Nothing beats a good deal....

ok - well.... very little beats a good deal....especially when it means that I bought two new Prince tennis racquets for $50 cash, when they originally would have cost $400!  They were on sale (50% off!), and I had a $150 gift certificate from work.  Usually you should demo a racquet before buying (especially for people like me who so rarely buy new racquets....I like to stick with what works!).....but when I saw the price, I had to jump at it.  AND....I love them.  I played with them last night for the second time, and they are amazing (side note:  just playing outside was amazing in itself....thank goodness it was like a beautiful high 70's/low 80's kind of night....great tennis, lots of fun).  It's so true that your equipment can make a big impact....and these racquets are the right weight to add a little more pop, while still offering good control.

H - O - T .... HOT!

I do not remember ever experiencing a summer as hot as this one.  Even after living in Atlanta for five summers, or in Durham, NC without air conditioning in August.....this one is the hottest by far.  I don't even remember when the thermometer last dipped below 95 for a high.  It is just too hot to do anything at all until like 8pm, and even then it's just a hot, humid sweat fest out there.  Here are a few images to help us all visualize being cold again!!!

Ahhhhh!  Much better!

Men v. Women....setting up a home

When we moved into our new home, there were some obvious pieces of furniture that we needed to buy -- dining table and chairs, living room sofa, armchair, coffee table, new bed, etc.  We were totally on the same page about everything, we liked the same things (or at least my husband followed the "happy wife, happy life" rule), and it was easy!  Now that we have all of the basics, our lists of priorities are decidedly different, and I think it's all about gender!!  It's kind of hilarious, actually. 

Here's a little graphical demonstration of our very different lists:

Fortunately, the end result is a well-cared for home with a place for everything, and everything in its place!!  The process is fun, but I know I couldn't care less about surround sound, and now I understand how SB feels about my window treatments, duvets, baskets and the like!

Martha Stewart of the South

Today's New York Times features an amazing article about the "Martha Stewart of the South."  P. Allen Smith wasn't a name I'd heard before, but apparently he has published hundreds of books, has sponsorship deals with seed companies galore, and he has the most spectacular farmhouse in Arkansas.  It is literally breathtakingly beautiful -- from the carefully decorated interior, to the lush gardens outside.  I would be in heaven to just spend a week on his farm.  Here are a few of my favorite pics from the article:

(Photo Credit: Robert Rausch for The New York Times)

Book review: Hardcourt Confidential

Patrick McEnroe is an ESPN tennis commentator, he oversees the USTA's player development program (basically the future of tennis pros in the US....no small task), and he captains the US Davis Cup team.  Each individual commitment would be a full time job, but the combination of all three elevates him to tennis royalty, in my humble opinion.

I just finished reading his new book:  Hardcourt Confidential.  The book shares glimpses of the relationships he's had with all of the top American stars from the last 30+ years.  He documents his sometimes strained relationship with his brother, which has always intrigued me.  You definitely get the feeling that they're very different people (John likes to live on the edge, a bit faster.....Patrick seems to think things through more thoroughly and is less into the "fame" thing).  He's not called "Perfect Patrick" in his family for nothing!  Here are a few points that stuck out in my mind:

• Andy Roddick is incredibly committed to playing Davis Cup year in and out (which is a big deal to the McEnroe family).  It seems like he's sort of the "teacher's pet" to McEnroe -- they have a very solid relationship.  
• The Bryan brothers have funny personalities.  They get really amped up for matches.  They like to break the rules by bringing girls to their hotel rooms during Davis Cup matches.  (Side note:  McEnroe blatantly states that no woman should date a tennis pro until the pro's at least 30 years old.  They have a bit of a wandering eye, shall we say?)
• Serena Williams has gained a lot from tennis, but she doesn't exactly give back.  He wrote about how he had to interview her live after the Williams sisters won the US Open doubles championship (the day after Serena blew up at a linesman after a foot fault call that ended her match).  He talked about how he was representing the USTA, but he had to maintain his journalistic integrity and ask the tough questions, even though it was an awkward position.  (loved that insight!)
• John McEnroe's first wife, Tatum O'Neal, didn't get along with the McEnroe family.  Apparently she was threatened by all of Patrick's girlfriends.
• Sampras likes to gamble (there goes my perfect image of him!)
• Agassi has some major quirks.
• Roger Federer is just as classy and balanced as he seems.
• Nadal is surrounded by good people who will help to keep him at the top of his game as long as possible.

Fall eye candy

There's nothing like a new season's worth of fabulous colors and frocks to make me happy! 

Time on my hands....

Do you ever feel like you have a lot of time on your hands?  I mean, I work hard, but I'm on eastern hours, living in a central time zone.  So I finish work around 4:30pm most days.  Now that SB is working so late because of training camp, he's getting home somewhere between 8-10pm.  So - I've got a big chunk of time on my hands.  Typically I work out at some point after work, but I've been doing it first thing in the morning lately because it's been so hot here.  Soon the Junior League will start back up in full force which will include a few more activities, and my tennis league will keep me busier too....but right now I just feel like I have tons of time, and not a lot to do.  Last week I planned a few things, which were really fun and kept me happy -- but I'm starting to think I need something else on the schedule.  Sooooo....do any of you ever feel this way?  What do you do in those moments? (can you tell that I'm not one to exactly sit around and twiddle my thumbs??)

I'm thinking of volunteering at the Humane Society, and I've always wanted to volunteer at a children's hospital, but I just haven't made it happen yet.  I'm guessing most families with kids don't ever feel this way (and you moms probably dream of the moments with free time!!) -- but hopefully I'm not alone with this feeling!  

Oh!  and the other thing I've been thinking about is getting a sewing machine.  Do any of you sew?  Any recommendations?  As a beginner, should I get a basic model, or should I go with the type that do monograms because I really want to be able to do that (there's a big difference in the cost!!)?

Bonjour!!  I swear I've been around all week, I just haven't gotten around to posting anything!!!  Here's a little recap of my world in the last week....

• We had the best day last Saturday.....SB was so sweet because he planned a great little morning for us.  We woke up early, ran together, then we went to the Soulard Farmer's Market (a St. Louis 'landmark'), and then we ate at a nearby cafe for breakfast.  That was seriously the best way to start a weekend morning, in my opinion!! 
• I thought Tuesday was Wednesday all.day.long.  I seriously walked into a gym class thinking it was kickboxing (Wednesday) but it was weight lifting (Tuesday), and I walked out.  Wasn't in the mood for it.
• Went to a fun dinner with girlfriends on Wednesday night (the real Wednesday).  The restaurant had just changed their menu, and was "testing" it on family/friends, and we were oh-so-lucky to have one of those friends in our group!  We laughed and laughed and laughed -- it was a much needed girls' night!
• Went walking in Forest Park with one of my JL friends and both of our pooches.  The dogs got along well, and we had lots of fun chatting and walking.  
• I've started walking 3 miles with Daisy and Lilly every morning.  It's part of "operation wear out the dogs," and so far it's working pretty well!!  On Wednesday a neighbor dog had "escaped" from his yard, and wanted to walk along with us the whole time.  He was a little growly at first (which scared me!!).  If I didn't have two dogs pulling me in two different directions I would have tracked down his owners, but alas I had no phone and no free hands.
• Lilly got spayed today.  Poor little thing!  I dropped her off at the vet this morning, and will pick her up in a couple of hours.
• The NFL team's training camp started today, and SB is working like a maniac.  Seriously, he's gone at 8am, hopefully back by 8pm.  I've had to schedule lots of activities for me because otherwise the combination of working from home and not seeing my husband till 8pm means I'm seriously deprived of human interaction!!  (the first week taught me that tough lesson!)
• We're around this weekend.  SB has to work Saturday, but I'm hoping we'll be able to go to the farmer's market, and our county fair!!
• Have a wonderful weekend!!

Daily Thought....

“The cure for anything is salt water...sweat, tears, or the sea.” ― Isak Dinesen  

(courtesy of the Real Simple Daily Thought)

Lilly is 5 months old!!

It's hard to believe that our little trouble-maker is already 5 months old!  She is into absolutely everything.  We literally can't blink an eye without her trying to rip apart a toilet paper roll, get into a trash bin, or steal a shoe to attempt to devour.  She is very mischievous, but she is also so freakin' cute!  She loves to be pet, she is awfully snuggly, and likes to sit with me and have her belly rubbed.  She no longer fits in our basket of blankets for little naps like she used to.  Lilly hasn't met any form of water that she doesn't like.  She loves to stick her head in sprinklers on our walks, and she is doing pretty well on the leash so far.  She has the command "sit" down pat, and is still working on "stay," "leave it," and "lay down."  It's really nice to have Daisy show her what to do, because she loves copying her "big sis."