Sunday with Laren and her husband Jeremy. First we went to IKEA Atlanta where we picked up a few things for our master bathroom renovation and met up with their friend Branton.
Exciting purchases, I know. The HULINGEN trash can (wrongly priced on the website … it’s actually $19.99) and the MOLGER mirror. From there, the five of us headed to Hiwassee State Park for a little camping adventure.
We set up our tents and cooked weinies* over the fire, baked beans and s’mores. We had a talent show featuring magic tricks by Branton (who J&L had talked up to us) and guitar by Jason (who J&L had talked up to Branton) and some singing by Laren (who we already knew was awesome).
•weinies = Louisianan for hot dogs
Sunday morning Jeremy and Laren cooked up a mean breakfast of buttermilk biscuits, scrambled eggs, fried weinies, pancakes and coffee. These two know how to CAMP!
We loafed around for a while after breakfast and then packed up and went out to explore the beautiful Hiwassee River in Cherokee National Park.
The guys — Jason, Branton and Jeremy — spent some time contemplating the meaning of their lives and the majesty of God’s creation.
Actually, they were all watching Laren and wondering which one of them was going to have to jump in and get her if she falls in. Jason was the first to say “not it.”
She didn’t fall in. Instead she found a big rock and took a nap.
We all did some more loafing around …
And searching for the pretty river rocks.
There were so many different colored rocks. I don’t know if I’ve ever really looked at river rocks like that before. Red, blue, green, orange, yellow, black, white. Gorgeous rocks! It’s amazing what you see when you take time to really stop and enjoy creation.
There’s nothing quite like a refreshing weekend getaway!
1 Comment | Art, Art: Cooking, Art: God's creation, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: camping, creation, Hiwassee, weekend | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Weekend Update – part 1
04/13/2010
Friday night Laren Brumley played at the Curb Cafe. She’s a super talented singer/songwriter and I’m honored to consider her a great friend of mine and one of the most interesting people I know.
Seriously, check out her music. Her voice is amazing and totally not what you’d expect by looking at her! Laren’s style sounds a bit like Alicia Keys, Joss Stone, Amy Winehouse. You can find her on myspace, facebook and iTunes.
Jason’s band Waterside backed her up. And then the guys played their own set.
Good music and a good time!
Heard any good new music lately?
1 Comment | Art, Art: music, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: Curb Cafe, Laren Brumley, music, Nashville, Waterside | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Rockin’ Baby Party
03/03/2010The theme of the baby shower my sister-in-law and I threw on Sunday was a Rockin’ Baby Party. BR, the mama we were showering, used to play bass in Jason’s band and her hubby is a musician too. (How rare in Nashville, I know …) I’ll let the pictures do most of the talking.
Excited parents.
Soon to be big brother (on the right) got some presents, too.
Adorable little girl helped BR open some presents.
I’d really like to get a better camera. I blame my bad photographs mostly on my camera.
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Posted by mahlbrandt
A Weekend Recap
03/02/2010“Some weekends are so busy, I can’t wait for the week to start.” – Jason
We kicked of the weekend by having some friends over for a late dinner. Jason grilled some chicken (I love being able to grill year-round!) and I made PW’s baked lemon pasta. It was a delicious hit. Late dinner led to late night chattin it up with good friends.
Saturday morning I kissed Jason goodbye and headed off to a PJ breakfast baby shower. Brilliant! (Was that your idea, Jenna?) So fun to sit around with a bunch of my favorite ladies in our comfies eating waffles and quiches and watching our friend unwrap lots of adorable little girly outfits.
I spent Saturday afternoon preparing for baby shower #2. Making a bunting banner. Baking a guitar-shaped cake. Cleaning the house. Arranging the table and furniture.
Saturday I had a girls night with my sister-in-law and our good friend while our husbands were all out on the road. It was fun to watch a chick flick – He’s Just Not That into You. I have to say, it’s kind of a depressing picture of marriage and dating these days, though. Definitely makes me appreciate my marriage!
Jason got home sometime in the middle of the night Saturday and was up and gone to set up at church before I woke up Sunday morning. I was a couple minutes late but the service was great. Something is about to explode. It’s so exciting! People are so hungry for more of God’s presence that no one wants to leave.
I did eventually scurry out so I could get back home to finished prepping for the Rockin’ Baby Party. Bake artichoke dip. Tie balloons to the mail box. Give directions over the phone. Set out chips, salsa, guacamole, hummus, crackers, pita, sushi, guitar cake, punch. The party was a hit and I hope our friends were blessed. I didn’t think to count but I’m pretty sure that’s the most people we’ve ever had in our house; definitely the most kids we’ve had running around at one time. Lucy was a great vacuum gobbling up all of the cake and crunched chips that the kiddos left behind.
Fun weekend but we were pooped! We were both asleep by 10pm on Sunday night which is extremely rare in this house. Phew!
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Posted by mahlbrandt
Skype, Pandora and Online TV
02/01/2010
I’m listening to a radio station that customized to my favorite artists and genres. No stereo invloved. Free.
I just had a 15 minute face-to-face conversation with my husband. He’s at home. I’m at work. No phone involved. Free.
Last night we watched the latest 2 episodes of 24 on our TV. No cable or antenna involved. Free.
We’ve been watching episodes from the old TV series Quantem Leap every weekend. No DVDs or DVD player involved. Free.
All these things through our laptops. All online. All free. This is so not mid-century. But, it’s an aspect of my modern life that I love! It’s amazing what technology can do and how available and affordable everything is.
I’m listening to Pandora radio but every local radio station I know of also has free online streaming. Jason and I just set up Skype accounts. Now we can talk to our friend while he’s touring the world this month, our friends in Brazil and our 1-year-old nephew in Pennsylvania with video, audio and chat options. All completely free. Pretty much all prime time TV shows are available to watch online. We also use Hulu for older series.
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Posted by mahlbrandt
New Years MCM finds
01/05/2010We had a wonderful New Years in Cincinnati with our dear friends and fellow MCM enthusiests. We ate some delicious food: lobster, pork ribs and sauerkraut, Cincinnati chili, Cheesecake Factory. Some new—from IKEA and H&M—and “new” mid-century purchases—from Red Polly, SA family store and Stu Nizny‘s house (oh the stories!)
I’m so excited to report that we finally found the perfect vintage MCM cabinet to use for our master bathroom vanity. Wow. After a year of searching it’s going to take a while to sink in! (Pun intended that time.) And it fit in our car!
While we were poking around at the thrift store I pointed out a table that looked mid-century. Out of nowhere an eccentric silver-haired guy in a hot pink down puffer with a saucer-sized belt buckle and white silver-tipped cowboy boots was giving us his business cards, inviting us back to his house to check out his vintage collection, offering us wholesale prices, and listing off his résumé of famous clientele. We shopped around a little more than then took him up on his offer.
Stu’s house was a museum of mid-century and vintage furniture, housewares, glass art, Jeres, vintage t-shirts, suitcases, light fixtures, art … and he was right: he did have several mid-century modern cabinets that fit the very specific dimensions we needed. Thanks for the great deals, Stu! We’ll definitely be back.
I’ll share more about our other finds soon.
1 Comment | Art, Art: interior design, Art: mcm thrift store find, Art: mid-century design, Family, Family: Extended Family and Friends | Tagged: bathroom renovation, cabinet, Cincinnati, credenza, MCM thrift store, mid-century modern | Permalink
Posted by mahlbrandt
Phone Photo Friday
01/01/2010
Nashville Preds game last weekend
And here’s the Christmas photo that didn’t get posted in time for last week.
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Posted by mahlbrandt
The Tile Arrived!
11/17/2009
We had a great weekend with our friends Dave and Emily visiting from PA. I didn’t take any pictures over the weekend, though. Whoops!
Here are a few highlights:
• Hatch Show Print on Friday afternoon
• Buca di Beppo for dinner
• The guys jammed together while the girls enjoyed the almost 80º weather with a walk Saturday morning
• Lunch at Baja Fresh
• Mac store, mall, thrift stores* and chillin at Dan & Ginger’s house
* got 2 new MCM treasures! I’ll share later this week
• Party Saturday night with bonfire and games. Lots of yummy fall food: hot dogs, smores, cheese dip, homemade soft pretzels, homemade donuts, hot spiced apple cider
• Sunday church and then lunch at another friend from PA’s house
• A restful evening at home Sunday
We said our goodbyes on Monday morning. Hopefully D&E will be back to the promised land soon! I’m thankful I took the day off Monday to get caught up around the house and get a nap after a fun but busy weekend!
More about our tiling adventures tomorrow!
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Posted by mahlbrandt
Happy Birthday Friend!
11/14/2009
I hope this coming year is so wonderful for you!
You are a beautiful woman of God and I am so thankful for our friendship.
I love that you have a mid-century modern house now!
It’s been so amazing watching you become a mother over the past year.
I adore your sweet little boy!
Thank you for honoring me with the title “Tia Martina.”
Despite the physical distance between us, I know you are always there for me.
And I hope you know I would do anything for you and your family.
May God’s blessings shower down on you, the daughter of the King, this year!
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Posted by mahlbrandt
myMCMlife.com 