Stationery Card

We've Arrived!

But I think we need a bigger home! (This is after we unpacked 20 of our boxes)

My Little Snow Bunny

I find it so ironic that this Native Floridian moves to Virginia Beach, a place where it gets very cold, but never snows. However, my last weekend here we get hit with 12 inches of snow. Weather forecasters said that this area has not seen this much snow in over 20 years. What a finale to my time here! The snow is beautiful, but I'm on day 3 of being snowed in and my cabin fever has reached an all time high. On another note, Emma could not be happier. Check out my little snow bunny!

Shopping Can be Such a Drag

Don't you hate it when you really need an outfit for something coming up and you cannot find anything you like? For me, I usually go to the mall with some style or vision in mind and then obsessively check every last store until I can find this look. This OCD trait of mine has landed me in the Limited Too thinking I could possibly squeeze into a kids XL and when that didn't pan out I was off to A Pea in the Pod thinking that I could make an XS work. What, I couldn't pass for 4 months pregnant? I know- I have serious issues.

This last trip to the mall was no different for me. I set out on a mission to find a new suit for a few interviews I had coming up the next day...yea no pressure. Ten stores later I had....nothing. I mean nothing. I tried on everything and I didn't like any of it. Of course I found a million casual outfits that I just 'had to have,' but no suit. I even considered getting a jacket from one store, pants from another and the top from a third store when I realized that I was turning into a crazed person. I decided to stop for a coffee, relax, and take the pressure off that I was putting on myself. The coffee place happened to be across from Banana Republic so I decided to stop in to see what goods I could find.

As I walked in I was greeted by a cheery, "Hello! Welcome to Banana Republic." Her voice sounded a bit like the Church Lady from Saturday Night Live. That’s unfortunate, I thought to myself. I politely glanced up, muttered a small hello back and put my head back down to look through the clothes. A half a second later my brain caught up with my eyes and made me take a second look at the sales girl. Hmm, I thought. She is pretty darn tall and her shoulders look a little broad in that jacket. She had on a ton of makeup but I shrugged it off and decided that this 50 something year old women was just trying to hold onto her youth and this complex she had must only be intensified by her job at Banana Republic. She was attractive and dressed very classy. Dark wash, boot cut jeans, button down collar shirt, fitted navy blue velvet jacket. I mean she looked great! I immediately wanted to find her outfit and buy it. Sale technique achieved.

As the clothes piled up on my arm, she came over to me, I mean, she towered over me and asked if I would like her to start a dressing room for me. I looked into her pretty blue eyes and at her bright red hair and with the most monotone sounding voice and straightest face I said "Thanks" But, if she could read my mind, this is what she would have heard...oh my gosh, oh my gosh, I was right, she is a man! A man, dressed as a woman. A drag queen! Wait-at Banana Republic? This just doesn't fit their image. I mean, I think it's pretty cool and hip but I can't picture Banana Republic agreeing. I quickly contemplated the stores in the mall that I felt this image did fit. Hot Topic. Betsy Johnson. Maybe Steve Madden? Spencers for sure! I couldn't help questioning if she was interviewed and hired as a man and then showed up to work one day as a women? Or did they hire her as a cross dresser? I wonder if Banana Republic hired her to avoid HIPA laws? No overtime when she splits her work week up half man and half woman. Ok, Sydney focus, don’t make her feel uncomfortable.

I followed her back to the fitting rooms. After she hung my clothes up she said, "If you need anything my name is Andy." Ok…Andy. I mean come on! Is there a more unisex name out there then Andy?

As I tried on what felt like seven hundred and fifty outfits, liking none of them mind you, I kept thinking about Andy. I mean I’m no prude. I happen to love drag queens. I’ve seen a drag Jennifer Lopez in South Beach that would blow your mind. This chick was smoking, definitely not from Jenny’s block. I even saw a drag Britney Spears who came out in a half piece green ensemble with a snake around her neck. Heck, my bachelorette party was at Lips in Ft. Lauderdale. A restaurant, club and nightly drag show. There was just something about walking into the conservative, traditional, conventional store of Banana Republic and seeing a drag queen working there that caught me off guard.

Oh and the suit? I never found it.

Sunday Night Line Up

Sunday night is always a very stressful night in our house. We’re not juggling football games, or preparing for a crazy work week to begin. No, we are stressed because there are just too many TV shows on that we like to watch and prioritizing them is always so stressful. Our Tivo works on overdrive on Sundays. We never know which shows to watch 'live' and which to save for another night. However, tonight’s decision is easy because it’s the season premier of HBO's Big Love (woot woot!). One of my all time favorite shows! Definitely 'live' worthy. Which means that Desperate Housewives will have to be Tivoed. And who can forget about Sunday night on E! Keeping Up With The Kardashisians and my new all time fav, Jiuliana and Bill (looooooove her!)

What will we do when Entourage AND True Blood come back on!?!?! Highly intelligent TV watching going on over here!

So, what do you like to watch on Sunday nights?

Need Your Advice

Ok, so...for my first try at refinishing something I chose to refinish this antique wood desk.

My original intent was to paint it white and distress it a little.  My inspiration was this photo...

I planned to get some cute vintage clear knobs and buy a funky print chair.

But, at the last minute standing in the Lowes paint aisle my eyes were drawn to stains. For some reason the stains were calling my name. I ended up staining the desk a darker color to make it look more mahogany.

At first I was pleased with how it turned out but now I can’t stop my brain from thinking what it could/would look like if I stuck to my original idea of painting it white. What do you guys think? Should I repaint it white or keep it the way it is?

Scroll to the end of this post and click on the link that reads "Click here to leave a Comment" to tell me what you think I should do.

The Writing on My Wall

After blogging about random ramblings that go on at The Berlin's Wall, I've decided to expand my blog by doing something I've wanted to do for a while now. For those who know me, it is no secret that I am a total blog junkie. I spend countless hours poring over other peoples blogs. From life blogs, to do-it-yourself renovation blogs, fashion blogs and food blogs. I love them all. It’s not just pure voyeurism that keeps me entertained and coming back, I have also learned a tremendous amount from some of these blogs. It was because of the blogs I read that I decided to refinish an old wood desk. It was because of these blogs that I convinced my husband that painted cabinets could look good. I finally caved and read, devoured the Twilight series because of all the recommendations of people in the blog world. I started juicing, drinking green monsters, tried hot yoga, all due to the blogs I read. This past year would have been very different if it wasn’t from my online ‘friends’ steering me to try new things.

So because of this I have decided to start a new series where I will feature different blogs that have inspired me in some way. Let’s face it, aren’t you just in awe of some of these women who find time to juggle all the things life throws at them, marriage, career, children, home improvement projects, working out, staying fashionable and still have time to blog (what seems like effortlessly), about it. I always think to myself, I wonder what their daily life is really like? Each featured blog will be a firsthand account of what a day in the life is really like for them. From the time their alarm clock goes off to the time they go to bed.

I’ve decided to call this section, “The Writing on My Wall.” A little play on words with my blog name, The Berlin’s Wall.

I have the first featured blog all set up so hurry back so you don’t miss it! I’ll give you a hint, she’s a real FUN girl!

Twenty-Ten Baby

Happy New Year! It's a brand new year and what better way to start a New Year off then with a new page layout! I'm really excited about a few things I have coming up in the near future to blog about. So stay tuned!!

What Are Your New Year's Resolutions?

We Need a Crane

Because The Berlin's Wall is on the move! Yeap, that's right, we're moving back to Florida! We are in the midst of packing our recently unpacked stuff. Wish we saved the boxes. Trying to sell our house and prepare for our big trek back!

Baseball Teams in Our Backyard

I'm having way too much fun with my new camera. Especially the 12x zoom lens. You can't tell from the pictures but these birds were about 100 feet from our house on the trees by our back fence. Steve brought home a few bird feeders and we put them in our backyard and we are attracting so many neat birds! We have a resident Cardinal and Blue Jay, all we need is an Oriole and we will have a baseball team trifecta!

Wood you?

After pining away at other womens before and after home improvement blogs wondering if I was capable of such feats I decided it was time for me to try my hand at something. I knew I wanted to make one of our bedrooms into an office and thought what better way to start my new home improvement streak then on a new, er, I mean old desk.

So after scouring craigslist for days I finally found a little beauty, anciently old and all beat up, perfect! I was sold. I immediately called the lady to find out if it was still available and before she could finish the word yes I was half way to my car.

Once I got there I realized I had a minor problem. Either her size dimensions of the desk were incorrect or I measured wrong. Knowing that I'm a stellar mathematician (insert ridiculously obvious sarcastic laugh here) I knew it couldn't be me! I swear we tried every combination of ways to make this desk fit into my car and after all of them failing I had to step back and realize it wasn't going to happen. Now, if I was in Florida buying this desk from someone they would have said, "sorry kid your s.o.l." but since I'm in Virginia Beach, the lady without hesitation said, "wait a minute honey, let me get my SUV and I'll take it to your house." Stunned, I replied "Are you sure?" She kindly said, "absolutely honey!"

So off we went caravaning back to my house. Of course, the whole way back home I'm plotting what I will do if this is some scam and she is going to rob me, steal my belongings, beat me and then leave WITHOUT me getting my desk! (I know, I'm a paranoid freak). So after rehearsing all the martial arts self defense moves I know in my head we finally get to my house. We unload the desk, I pay her (no delivery fee or mugging) and I happily skip away!

So, if you are still with me after reading my pathetically long winded story when all you want to see is the darn before and after picture, I will not keep you in suspense any longer.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

I know it's subtle, but I'm quite proud of it. I did this entire project without the help of the hubby. I researched online what products to use and how to apply them. For those who know me well, can you even picture me in my garage wearing a mask, staining wood furniture? I think not...but I did!!

Look how beat up it was! Glass rings, stamps, marks. I lightly sanded the entire desk. Next, I applied a wood conditioner to really repair all this damage.

Next, I applied a dark walnut colored stain. After it was dry I applied a poly finish to protect it from everyday dings and scratches.

Then I installed new hardware.

And wala!

How Many Adjectives are in Your Coffee?

Walking into my favorite Starbucks to order my favorite drink was quite different today. The shopping plaza was packed due to last minute shoppers cramming in the last few minutes before Christmas Eve and that meant Starbucks was packed too. Normally this would not bother me too much but I know that my drink order is a bit, uh, well… high maintenance.

Let me back up, in Boca Raton, Florida EVERYONE is on some fad diet or some coffee enema diet so hearing long winded bizarre coffee names pour out of the baristas mouth as they yell out completed orders to come pick up doesn’t phase you. But in Virginia Beach it is a rare, rare sight. So as I wait for my drink order behind 10 patiently waiting other people and in front of about 6 new people who just walked in I hear drinks being called out left and right. Normal, Starbucks drinks. Grande coffee, tall latte, Venti Hot Chocolate. And then I hear mine. I brace myself, knowing what is coming. I know everyone is gonna think, “huh, what was that drink? So then the barista shouts it out above the large crowd….

"Tall, Decaf, Non-Fat, Soy, Sugar-free, No Whip, Cinnamon Dolce, Latte."

I quickly put my huge Jackie O sunglasses on, bowed my head and walked up to the counter, grabbed my coffee and ran out!

...I think it's time for a new favorite drink.

Happy Hanukkah 2009!!