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Thursday, May 21, 2009

What was I thinking?

Okay. I'm sorry I've been absent for a while. I've been busy. And not working on the Thursday challenge of redoing a room in the house, either. I don't have time for that! So, please disregard. I am working on making a RH Birmingham a bi-monthly webazine. Of course, I got this great idea in the middle of about fifteen other projects thinking I'd be able to get it out by June 1st. How funny! I am always convinced that I have all the time in the world. Maybe I should research time management and write an article!
Whether a June 'mini' issue will be out or if we just go straight into July/August is up in the air at the moment, but I'll tell you a little about the issues. The webazine will be totally interactive, meaning that if you see an ad you can click the ad and go straight to the website for that business. Also, if an article features products or focuses on a particular business you will be able to view the website for the business that sells the products or that is featured. Each issue will also have a "Day in the Life" article spotlighting one working mom and one stay at home mom, a "Five Faves" section for a pick of five favorite things on a variety of topics. The first will be five faves under $5. We'll also have items tested by real housewives and their ratings, and other articles and tidbits that are specific to the season.
Thanks to Jennifer Somerset who has agreed to work for fabric scraps until this becomes a paying gig. She is gathering dates for an upcoming article "What to do in the Magic City".
More later! Crying baby in the next room!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Race Without Limits

Who in their right mind gets up at 5:00 a.m. on a Saturday? On purpose? Me! Well, not normally, but this was for a good cause. The Civiettes Club of Birmingham (of which I am a member) organized the Backus Orthodontics Race Without Limits 8K and HealthSouth 1 mile fun run today at Veteran's Park/Spain Park in Hoover.
The Civiettes Club's primary focus is United Cerebral Palsy of Birmingham and LINCPoint Center for Adults with Disabilities.
The race was the first of what we hope is an annual event and everyone put in a ton of time and effort getting sponsorship, donations and spreading the word. There were a few moments of nail biting and anxiety, but everything went off without a hitch. I urge you to support those sponsors that supported the cause: Backus Orthodontics, HealthSouth Corporation, Inverness Dermatology, Southern Natural Gas, Southern Progress, Johnston Barton Attorneys, Tom Williams Lexus, NBC13HD, Jeff Leonard Graphics & Apparel, Bruno's Food and Pharmacy, Trak Shack, Brower Law Firm, and Skinny Water (Birmingham Beverage Company), just to name a few!
Thanks to everyone who put their blood, sweat, tears, time and money into this event! If I've left anyone off, let me know and I'll add you to the list.
Despite the ungodly hour that my alarm clock disrupted my peaceful slumber, it was a great day and a fantastic event!

Friday, May 8, 2009

Sale Alert!

The Bruno's at Inverness Corners is going out of business and they had signs up saying everything 20-50% off. The parking lot was crazy, of course, but it could be worth the trip!
UPDATE: I've also heard from a friend in Crestline and the Bruno's on Montclair is also having this sale. I say, the time to stock your freezer is now!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Weekly Specials

Weekly Specials have been posted to the website.

Thursday Challenge

I have recently been bitten by the 'time to redecorate' bug. This seems to happen every Spring. I get an urge for clean closets and cabinets and then it spills over into making everything new and shiny. I keep wandering around the house looking with a very critical eye at everything from floors to wall color to moulding (or lack thereof). We were graced with white cabinets in the kitchens and baths as well as white tile with, you guessed it, white grout and brass fixtures. It was all so 'now' ten years ago and so on my ever loving last nerve today.
When we bought the house, we were so afraid we'd go over the decorating budget allowed by the builder that we made the most basic of choices and wound up getting a check back at closing. We were so thrilled we went out and bought dining room furniture, which turned out to be a nightmare in itself, but I'll let that go for another day.
At one time, it seemed I was always redoing one room or another. So much so that my dad said we were losing square footage because of all the layers of paint on the wall. Ha-bloody-ha. I don't have a problem with painting. I'll be the first one to haul out the ladder and my good brushes and get right to work. The problem is that, no matter what those redo gurus on HGTV say, a fresh coat of paint only goes so far. I can't paint myself new drapes or tile and the decorating till is sitting at zero.
So, here is the plan. I'm going to start on the boys' bedroom. ("The boys" being my nephews that I am lucky enough to take care of.) This room also acts as a guest room and the room that has THE closet that everything miscellaneous seems to get stuck in. That room is in sad, sad shape and hasn't been touched in about five years when I painted a seaside mural on the wall. I painted palm trees, a light house, waves, sky, seagulls and even sailboats. About a year ago the four year old said, "Look! There's a sailboat on my wall!" So, as you can see, the mural wasn't as big of a show stopper as I had hoped it would be if he didn't even notice for his entire life!
So here's the challenge. I'm picking a room and I'm giving myself six full weeks to get it done. If any of you have been putting off starting a project, let's get it done together. Six weeks beginning Monday, May 11th. Let's get thru Mother's Day first! And no cheating. No hiring someone to do it for you, unless you need some heavy lifting or anything that requires changing lighting, etc. (Although, I have to say. I have changed out three light fixtures myself and it is easy peasy. Just do, please, remember to turn off the power to the room at the junction box!) I'll post pics of my progress and you send me yours and I'll post them. Say, every Thursday you send me your pics and I'll post every Friday. It doesn't have to be a big messy total overhaul of a project. It could just be organizing THE closet in your home that collects stuff.
I'll post the before and after pictures for a vote at the end of six weeks and I'll come up with a prize for the winner.
On your mark, get set, GO!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

As noted above, I got a wild hair and decided to go ahead and make Real Housewives of Birmingham a website. I wanted to add more info than a blog allows, so I am already branching out. We can use the blog to interact and the website to gather resources. If there is anything you'd like to add to the site, let me know and I'll do my best to add it ASAP.
Contact me at bhamhousewife@yahoo.com

Hello!

Okay. I love The Real Housewives shows on Bravo, but they often leave me with my mouth hanging open and my mind screaming, "Seriously?!?" I am a real housewife, flesh and blood, although I do have a recurring sense of existing in a state of fog when I realize, more often than not, that I've bitten off more than I can chew and lack of sleep keeps me from forming complete sentences.
Most real housewives I know actually work outside of the home as well as in it in some form or fashion, and I mean work. We don't all have a household staff, though some, like me, are lucky enough to have weekly maid service whom I rank up there with local heroes considering the state of the house when they arrive some times. I mean, I want to run from the house screaming and I live here!
We also don't all have unlimited funds and worry about keeping on some kind of a budget and saving where we can. Unlike Jill (RH of New York) who decided that, due to the current economic climate, a $16K handbag was a good alternative to jewelry for her birthday this year. Now, I'm not bashing these lucky ladies because to them, they are real housewives. They just aren't the majority.
So, I set up this blog so the real Real Housewives can have a place to discuss everything from hubbies and kids (or the lack of either), to work and vacation, to staying in and dining out, to splurging and saving, to wine and water, and every other little thing that we need or want to stay in touch with.
I hope this will become a great resource for everyone who is a real housewife in the Birmingham area.
Enjoy!