4.02.2009,4/02/2009 10:53:00 PM
And.....it's Done
At the beginning....
Cabinets primed! The fumes were rather overpowering...
Another view...
Closeup of the tile :)
Cabinets primed! The fumes were rather overpowering...
The final product
Another view...
Closeup of the tile :)
3.10.2009,3/10/2009 12:04:00 PM
Let the Renovation Commence!
So DH and I got bit by the reno bug and are now re-doing our kitchen. Actually, we've been wanting to do this since we moved in two years ago, and have the money saved up, finally.
We got a FABULOUS deal on granite countertops and backsplash, which will go in sometime next week. At first, we were going to try to get our cabinets re-faced (even though I really just wanted to have them painted antique white,) and while we were at Home Depot week before last, a guy came up from Home Depot Home Services and asked if we might be interested in getting a free estimate on cabinet refacing (essentially, this entails is replacing the doors and placing a wood veneer over the existing cabinet "box.") We said sure, and set something up for last Wednesday at 8 pm.
Well, this young guy comes in, does his spiel, we pick out a sample of something we like, and he quotes us $15,000. We pretty much laughed him out of the house. Or tried to, anyway.
Well, this young guy comes in, does his spiel, we pick out a sample of something we like, and he quotes us $15,000. We pretty much laughed him out of the house. Or tried to, anyway.
BECAUSE THE BASTARD WOULDN'T LEAVE.
He kept knocking the price down, eventually getting it to a little more than $12k, and we still said no. Then, he had the audacity to say to us, "Well, if you weren't going to do this now, why did you ask us to come out here?" And I said to him, "Um, because your people approached US and asked us if we wanted a FREE estimate." Dickhead.
After nearly two hours of having this personality-challenged, rude person in our house, we finally got him out, and I was so stressed I had to have a cocktail.
Can you tell I'm still a little pissed about the whole thing?
But then, glory of glories, a former co-worker of DH's who now works in the remodeling business came to our rescue, and is painting our kitchen walls, cabinets, and installing new hardware on the doors for a FRACTION of what the refacing bastard was gonna charge us. So we said yes.
But then, glory of glories, a former co-worker of DH's who now works in the remodeling business came to our rescue, and is painting our kitchen walls, cabinets, and installing new hardware on the doors for a FRACTION of what the refacing bastard was gonna charge us. So we said yes.
(DFW readers, if you're interested in an awesome home renovation guy who charges very good prices, let me know and I'll pass along his information to you!)
They started the process yesterday, and although the cats are pissed because we have them closed up in the bedroom and study, and the odor of primer is rather strong, I am so freaking excited I can hardly stand it.
Here's our kitchen before:
And in progress:
More to come as we get closer to completion!
2.28.2009,2/28/2009 09:55:00 PM
New 'Do
Hope everyone's had a nice weekend so far! Today, I went up to the salon and had my hair cut and got highlights.
Now, I originally went in to have more blonde highlights put in, since it's nearly spring and I like to lighten up in the warmer months (I get lowlights in the winter,) and I was only going to take a little bit of length off, since it was starting to get really long in the front.
Famous last words!
The minute I walked in, I saw a stylist with this super cute haircut. I had my stylist copy it, with a few minor changes: I had her keep it asymmetrical, and didn't stack it very much in the back. Then my colorist talked me into some pretty drastic highlights.
What do you think?
Now, I originally went in to have more blonde highlights put in, since it's nearly spring and I like to lighten up in the warmer months (I get lowlights in the winter,) and I was only going to take a little bit of length off, since it was starting to get really long in the front.
Famous last words!
The minute I walked in, I saw a stylist with this super cute haircut. I had my stylist copy it, with a few minor changes: I had her keep it asymmetrical, and didn't stack it very much in the back. Then my colorist talked me into some pretty drastic highlights.
What do you think?
2.20.2009,2/20/2009 08:27:00 AM
Quick! A Meme!
I am super swamped at work today, trying to finish two proposals, but I saw this over at my BFF's and I had to do it. It's about the significant other in my life - my DH - hopefully after nearly 6 years together I've learned something!
1. He’s sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
Probably some sci-fi, like BSG, but he usually has his laptop in front of him while he's watching it.
2. You’re out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Ranch.
3. What’s one food he doesn’t like?
Fish.
4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order?
He loves a good G & T.
5. Where did he go to high school?
At the high school in the next "city"over - I was astounded when he told me there were over 3,000 in his graduating class - I went to a 5A school as well, and had 400 in mine.
6. What size shoe does he wear?
12? I can never get this one right for some reason!
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
Gadgets. Lots and lots of gadgets.
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Roast beef with cheese - he likes pepper jack and swiss the best, but won't frown at cheddar.
9. What would this person eat every day if he could?
Bacon, bacon, BACON. (Poppy, I second that)
10. What is his favorite cereal?
He eats Fiber One every day.
11. What would he never wear?
I have a hard time believing he'd wear anything pink.
12. What is his favorite sports team?
Red Raiders!
13. Who did he vote for?
He didn't, this time.
14. Who is his best friend?
I'd like to say me, but boy-wise, he's known Eric the longest. :)
15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do?
Bite my fingernails.
16. What is his heritage?
Mostly English.
17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?
German Chocolate, or Coconut.
18. Did he play sports in high school?
Yep - was a wrestler, until he blew out his knee Senior year.
19. What could he spend hours doing?
Playing video games. Sleeping. Sitting in front of the computer. Watching TV.
20. What is one unique talent he has?
My husband knows more about WWII than just about anyone I know. He's also really good at helping you to see every angle of a scheme you've cooked up, you know, to make sure you thought it out reeeeeeeeally well. Oh, and he can make me laugh pretty much all the time.
1. He’s sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
Probably some sci-fi, like BSG, but he usually has his laptop in front of him while he's watching it.
2. You’re out to eat; what kind of dressing does he get on his salad?
Ranch.
3. What’s one food he doesn’t like?
Fish.
4. You go out to eat and have a drink. What does he order?
He loves a good G & T.
5. Where did he go to high school?
At the high school in the next "city"over - I was astounded when he told me there were over 3,000 in his graduating class - I went to a 5A school as well, and had 400 in mine.
6. What size shoe does he wear?
12? I can never get this one right for some reason!
7. If he was to collect anything, what would it be?
Gadgets. Lots and lots of gadgets.
8. What is his favorite type of sandwich?
Roast beef with cheese - he likes pepper jack and swiss the best, but won't frown at cheddar.
9. What would this person eat every day if he could?
Bacon, bacon, BACON. (Poppy, I second that)
10. What is his favorite cereal?
He eats Fiber One every day.
11. What would he never wear?
I have a hard time believing he'd wear anything pink.
12. What is his favorite sports team?
Red Raiders!
13. Who did he vote for?
He didn't, this time.
14. Who is his best friend?
I'd like to say me, but boy-wise, he's known Eric the longest. :)
15. What is something you do that he wishes you wouldn’t do?
Bite my fingernails.
16. What is his heritage?
Mostly English.
17. You bake him a cake for his birthday; what kind of cake?
German Chocolate, or Coconut.
18. Did he play sports in high school?
Yep - was a wrestler, until he blew out his knee Senior year.
19. What could he spend hours doing?
Playing video games. Sleeping. Sitting in front of the computer. Watching TV.
20. What is one unique talent he has?
My husband knows more about WWII than just about anyone I know. He's also really good at helping you to see every angle of a scheme you've cooked up, you know, to make sure you thought it out reeeeeeeeally well. Oh, and he can make me laugh pretty much all the time.
2.16.2009,2/16/2009 06:43:00 PM
Canal Street, or the Tale of the "Fake" Spade
Lots of stuff has been going on lately. For my birthday two weeks ago, DH and I went to visit my brother and his family in Boston, which was really fun, if cold (I ate Dunkin Donuts EVERY FREAKING DAY - their powdered Munchkins are my favorite,) and I have lots of fun pics from that trip to share.
But first, I'd like to tell y'all another NYC story, this time about Canal Street.
We headed to Chinatown one afternoon for some Chinese food - I fell in love with the pork buns - and, oh my, it was crowded! Cheek to jowl on the sidewalks, all around you were people hawking their wares. Here's a sampling of what I heard on our walk to the restaurant:
"handbaghandbaghandbag, lady, handbag?"
"handbaghandbaghandbag, lady, handbag?"
"rolexrolexrolex"
"DVDtwilight, DVD?" (Believe you me, I was sorely tempted to buy this, since from what I heard about the movie, I really didn't want to have to go to the theater to see it)
It was an interesting walk, and at some point I noticed this super cute purse being sold by thie Jamaican guy and paused, but didn't buy it. On the way back to the subway, however, it was still there:
The label on the purse said Kate Spade, and you all know that I'm a sucker for Kate Spade handbags, and I didn't get a chance to visit her SoHo store because we kept sleeping too late, so I paid probably more than, no, strike that, I DID pay more than I should have for this purse, because, it is so obviously a fake that it isn't even funny, but dammit, it was cuuuuute. I couldn't help myself.
I brought it home and carried it a couple of times, but, in all honesty, the purse is a bit too small than what I normally carry - so I hung it on the doorknob of the study and went about my business.
About a week later I was getting ready for work in our guest bathroom and noticed something black stuck to the white tile floor. Upon closer inspection I discovered that it was the "Kate Spade" label from my purse! What the hell?!?!? I know that you get what you pay for, but I would have at least expected a stronger glue than what was on that "Kate Spade" label for what I paid. DH and I had a good laugh over that one.
You know what I did with the label?
I am now the proud owner of a "Kate Spade" makeup bag. :P
1.27.2009,1/27/2009 08:06:00 PM
More New York Stories
So, the last time I recounted our New York trip, we had just gotten to the apartment after a hellacious time trying to get the car service to pick us up from the airport.
The apartment was okay - definitely not what we'd been led to believe from the photos. In fact, what we got was completely different than what was advertised. But, it was four walls, and we were in NEW YORK, so I rolled with it. And really, it was just the right size for us, and it was cheaper than a hotel room.
The next day, after getting a relatively late start (due to there being no light coming in through our bedroom window, we woke up at 11am that first day,) we hopped a bus uptown to the Museum of Natural History, where I stepped off the curb to cross the street and went into a slushy puddle right up to my ankle.
After cussing a little (well, okay, a lot, look who's writing this,) we walked into the museum. Luckily, my puddle jump wasn't as bad as it could have been since I was wearing waterproof boots, so my feet didn't freeze or anything. But, I think that kind of colored my view of the museum for me, because it just wasn't as cool as I remembered it. Although, the origami tree was pretty....
So, what does a girl do to cheer up after a day of so-so museum viewing?
She goes shopping!
She goes shopping!
The first place we hit was Nintendo World, because I had been looking for a particular DS game before our trip and it was nowhere to be found in Dallas, and DH bought a game too. Then, as we were wandering around Rockefeller Center, we happened upon this really cool Japanese bakery, and we bought a ton of little pastries and such.
Among the Christmas tree lights and hustle and bustle of the shops, I promptly forgot about stepping in that nasty puddle.
Of course, later that evening, just as we turned onto our block, I slipped on a patch of ice and ended up with two huge bruises on my knees, but that's okay. :)
In addition to the Nintendo store, we shopped at the Sephora in SoHo, the Macy's on 34th street where DH and I both bought pairs of shoes, and, of course, no trip to New York would be complete without a stop at Tiffany's.
Next up: the food!!!
1.16.2009,1/16/2009 08:16:00 AM
I Don't Think I've Ever Done this Before...
I've been reading a lot of books lately. I got some Barnes & Noble gift cards for Christmas and went nuts one Friday night, spending considerably more than the amount of the gift cards. Anyway, one of the books I picked up was The Hunger Games, a young-adult sci-fi novel about a world where, each year, two teenagers from each of the country's districts - a boy and a girl - are dropped into a vast arena where they have to go around killing each other until there's one left. Sounds kind of creepy, I know, but the story was so compelling, and the action in the book was so gripping, that every time I put the book down I was a little stunned to realize I was lying in my bed and not in the arena with the main characters.
I don't remember when I started it, exactly - probably this past Sunday or Monday - but I finished it at about 11 PM last night, and did something I don't think I've ever done before, or in my adult life, anyway. After I closed the book, I lay there for about 2 minutes, turned the book back to the front cover, and started reading again. Yes, it was that good.
If I'm not mistaken, the next book in the series should be out sometime this year, so I'll be impatiently waiting for that to come out.
In addition to reading lots of books lately, DH and I have seen quite a few movies, at least for us. We hardly ever go to the movie theater. On his birthday last month we went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I LOVED - say what you will about Brad Pitt and how awful that he cheated on Jennifer Aniston, blah blah blah - it's been like 4 years, people! - that man just keeps getting better looking the older he gets. And Cate Blanchett was simply luminous in that film. She is probably one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood right now.
We also saw Yes Man, with Jim Carrey, on New Year's Eve, and laughed our heads off. I haven't really liked Jim Carrey movie in a while, but this one wasn't over the top with his silly mannerisms that he made famous, and the plot was really good, too.
But, oh my gosh, I think the best movie I've seen in years was Gran Torino. DH and I saw that last Saturday, and that movie reached out, gripped my heart, and squeezed. Clint Eastwood played his character so well, and actually, all of the actors were very well cast for that movie. This movie stayed with me for a few days, which doesn't happen very often.
If you haven't seen any of these movies yet or read The Hunger Games, I highly recommend every single one of them. Not a bad way at all to spend a cold winter's day or night!
And I promise, more NYC stories are coming.....
I don't remember when I started it, exactly - probably this past Sunday or Monday - but I finished it at about 11 PM last night, and did something I don't think I've ever done before, or in my adult life, anyway. After I closed the book, I lay there for about 2 minutes, turned the book back to the front cover, and started reading again. Yes, it was that good.
If I'm not mistaken, the next book in the series should be out sometime this year, so I'll be impatiently waiting for that to come out.
In addition to reading lots of books lately, DH and I have seen quite a few movies, at least for us. We hardly ever go to the movie theater. On his birthday last month we went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which I LOVED - say what you will about Brad Pitt and how awful that he cheated on Jennifer Aniston, blah blah blah - it's been like 4 years, people! - that man just keeps getting better looking the older he gets. And Cate Blanchett was simply luminous in that film. She is probably one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood right now.
We also saw Yes Man, with Jim Carrey, on New Year's Eve, and laughed our heads off. I haven't really liked Jim Carrey movie in a while, but this one wasn't over the top with his silly mannerisms that he made famous, and the plot was really good, too.
But, oh my gosh, I think the best movie I've seen in years was Gran Torino. DH and I saw that last Saturday, and that movie reached out, gripped my heart, and squeezed. Clint Eastwood played his character so well, and actually, all of the actors were very well cast for that movie. This movie stayed with me for a few days, which doesn't happen very often.
If you haven't seen any of these movies yet or read The Hunger Games, I highly recommend every single one of them. Not a bad way at all to spend a cold winter's day or night!
And I promise, more NYC stories are coming.....