Windy Mayes Photo

Friends in Low Places

Yesterday the millionaire and I drove to Chicago for tattoos. We heard tell that Dan Smith of Dear and Departed and High Voltage in LA was going to be a guest artist at Chicago Tattooing Company. Also, we found out that we have a mutual friend with one of the other guest artists, Danny Reed of Asheville, NC. Small. World.

 

I love my lovely lady Octopus! The chicken babies were seamlessly incorporated into the new tattoo. i showed Dan the tattoo Pinterest board I put together and he did a marvelous job of executing the concept I had in mind.

 

Merry Christmas to me from my babe!

Hard Livin'

The millionaire family went to see Justin Townes Earle together. It just so happens that the Decemberists were also playing that night. Despite our misgivings, we stayed, aiming to give them 3 songs before we dismissed the band. It only took one extra long intro and one song for the boy to pipe up and ask if we could go.

Of course, after all that, the best photo of the night was of the Decemberists and not JTE, as I had hoped. Boo-urns.

 

Home Improvement Project #12: Red Door

All my life I've wanted a red door. Not a pansy shade of red, a vibrant, firetruck, lipstick RED. Red that can't be mistaken for anything else. You know the kind of red I'm talking about.

From the first time we drove up to our house, I knew it would look fantastic with my kind of red door. I took a while, but I finally noticed the decorative gable shingles that were all but blending in with the siding.

Today I took matters into my own hands! Two quarts of paint, a wasps' nest, burned feet and a lot of sweat later, I have my red door! (Yes, I did do a coat on the roof but the millionaire took over for me despite his dislike of heights.)

Home Improvement Project #10: Inspired Art

The Millionaire and I have been searching for just the right art to fill up our two story stairwell walls. A while back I ran across this painting on Heather's website:

I saw it again more recently and recalled that I had about 20 sample paint pots, plus the paints we used in our kitchen, living room, entry and office.

This week the Millionaire took a whole day off to spend with the kids, so I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to create our own version of the inspiration piece.

The project was inexpensive for us since we had so many paint colors already. We found objects round the house to use for our circles. The only materials we bought were the brushes and pre-cut 2 x 2 plywood panels- I think we spent $19.

I knew we could use up more of the wall space by having 4 separate panels. I also knew that it would be near impossible to get all four of us coordinated on one large piece of wood.

We aren't artists, nor am I a decorator, but we are all pretty damn proud of our art piece. Thanks especially to the artist of our inspiration. I don't know her name or I would credit her! 

WMI Ink

I've been thinking about getting a tattoo for many years. Until now, I never had an idea that appealed to me enough to want it permanently etched into my skin. Also, I wasn't sure if I would puss out when it came right down to it.

Yesterday was my second wedding anniversary with the Millionaire and we decided to start an anniversary tradition: tattoos. I've been imagining the one I want, in the spot I wanted it for a month or so, and felt pretty good about. I even went so far as to buy a pair of shoes specifically to accommodate my tattoo. Today, I sucked it up and my babe and I got matching tattoos (same image, different color/spot)

Some photos by the Millionaire, while I was writhing (but not crying!) on the table. Some photos by yours truly

Before (with specially selected shoes!)

 

outline

 

all done!