Once again, my Friday post is going to be a jumbled mess of random tid bits. So stay with me. I’ve been stumped for content lately (hopefully you haven’t noticed).
1. I finished Love The One You’re With last weekend. It was my fourth straight Emily Giffin book. I am now on my sixth book of the year and I am two books ahead in my 2010 reading list. I’ve got to say that I liked parts of the book. I thought her husband was wonderful and adorable. I could see why she still might have feelings for her exboyfriend. But I thought she was a complainer and couldn’t see the joy in her seemingly perfect life. She should have been counting her lucky stars for marrying into such a wonderful family that included her best friend and being in a position to not worry about money and still do what she loved.
2. I’m straying a little bit on my reading list and reading Beth Moore’s So Long Insecurity before the trip to Atlanta at the end of the month. I often struggle with non-fiction, but I love the topic of this book and love Mrs. Moore!
3. This has been the first year that we’ve ever had to pay taxes. Holy robbery, Batman.
4. We met with a builder and looked at lots in the neighborhood that we love yesterday. I don’t have many details yet because nothing is firm. But it has been so informative to explore all of our options and it is surprisingly inexpensive to build right now. I appreciate those of you that have sent me emails about the building process. Our house goes on the market on Monday, so we’re about to enter a world of constant cleaning. Hopefully we’ll show our house every day and someone will snatch it up!
5. I never really considered building a house to be an option for us. I’m usually constantly tearing out home decor inspiration, but now that we’re discussing the building process, I’ve kind of frozen and don’t really know what to do.
6. Our New York City plans are all finalized and I can’t wait to share our plans with you. I’m so excited!
7. As most of you know, my favorite book, The Help, is being made into a movie. Some of the casting is finalized already (with Emma Stone cast as Skeeter). Who is in your dream cast of The Help?
8. I’m loving Dancing With The Stars this season. Erin and Maks are my favorite. I’m not a fan of Nicole and Derek. They’re good, but they’re cocky.
American Idol is okay. It’s one of my favorite shows, but I can honestly say that I don’t really care who wins this year. I like Casey, Lee, Crystal and Katie. But I could take it or leave it.
I have abandoned The Biggest Loser. After the Olympics I just didn’t care anymore. I’m more into the scripted dramas right now.
Last night on Project Runway, we found out which contestants are going to get to design a collection for fashion week. I won’t give anything away, but I think I know who my favorite is. It has been a pretty good season!
The Damages finale is close and it is getting so good! I can’t believe this season is almost over! The Lost finale is getting closer, too. I feel like they’re finally answering some questions.
I’m hoping that once all of the season finales air in May I can take a break from TV this summer. Except for Mad Men.
{ 38 comments… read them below or add one }
Building a house is so exciting! My dad is a homebuilder (has been forever), so I know lots and lots about the building process… E-mail me if you have any questions because I can either answer them or ask my dad. And I can send you his company’s website, etc. Have so much fun with it!
I’m so glad you said that about Love The One You’re With. I felt the same. I listened to the book on CD in the car and I struggled to get through it. But I was glad Ellen ended up with Andy, who I found completely adorable as well
I think I felt the same way that you did with Love The One You’re With. I was really annoyed with her whiny tone and kept thinking “It’s an Emily Griffin book so it has to get better and I’m not giving up.”
I’m glad I finished it but I think Something Borrowed is my favorite of all the books. I heard that they are making that into a movie too.
Southern Living has a whole host of house plans. I took several of my favorite aspects to a local architect and had him draw up my personalized plans. Since I wanted to live in the house FOREVER, I had everything but the play/bonus room, extra bedrooms/bathrooms on the first floor. My preference was no garage entrance on the front of the house and no stairway in the foyer. Good luck!
Good luck with the house! That’s so exciting. I’ve never read The Help but it is on my to-be-read list now! Thanks for the recommendation.
We built last year & it was a great experience!! I’m sure many people do have horror stories (believe me plenty of people wanted to share them with me while we were in the middle of construction) but ours was very pleasant. Number 1- make sure you pick a builder who you are just as comfortable talking with as your husband! Many of them are somewhat intimidating & can be kind of condescending, but ours was a jewel & I had no problem calling him or meeting him at the house. Good luck!!
So excited that you two are considering building! It’s definitely an exciting process…but it can be overwhelming for sure. Wishing you lots and lots of luck!
And I also abandoned the Biggest Loser. I had no interest in anyone on the show at all. And I REALLY hate the fact that it is 2 hours. So much filler!
I completely agree with you about Love the One You’re With- i love emily griffin and i realize that this is still an quite well-written piece of fiction, but for 90%of the book I just wanted to pick ellen out of the pages and talk some sense into her!
We built our house three years ago and I’ve just finished decorating it the way I want it. It’s been so fun! You’ll love it!
Totally agree about Love the One You’re With, I think it was my least favorite book by her so far. I’m hoping Heart of the Matter will be great though, and can’t wait to read that when it comes out.
So exciting you’re looking into building a house! Although I’ve heard it’s a stressful process, I think you’d be great at it, and would end up with a gorgeous final product!
So happy to hear they’re making The Help into a movie, while reading it yesterday I actually though, “I wonder if they’ll make this into a movie?”
I love Emily Giffin books! I need to read Love the One You’re With this summer. I will be at Beth Moore in Atlanta, too!
I kind of love that my parents built the house that I moved into in the 6th grade. It had all these great personal touches and design elements that were 100% my Mom’s vision. She designed the house to be the ultimate teenager entertainment land. It was so great. I was crushed when they sold it, but it made sense for them to downsize. That being said, building a house from “scratch” can be a hassle, but in the end I felt like it was worth it–at least it was for my family. Good luck with everything. Don’t know why I have rambled in your comment box about my old house–I guess I just miss it
We just finalized plans with a builder yesterday. I had major anxiety about building, after hearing so many horror stories but after meeting the builder -my anxiety is gone and I’m very excited! I think that is the most important thing -finding a builder you feel comfortable with and trust. During the meeting he decreased his down payment % and guaranteed our house would be completed by June 30 so we can recieve the $6500 credit or he would decrease the house by that much. He also gave me my own set of plans (I’m going to have them framed for my sweethubby). I can’t wait to hear about what style of house you decide to build. Good Luck with selling your house!
I agree with you about Love the One You’re With. I listened to it on audiobook. With the other Emily Giffin books I couldn’t wait to get in the car and listen but with that one I got frustrated with her.
Please review the Beth Moore book, I am contemplating reading it as well.
I am stilling hanging on to the Biggest Loser, I just fast forward through a lot of the filler and get to point. If it was one hour I think it would be better.
my parents built the house we moved into when i was 13. i ADORED living in a home my dad designed and full of he and my mom’s personal touches. everything was laid out perfectly and i just felt so loved being in a home that was built with my entire family in mind. i say this because i imagine hudson will feel the same way…growing up in a home his parents built for the family. i was devastated when my parents sold their house (downsizing after my sis and i moved out) and to this day i still get teary remembering that home with the pond full of swans in the backyard.
i can’t wait to hear how you decorate and what style you decide on! have fun!
I’m glad I’m on the only one who felt that way about the book. It was hard to get through!
I love reading all these positive comments about building. If I just had the requisite cash flow right now, we could walk each other through it! Imagine the fun we’d have at bathroom fixtures places! Hee.
Who is your PR fave? I just e-mailed you about house plans- back at the computer!
I felt the same way about Love The One You’re With! It was a good read and all, but, hard to get into because I’m thinking “shut up and deal–you’re life isn’t that bad!”. Anyways…. Good luck with the house, I’m sure it will sell in no time, it’s just gorgeous. When I was in high school my mom bought a home in a new neighborhood and got to “build” it, it was very overwhelming at times, but, it was so neat to be involved in the process and get to pick the color of tile you wanted, etc. When we had to sell that house it was so hard on me because it was really “ours”. OK, sorry to ramble–how exciting that y’all might be building a home. Eeek!
I am thinking Reese Witherspoon has GOT to be in a movie version of The Help…she would be perfect …my hubby and I are looking at building homes as well…we have never owned a home…scarryyyyy
One more building tip that I don’t think was in my building email:
Pay attention to where your lot is in the neighborhood… If you’re on the main drag, there will be more traffic… and people speed, even in sweet little neighborhoods… teenage drivers, people rushing to work… interior streets are best. Another reason to choose the interior is that sometimes other neighborhoods/businesses can crop up in what a builder tells you is a “greenbelt” outside the neighborhood… be careful of that. And if you can get a view, corner lot, or some elevation (for breeze), even better!
kiki
I just got my Beth Moore book in the mail this week. I need to get started so I can have it read for Atlanta!
I totally feel you on the taxes thing. We paid a TON this year, and I still don’t really understand how it happened as very little changed between 08 and 09. To say I’m irritated would be a major understatement.
I’m planning to start reading The Help this month. Good to hear they’re making it into a movie.. I love to read novels and then see them on the big screen!
Good luck with selling your house! Although stressful, I’m sure, what an exciting time!
) If you decide to build, you’ll have to keep us all posted on the process/progress. Building a house when we decide to move is in the back of our minds so it would be great to hear how it all works. Have a great weekend!
Oh, yes, I’d really like to hear about the Beth Moore book! We are also in the process of building, but our house if being built 200 miles away! It’s been a challenge, but I agree with the comment above, you really should be comfortable talking with your builder about just about anything!
I LOVED The Help! I’m so excited that it’s going to be made into a movie. But I never think movies are as good as the book is. The whole time I was reading The Help, I was imagining Gennifer Goodwin playing Hilly. I think she can play a mean girl really well! I kind of had Claire Danes in mind for Skeeter. Aibileen seems like Queen Latifah to me. Not sure about Minnie though. And maybe Scarlett Johansonn for Celia?? What do YOU think??
Eeekkk! I just got super excited when I read that about The Help, I had NO clue it was going to be a movie, I hope they do the book justice! I have a friend looking to move near your area, I will send her your way next week!
I love all the Emily Giffin, Jane Green, Sophie Kinsella, etc. myself, but have read everything they currently have out. Here’s a few recs:
Jodi Picoult- House Rules
Beth Wiseman- her “Promise” series, fictional about the Amish- http://www.bethwiseman.net/Books.php
So good!!
Did you tackle South of Broad yet? Curious to know your thoughts … it was nothing like I’d expected it would be.
I love Emily Giffin’s books
Her new one comes out next month and I can’t wait!
I totally agree with you about Love the One You’re With! It was my favorite Emily Giffen book but I was so frustrated by the main character. Her life was perfect yet she seemed so dissatisfied. I had no idea they were doing a movie based on The Help! I just bought the book and need to get started on it asap. It’s so exciting that y’all will be building a house soon. Can’t wait to follow the progress through your blog
this is the first year we’ve ever owed on taxes too! nothappyaboutit!!!!
I totally agree with you about Love the One your with. I am just ready for her 5th book to come out.
I am glad you mentioned The Help, as a good read, I am new to your blog and was currently looking for a new read. I will go pick this one up tomorrow. As for the designing of the new house, I currently work as a commercial interior designer, but would give you the following tips….1. I agree with Emery’s post: Unfortunately the contractor that you pick you will be working with for the long haul, so feel free to be able to talk to him about changes or things that you are not happy about. From an Architectual standpoint, contractors are not always your friends, they are there to make money….any good references for contractors beforehand will help you! 2.I have read from some of your posts that you clip pictures from magazines. This is great, but keep in mind that you have probably clipped 10 great kitchens by now. As an interior designer I have the same problem. M y advice, really think about cabinet finishes, countertop finishes, flooring finishes for a while….in a permanent setting you do not get to do a re-do, usually. It will be your forever finishes, so take your time deciding what you really want to live with for the next 10 years…white cabinets, stained, granite counter tops, or marble, etc. Good Luck!
I loved Emily Giffin’s books ‘Something Borrowed’ and ‘Something Blue’ but I just could not get into ‘Love the One You’re With’ – the main character made me so mad!! I did not sympathize with her at all and I just couldn’t stomach it. I did read the end to see what happened but I couldn’t read what it took to get there. I do have high hopes for Giffin’s next book coming out next month.
I’ve grown tired of The Biggest Loser as well.
I heard from Megan that I’m going to get to meet you in Atlanta for Beth Moore’s conference . . . I’m so looking forward to it!
I’ll be praying your house sells quickly as well!! Keeping mine constantly spotless is annoying!! Can’t wait to hear the house and NYC plans
I know that I MUST read the help!! Hopefully soon!
call me if you need financing options.. We have a great builder loan program here at Midland Mortgage
when you mentioned putting your home on the market, I immediately hoped you would do a post on what kind of house you will look for next! building is super exciting! you get to do it the way you want. we are planning to do that in a few yrs! I need to start thinking about it now so please keep us posted on how its all going! good luck!