I've been wanting to take up "upholstery" as a new hobby for the longest time.  It's something that's been on my "wanting to do list" forever and a half.  I see these great sofas and chairs on craigslist with awesome shape, cheap prices, but hideous fabrics.  And every time, I've let them go b/c I don't have the proper skills to do it.  I've re-upholstered small ottomans and dining chairs, but nothing intricate like an upholstered seatee, sofa or rocking chair.  I bought a chair awhile ago for $20 with the intent of wanting to re-upholster it.  I figured $20 is cheap enough that if I mess up, it's okay b/c it was so cheap.  It's been sitting in my office for months... taunting me... asking me.. "why have you not ripped the UGLY fabric off me?"  I walk by it every day, envisioning it to be an awesome piece of furniture worth showing off all its potential... but then quickly realize that I don't got no skills.

My sister's roommate was an upholsterer in her former life and said it was relatively easy... but I still want to learn the right way, instead of me fudging my way through it.  So I signed up for an upholstery class.... I've been waiting for the new class schedule and I just signed up... fingers crossed that I get in, and I'll keep you posted with my befores and afters.  I'm SO friggen' excited!

Meet bertha...my food baby.  

I have a love-hate relationship with Bertha.  I love giving in when she tells me to grab that ice cream, but hate the aftermath when she bears her UGLY face... Over the past 3 years of marriage, she's ever so slyly made her presence known by becoming a more prominant part of my body.  But I can't hate her b/c she's introduced me to my love affair with cheeses, cupcakes, beer, wine, and ice cream.  

I try to run away from her, feed her healthy food and cover her up so no one can see her.  It doesn't matter, she's always there... and still growing steadly.  In my college days, I would just give Bertha a warning look and she'd go away... Now, she doesn't heed to my warning looks and tries to show herself to the world.  At one point Bertha got mistaken for a 3 month old fetus...What the hell Bertha...

Therefore, I'm forced to start Operation Kill Bertha.  Now that I'm at an age that I want to have kids, I figured, Bertha needs to go in order for me to make room for a future fetus...  Bertha and future baby (not yet in the works) cannot co-exist.  One must die... So now, I end my affairs with cheese, ice cream and beer/wine.  I'm adding fiber to my diet among other things.  I hate diets and never abided by them... but will start in order to kill Bertha.  I've even started running again.  Now with old injuries out of the picture, I want to be able to run 10 miles a week to start and work my way up to 20.  Hopefully, running, diet and a cleaned system will kill Bertha, once and for all.  Wish me luck!

Matt and I headed to the hills to celebrate the fourth with some friends.  My weekend can be summed by the following tally...

• 4 hours of driving to start our long weekend
• 4 days spent in the Adorandacks
• 3 days of hiking, of which 2 days were spent hiking short hikes in the RAIN
• 1 GORGEOUS day devoted to a LONG day of hiking
• 20+ miles hiked in one day which involved some night hiking
• 4 peaks summitted (Mt Marcy, Skylight, Little Haystack and Haystack) in one day
• 1 ankle still sore before the hike from fighting ninjas in May
• 2 ankles and 2 inner thights now sore after our 14+ hour hike
• 2 toe nails bound to come off because I stubbed my foot hiking
• 4 advils I've been taking every 6 hours to numb the pain
• 14 mosquito bites all over my legs, arms, neck, including 1 on my ear
• 1 steak and 1 banana split devoured at the end of the hike
• 1 day of letting my body recovery by laying still and taking multiple naps

The views = PRICELESS!!!  I'll post pics as soon as soon as I get a chance to download them from my camera.