Weekend Wind-Down #126

We're finally getting around to getting the LIVING ROOM back to normal here at the Ranch. The DVD collection is now out of the hallway and back on the shelves, so the battle is halfway over with. We're experimenting with and old decorating trick - hiding all the VISUAL CLUTTER behind postcards, posters, and framed prints...we could probably use more framed prints, though:





It's been taking a while to get BOOKS back onto the shelves because we are downsizing our collection in the process. We're organizing books, zines and magazines into three piles - stuff to keep, stuff put in storage, and stuff to give away (stay tuned). So far, only certain favorite ART BOOKS and CHILDRENS' BOOKS (inspirational EYE CANDY) have made it onto the shelves...





We switched out our GREEN "Lack" end table from IKEA with a blonde wood version - we felt like the green was clashing too much with the new color we put up on the walls. Don't know where we're gonna relocate the green table yet:





We got this JOANNA NEWSOM concert poster framed and it will probably end up in our CRAFT/INSTRUMENT room instead of the living room. There are already a couple of framed concert posters in the craft room and the SEWING MACHINE would fit the theme of the room perfectly:



Missy swapped out Nilla's old ratty scratcher with a brand new CAT-COUCH-SLASH-SCRATCHER to match all the newness in the living room. Not sure if Nilla is liking it yet. I think she's still fond of her old raggedy scratcher, like it's some old armchair that's comfortable beyond measure:



FAVORITE MOMENT OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY: I liked cat sitting Rupert!
RAOUL: I didn't mind going to IKEA.

WORST MOMENT OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY: Having to go to jury duty.
RAOUL: Having to walk the gift show on my busted feet.

FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY: Seeing Rupert be a monorail cat.
RAOUL: Rupert being a monorail cat is pretty funny.

WORD OR PHRASE OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY: "Poopert"
RAOUL: "Poopert"

FAVORITE MEAL OF THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY: I like the macaroni and cheese I made...and the hot bar!
RAOUL: Hot bar at Earth Fare.

ONE THING YOU'D LIKE TO ADD TO THE LIVING ROOM?
MISSY: A new picture above the mantle.
RAOUL: A new sofa.

ONE THING YOU'D LIKE TO REMOVE FROM THE LIVING ROOM?
MISSY: The soot on the fireplace that we've never used.
RAOUL: I'd like to move the futon to the craft room after bringing in a new sofa, so that the craft room can double as another guest room.

THREE THINGS ON YOUR GROCERY LIST FOR THIS WEEK?
MISSY: Pineapple, ginger, and pudding...or a chocolate bar.
RAOUL: Yogurt, orange juice, apples.

PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK FOR THE PAST WEEK?
MISSY: Sleater-Kinny, Bjork, Alessi's Ark, The Black Atlantic, The Spinanes.
RAOUL: Battles, Flying Saucer Attack, Neal Morgan, Wolf Parade, The Ghost Of A Saber Tooth Tiger, Lavender Diamond, Beastie Boys, Little Wings, Desolation Wilderness, Plone, Morrissey, James, Curve, The Other Two, Stone Roses, The Telescopes.

Occupational Hazards 17

Missy and I spent the past weekend working in downtown Atlanta, attending the huge ATLANTA GIFT SHOW. First stop was our very own company showroom to check out the new displays (like the giant GINGERBREAD HOUSE our Visuals team built from scratch) and to check out some of the new items we had to offer our customers...I took a photos of some items that Missy designed, like these CHRISTMAS MAGNETS stuck on these tin planters, and these frog-shaped resin vases named SIR HOPS-A-LOT:





We walked the many levels of the mart, taking note of what was new and trendy in our industry. Almost all the showrooms at the mart prohibited photography, so I was only able to take photos in some of the lobbies and hallways...we saw this ART INSTALLATION which was supposed to be a statement about consumerism, I think?























In lieu of lunch, we headed into the GOURMET section of the mart to graze on the free samples of food being offered up by various exhibitors. The most popular booth was the one for BELLAGIO CHOCOLATES...people flocked to their machines which dispensed piping hot, euro-style SIPPING CHOCOLATE...we sampled the dark chocolate and white chocolate varieties, which were as rich as they were tasty...mmmmmmmmmmmmm:







Besides handing out free food, other showrooms tried to draw crowds with other gimmicks and give-aways...this company had a lady making GLASS BEADS outside of their showroom:







After a long day of walking the mart, we headed back to our hotel. Missy took a nap on the couch - legs elevated, to relieve the swelling in her feet - while I channel surfed:







(the view outside our hotel room window)

















After the short nap, we dragged ourselves to the nearby IKEA in spite of our achy feet. We loaded up in the IKEA cafeteria for dinner and then spent the remainder of the evening shopping and being ridiculous...







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