I’m moving to Charlotte.

02.28.13 — 13 Comments

Exactly one year ago today, T and I spoke for the first time. Actually, it was a tweet. This conversation happened after Marek tweeted her excitement that her two friends were meeting IRL. Read as: In real life.

If you remember, I stood them up. Why on earth would I meet some random dude at trivia night? I wouldn’t. So, I didn’t. Man, I almost messed this up.

Moving To Charlotte

A year later, I’m packing boxes to move halfway across the country. There’s no turning back now… you should see what I wrote on Canvasing Chickasaw Country.

It’s true. I’m moving. Charlotte, I hope you can handle all this jelly.

Does this mean I have a job? Yep. and, it’s awesome. 
Does this mean T will be driving the U-Haul? Absolutely.
Does this mean I had a slight panic attack last weekend? No, of course not.
When am I moving? 3 weeks.

I’m officially rural gone urban, gone really, really urban.

In Travel , ,
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Immediate Care Center for Calves

02.26.13 — 1 Comment

After speaking about personal branding through social media in a few classes at Oklahoma State last week, I swung by my parent’s house. In college I found it incredibly annoying my hometown was only 10 miles from campus. Now, I find it amazingly convenient. Tailgate, enjoy a game and not worry about a place to crash? That’s clearly a win.

Well, unless you don’t live in Oklahoma anymore.

Lucky II

Anyway. When I arrived at home, my little sister looked at me with her baby blue eyes and said, “will you feed the bottle calf?” Nope.

It was cold outside!

I responded, “If you get my Carharts out of my car (Yes, they’re always in my car) I will.” Little sister set a personal record. House – Car – House in .009 seconds.

WInter is rough, man.

Poor little guy was all Bambi and the frozen pond scene. Little Sister calls him Lucky II.

Lucky

When we were little we had Lucky. He was born in a really bad storm, got stuck in the mud and broke his leg. So, we raised him …. like a dog. Sort of. Every now and then he would get out of his pen and we’d find him lounging in the yard with the dogs.

Thankfully, we lived on rural route three out past where the black top ends. Kix and Ronnie have nothing on my childhood.

If you keep your eye on the news you know we’ve had some fun weather in Oklahoma this week. Although it skipped Oklahoma City, a lot of the state had some serious weather drama.

Today, my dad posted this on Facebook:

Immediate care center at Clay Ranch. Thankful for the moisture, but mother nature was hard on the little guys. Lost 3 to sleet and snow. Maybe these will pull through with a little TLC.

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They look so cozy in the horse barn! And, hungry. And, cold.

That’s it. I’m going home. I’m going to name them and give them kisses. At least one of them will forever be known as Oliver.

In Rural , ,
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Sophabella’s For The Win.

02.26.13 — 1 Comment

Sophabella’s Wine Bar & Bistro located on North May has become one of my favorite Oklahoma City dining venues. Fitting it should become so when nearing the end of my season as an Oklahoma resident; however, it’s winning my affection at an alarming rate.

Known to many as an ideal brunch location, I’d be careful to claim it as the premier dollar mimosa spot. Fifty minutes for a mimosa is about 45 too many in my opinion. Granted, I acknowledge Sunday brunch is a monster. I get that.

Sophabella's Meatballs

Stay with me creepers, this venue has won my affection with dollar meatball night. Yes, it’s a thing. My first thought was obviously, “How original!”

The atmosphere itself is something to behold. I half expected Sinatra to walk out of a backroom while I was enjoying my happy hour personal deep-dish pie. (Only $5)

Written in Webster’s beside perfection you’ll find: Friend dinner date at Sophabella’s while watching the Thunder. Prepositional phrases highly encouraged.

In Life in Oklahoma, Reviews
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Turquoise Coffee Table

02.24.13 — 6 Comments

There’s a cold front moving in to Oklahoma and before it hits I thought I should finish that coffee table. I’ve spent the afternoon switching between episodes of Breaking Bad and adding coats of sealer to the table.

I’m nearing the three year mark of living in this urban casa. (How is that even possible!) After three years, I believe I have this living room exactly how I want it. (Just in time to pack boxes, I suppose.)

Every piece of furniture or decor in the urban casa has been acquired from a thrift job, been re-purposed or found at a garage sale. Yes, even the leather furniture was purchased secondhand. To the couple who sold the less than two-year-old, perfect-condition furniture for only $250, bless your hearts.

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What do you think? It’s come a long way since its hunter green days. I suppose the big question is: Will T approve of turquoise accent furniture in our someday home?

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Do you see the globe on the side table? That was my great grandpa’s, who was a dairy farmer in Indiana. (I googled him for fun – look what I found.) At his estate auction, my mom let me pick one item and allowed me to bid on it myself. No one in their right mind would bid against a cute little girl. Good move, Mom.

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I’ve been fortunate to have a plenty of work space in the urban casa. Work space is a must in our someday home.

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It’s about time I start deciding which pieces of furniture make the move and which are left behind. This table – it’s going. I think.

In Projects , ,
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Oklahoma Bucket List: Bring the Rowdy to GIA

02.23.13 — 1 Comment

KU_Oklahoma_Statet_GIA

Oklahoma Bucket List:
5. Bring the rowdy back to GIA

Still claiming the mid-twenties as my friend, I’m not that old. To a college kid – I’m ancient, I get it. This theory was proven when I spoke in a few classes on the Oklahoma State campus Thursday. I’m old.

I’m from the tail end of Eddie Sutton hoops. As a college kid, I camped out for the opportunity be a student season ticket holder. That privilege was not bestowed on just anyone – you had to camp for that! Even after obtaining your tickets – you had to stand in line, camping out even, to get a seat for a good game.

If you saw Perk throwin’ bows in last night’s Thunder game, that was exactly what it was like as a student.

I had my first “Alumna Moment” Wednesday night. I was just so proud of those students. They packed the student section before most others had even considered leaving for the game.

They cheered, covered Garth, watched in “Oh my sweet goodness please make this shot, Smart” terror/excitement in double overtime.

The rowdy – it’s back.

I personally brought all I had to the GIA on Wednesday. We lost. That’s unfortunate – but we still have March.

In related news, I spared you images from my freshman year when group pics from the student section were really cool and tanning was even cooler. No one should be that tan during hoops season. No one.

In Life in Oklahoma
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Project Progression: Coffee Table Makeover.

02.17.13 — 8 Comments

Travel days usually wipe me out – especially those beginning in the 6 o’clocks (5 CST). After leaving the snow in Charlotte, I returned to Oklahoma where the temperatures were flirting with that 70 degree mark.

It made perfect sense to skip an afternoon nap to tackle the coffee table I’ve been saving for a sunny day.

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I stole this table from my mother. She’s incredibly gifted at finding furniture to refurnish. (Shout out to every piece of furniture in my house…) It had potential don’t you think?

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The top was covered in pink and blue nail polish. I’m assuming this was some little girls craft table.

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I almost guarantee someone’s mother said “this is why we can’t have nice things!” after seeing the polish splatter across this table. Using my newest toy, I ridded the world of that awful polish.

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I chose turquoise for the base to match the end table that receives so many compliments. If people only knew I use HQ spray paint! (Is that considered cheating?)

The key is to use a lot of light coats as opposed to one thick coat. Laura at the Steen Style has used spray paint for a lot of projects so clearly it’s what the cool kids are doing.

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Tonight, I started staining the top. I’ll allow the top to dry over night, lightly sand over the stain, apply a second coat and finish with a sealer.

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It looks better already! Hopefully only a few more days until this finds its way into the living room.

My list for that someday house so far includes: a huge backyard, a girl cave and a workshop. T can have the kitchen. I’m not really interested in anything that goes down in that room.

For this project:
Minwax Wood Finish: Dark Walnut
Rust-oleum spray paint: Lagoon
Sander
Awesome playlist.

In other news, the kids in the ‘hood inspired me to run a little faster with their marshmallow guns. Rude, kids. Just rude.

In Projects , ,
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Love Like Crazy

02.16.13 — Leave a comment

Brooke_Clay_Lee_Brice

Covering Lee Brice at the McSwain Theatre in Ada, Okla. is not quite the same as purchasing a few tickets from Craigslist, venturing to a Charlotte suburb during rush hour to make a ticket exchange and singing Love Like Crazy with three thousand country music lovers in the Carolinas.

In Ada, Brice played to a family atmosphere tailoring his set list to those enjoying the witty dialogue. It was there my heart skipped a beat when he called me darlin’ and I fell head-over-heels for a new song he’d only written days before. (A youtube video taken at the McSwain Theatre)

In Charlotte, he played with a home field advantage. Only 100 miles from his hometown of Sumter, SC, it was like watching Garth play Willies in Stillwater. Or, rather, what I imagined that would have been like.

He skipped playing the song I longed to hear. I suppose this means we’ll have to catch another show – or five.

Coyote Joes reminded me Billy Bob’s, Midnight Rodeo… or possible even a cleaner version of The Tumbleweed. Not a place T and I would typically  put on our radar; however, it was a fabulous people watching venue.

I turned to T sometime after Crazy Girl and before Drive your Truck with “this would give me somewhere to wear all my boots!”

So many adventures are waiting in Charlotte it seems.

*Note: Without a photo pass I’m left to using my iphone for pictures. I know, it’s unfortunate.

In Brooke
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Happy Hallmark Day

02.14.13 — 2 Comments

Thanks to a working at home day and a comp day from last weekend, I’ve found myself in Charlotte for the weekend! As you know I’m a believer of Random Tuesdays. I don’t want to take away from all the love, chocolate and butterflies of Hallmark day, but note – it’s just not for me.

Brooke_Clay_Valentines_Day021313_0001I was overcome with airport survival and picked up a new Sparks’ book. I can breeze through one of these in a day. Nothing like adding a little false advertising into one’s life, right?

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Who needs Sparks’ books when you have a guy like T who acknowledges your strong opposition of Hallmark day and gets you flowers anyway. Of course, the card said, “Welcome Back to Charlotte Day.”

Sigh. They weren’t for Hallmark Day at all. It honestly makes me love them more.

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Marek has been my inspiration to lace up my kicks and hit the pavement lately. Today, I took a short 2 mile jog around the ‘hood. It’s a nice day here in Charlotte.

Whether your supporting Hallmark and spoiling your significant other with gifts worthy of a Pinterest pin or you long for a day of your own, a Tuesday if you will, I hope you enjoy this Thursday. It is quite lovely, after all.

In Dreamboat.
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Baby talk.

02.12.13 — 2 Comments

I fell in love with an otter. It’s true. His name is Ottie.

He likes to give high fives and he made my voice all high pitched. Some people call this “baby talk.” I call it strange.

Read about my adventures at Tiger Safari on Canvasing Chickasaw Country.

In Life in Oklahoma
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Girls’ Night.

02.11.13 — 1 Comment

I’m not a fan of The Bachelor. I just don’t understand dating someone who is dating someone else let alone 19 other girls. However, Christal enticed me with lemon bars and the promise of making fun of the criers on the show.

Ridiculous dating show aside, girls’ nights are always fun.

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It’s the place you can crash after a run and you don’t have to worry about changing out of your running clothes – or brushing your hair.

I’ve adopted a “yes man,” mentality lately. This is probably why I agreed to watch such an awful show. Thanks for such a fun night, Christal. (and, send me the recipe for those cupcakes!)

In Friends
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