OH and...

Mason comes home today! Yay!

In Exile...

I know I have written about moving to NewHomeGuide quite often on this blog, but it was really a decision that changed my outlook on corporate America. Being a part of the Homes team has given me the opportunity to expand my print knowledge, as well as share and implement new ideas and processes. Wow, that sounded like something to put on a resumé didn't it?

After joining the Homes/Graphic Support team in August of last year, we were suddenly moved away from the rest of EGG (Electronic Graphics Group), which is located on the first floor, and relocated to the third floor of our corporate office. After some initial hesitation, my fellow homies and I had managed to make the third floor our home. Movin' on up like George and Weezie, you could say.

There have been a lot of changes happening here since the beginning of the year. Primedia and Consumer Source are now one in the same, we got a new CEO (who is only 35, I might add) and the dress code is actually being enforced. I know, whine whine whine. So, I like wearing shorts on casual Friday – sue me.

It is because of some of these changes that Homes is being relocated – AGAIN! We will be moving out of the main corporate office and into a building in the same complex. I am starting to feel like the red-headed step child of EGG. I may need to seek therapy.

Tomorrow is moving day. At least I get a free half-day off with pay out of the deal! Being exiled has its advantages.

Pictures from Kansas (part 2)...

It is a welcome rarity that children have the privilege to get to know their great-grandparents. Mason is incredibly fortunate and has two great-grandmothers and a great-grandfather that enjoy spoiling him. He is at an age where his memories of them will always be with him. What a blessing!

Pictures from Kansas...

Great Bend, Kansas appears to have quite the water park! My little fish loves water in any form...bath, ocean or swimming pool.


He has learned to float! A valuable asset for learning to swim. Swimming lessons here we come!


It's not all play at the farm. Good to see they are putting him to work! Our windows at home need some Windex too...

Tap, Tap...

Is this thing on?

Viva La Vida

I recently acquired a copy of Coldplay's new album "Viva La Vida", and I must say that if you do not have this yet, pick it up! It's amazing!

An Interesting Take on Love...

A segment taken from an article about monogamy:

While our society has set one standard for love and relationships, other societies have recognized that multiple types of each exist. The Greeks had several words for different types of love, including:

Eros –- erotic love involving physical attraction and emotional intensity;

Agape –- sacrificial love involving placing a loved one’s welfare above your own;

Storge –- love as friendship and companionship;

Pragma –- love as a “shopping list” of desired attributes, such as being a good parent;

Ludus –- love as a game;

Mania –- jealous, obsessive, dependent love.

Thoughts?

I also *Heart* Ikea...

Nearly every year that Brian and I have been together, we have purchased a new couch. We have had 5 couches in 6 years.

We have had some doozies, that is for sure! The first couch – Brian had when we met and was held up by a piece of plywood. That couch was replaced by one purchased from a street corner by the sorority house in Manhattan. The cushions never stayed on that little blue beauty. Next came a tweed two-seater that was surprisingly comfortable, despite its hideousness. That one moved to Atlanta with us and was replaced last year with a plaid hide-a-bed. This couch was also very ugly and very very heavy! I will not miss it.

Our lovely plaid wonder was replaced on Friday with a couch...a real couch! New? No. Beautiful...YES! I know that a plain brown couch may not seem like a beautiful couch to most, but I have been staring at ugly couch after ugly couch for 6 years now. This little brown piece of heaven is a welcome addition to my living room.

I love it so much that I decided that it needed to be accessorized with new curtains and throw pillows. That is where the "I *heart* Ikea" comes into play. Ikea enables people like me to have a modern-looking living room at a very reasonable price. Thank you Ikea!

I *Heart* The Flying Biscuit...

If only woman could survive on Flying Biscuits alone...

Words cannot describe my overwhelming passion for the Flying Biscuit! Every time I go downtown, I must go pick up a half dozen white biscuits. Yes, it IS a necessity...I MUST have them!

Sometimes I arrive just as those little beauties are coming right out of the oven. Then I MUST buy 7 instead of 6, so I can eat one immediately with fresh, delicious cranberry apple butter.

Why am I writing about The Flying Biscuit, you ask? While running errands on my lunch break, I noticed a new sign in a shopping plaza. What did it say? THE FLYING BISCUIT! OMG...IN Norcross? Now I won't have to drive all the way Downtown to get my fix! So, fellow suburbanites, if you've not ventured to the Flying Biscuit because it's too far, now is your chance to taste something truly Atlanta! So...get out there and EAT!

Grandma's House...

Grandma and Grandpa's house is a place where every child wants to be. Not only are they allowed cookies for breakfast and late bedtimes, but there are new and fun things to do there, too!

Each year that we have been in Georgia, Bill and Janet have had Mason to the farm to visit for a couple of weeks. Mason is finally at an age that he can really think beyond what he's going to be doing in the next 24 hours, so he was really looking forward to his visit this summer. Janet has promised to send me photos....so stay tuned!

I Almost Peed Myself...

While the Child is Away...

I know you've all heard the phrase, "while the cat's away, the mice will play." I feel a little bit like the mouse today, on this first day of Mason's 2 week visit in Kansas. To some, this may seem a little harsh and perhaps I give the impression that I am thankful my son is off at his grandparents. Having no family in Georgia has proven to be much more difficult than I had originally anticipated and, although I relish evenings with Mason, I must admit that the lifting of guilt for wanting to go to the gym or to a movie after work has made me feel lighter today. I am truly blessed to have Brian's family in my life so that we are able to have this time together to reconnect. I look forward to spending this time with my husband and friends. Thank you Bill and Janet! Oh, and if Mason is sitting there ... give him a big, wet yucky for me!

Doing Time...

Summer camp is in full swing at Kids R Kids, and that means lots of field trips! Kids love them because it gives them a break from the routine of the classroom, and parents love them because they are all educational. So far this summer, the children have been to the Georgia Aquarium, a Braves game, a wildlife preserve and even a recycling center.

Yesterday, the younger group of children were taken roller skating. After getting a long speech about safety, my beautiful son pushed another child! She fell flat on her behind. I don't imagine that felt very good, and I also imagine that she was pretty upset with him for doing this.

Now, he was punished by his teacher and had to miss skating for 20 minutes, but I was absolutely furious when she told me about this! It would be one thing if this were an isolated incident, but we have had trouble with him keeping his hands to himself all year.

Because of this incident, I did not allow Mason to go on the field trip to Zoo Atlanta with all of the other children today. I think in all of Mason's 5 years on this planet, he has never been this upset with me. He did understand (at least he said he did) why he was not being allowed to go with his friends, but was still in tears when I left this morning.

So, loyal readers...was I too hard on him? Parenting advice welcome here!

Finally...

As a southpaw, I have struggled my way through a right-handed world for 31 years now! I recently came across an article that suggests that left-handed people have an advantage over right-handed people in baseball! Finally! We lefties have the upper hand in something!!!

Online Fireworks Display!

I will admit it – I am spoiled! Brian works at Country Club of the South and therefor I get to reap the benefits of enjoying a killer fireworks display every year! This is for those of you who didn't get to see fireworks because of rain or just because you didn't want to get out and about. Enjoy!

What Independence Day Means to Me...

by Cortni Shelton


So, why not start a blog post off like a grade school book report? I'm free to do so because of this day.

Independence, to me, is the freedom to stay up late and read Harry Potter books until I fall asleep in the chair. It also means that I am free to sleep in late, if Mason so allows. I can also have marshmallows for breakfast if I want. I'm not sure that has so much to do with freedom rather than I'm an adult, and I'll eat what I want (sorry mom).

In short, today is a very special day...be sure to celebrate accordingly. Now, go out and eat some marshmallows! Photos to come...

Putting a Face to the Name...

When I moved from working for Apartment Guide to working for New Home Guide, one of my main concerns was speaking to the people who work in the markets. In Apartments, the production artists are sheltered from the chaos in the markets; but in Homes, we tackle the issues head-on.

I have been privileged to work with markets all across the United States – Denver, Austin, Richmond, St. Louis, Philadelphia and Columbus. Although I have never actually met the people that I have contact with, I feel very connected to them because I talk to them so often on the phone. So, when Adam, the publisher of Columbus New Home Guide, contacted me to let me know that he would be leaving the company to take another position, I was heartbroken!

The good news, however, is that because of his new position, he was in Atlanta for a couple of days! Amira, the creative artist for Columbus, and I met up with Adam while he was in town. It was very nice to finally put a face to the voice that I have been talking to for the last year! Good luck in your new endeavors, Adam!