in pursuit of our place

signing off, for now...

2010-08-18T11:38:00.002-04:00

In an ironic twist, I have decided that for number 29 on my 30 before 30 list, one activity I am going to give up is blogging. It has become one of those things that I feel I have to force, and feel guilty when I don't do it, even though I know that nobody else really even cares that much! Basically, it's causing me unnecessary stress and just another thing to think about when my mind is already pretty full. It was a great way to share renovations on the house but when it comes to the mundane details of my life, I am choosing to bore you with them via email, phone, or face to face communication instead.

A little unfinished business before the over and out -

I promise I'm really going to pay it forward! Tera received her little surprise this weekend, and C & G - yours will be on their way soon!

And in 30 by 30 news -
8. I have remembered lots of birthdays!
12. I weatherized the patio furniture!
14. I have definitely been more conservative in my sharing lately, especially at work. I am getting a promotion soon and adding a position to my office along with more services, and it has been difficult not to talk about it before I've been able to. But I've held back!
18. I have made progress on the window picture frame display...just need some more vertical photos of the fam to fill it up before it can be hung.
22. I'm going to the beach this weekend!

That's about it for now - thanks for checking in with me here and hopefully I'll talk to you all with real words soon!

pay it forward

2010-06-29T09:58:00.004-04:00

Update: I'll pull names on Monday. Happy 4th!

The lovely Ms. L featured a kind-hearted pay it forward post on her blog recently, and I was a winner! This is such a fun idea and a great way to keep in touch with friends, and it fits nicely with #23 of my 30 before 30 list. I gave a gift in May, and since June is quickly coming to a close I'm going to use this opportunity to sneak this month's gift in.

Here are the rules:
1. You must comment on this post. Tell me about the last thing that really lit up your face with a smile!
2. If you are a winner, I ask that you pay-it-forward however you'd like, in-person, online, in writing, whatever...just commit to doing something nice for three people in the spirit of paying-it-forward. No pay, no play!
3. If selected to pay-it-forward, you must either see me on a regular basis or trust me enough to send me your address (I'll ask for it later).

I will randomly select three recipients on Friday and surprise you with something fun chosen or made just for you. I'm looking forward to receiving your comments so I can see who's been sticking around here lately! Please don't be shy!

To tie things up, I did a google search of "pay it forward." Of course wikipedia showed up on the top of the list, and I was sort of saddened to find some of the things the wiki-masters actually think people need to be taught. Check it out:

Related wikiHows
How to Practice Random Acts of Kindness
How to Thank Someone
How to Be Nice to People
How to Be a Good Person

So, let's make an effort to use what we already (hopefully!) know and make someone's day a little brighter today!

it's about time

2010-06-28T21:46:00.003-04:00

Mom and Dave gave us some dough for Christmas to use on something for the house. We had been looking for something to give the kitchen a little character since it is all brand new. We visited Housewerks, a unique sort of antique store in SW Baltimore that sells items and architectural elements salvaged from old buildings around the city. It was early January and I remember it was a freezing day...one of those where I literally run from the warm car to the inside of wherever I'm going. There was a crackling fire inside Housewerks so we were glad to get in there!

We found a double-sided schoolhouse clock that had been taken out of a Catholic school in Baltimore that was being knocked down. The shop owner cleaned it up for us and assured us that it was in working condition so we decided to give it a try. As with many house projects, we learned once we got it home that it was going to be a little more complicated than we thought!

So, we decided to wait until we could get some expert help to install it. Six months later, Terry (electrician father-in-law extraordinaire) and Margie came for a quick visit and the men got to work while I napped (post-tri, gimme a break) and Margie did some high speed sudoku solving.

They did really well with a tough hard-wiring, stud-sitting hang job. Here they are admiring their handy work.
The only tiny glitch is that the motor of the clock is audible. It's not too loud, but you can definitely hear it if the house is quiet. Kyle reminded me that I did want nostalgia... I think I'll get used to it and hope that maybe one day my children or grandchildren (the clock will travel to future houses) will remember it like my sis remembered our grandparents' clock on her recent blog post.

For now, time's a-wastin'...gotta get to bed!

wipe out

2010-06-24T08:16:00.008-04:00

As part of my training to complete #7 on my 30 before 30 list (7. Complete a half ironman) and in training for my 2nd sprint tri coming up this weekend, I have been riding every Wednesday evening with a couple girlfriends. To take advantage of the longest Wednesday of the year yesterday, I proposed we take our longest ride yet together and tackle 30 miles after work. It turned out to be a momentous ride.

Grace and I set out around 5:30 in temperatures of about 90 degrees and full sun. The first road we take can be a little busy with traffic, and for some reason yesterday was a lot worse than usual. We had to wait in a long line of cars, none of whose drivers would make room for us to pass on the already slim shoulder, just to learn that the only hold up seemed to be the 4-way intersection.

We stopped at a tiny country gas station since I hadn't made time to stop for water on the way to our meet-up point. I had my debit card with me and brought my gatorade to the counter but learned they had a $5 minimum for cards. So I added some water and twizzlers (the closest thing I could find to energy food) and we went on our way again.

The next 15 miles or so were pretty uneventful and we covered some good, new to us roads with gorgeous rolling farmland views, little traffic, and beautiful early summer Crape Myrtles. Unfortunately, one of the new to us roads was a downhill, rocky dirt road, so we decided to get off and walk our bikes down it. A few more good hills back on the smooth road, and we were back on track with our familiar nearing-the-end-of-the-ride landmarks in sight. With about two miles to go we were feeling good and speeding along and came upon the last 4-way stop intersection. I had stopped for cars and by the time Grace whizzed up it was clear so she went ahead and I lifted my right foot to clip in and get moving. I lost my balance though and just toppled right over to the left, with my left foot clipped in and unable to catch me.

It was more embarrassing than painful - one of those rookie mistakes that a seasoned road cyclist would laugh at. Fortunately the only witnesses were Grace, who is just as much a rookie as I am, and a fat dude on a motorcycle. I got up and tried to start going again, but quickly realized that the bike took more of a hit than I did. The left (front) brake got all out of line with the handlebar and even if it was functional, I couldn't reach it properly. Knowing there were a few downhills ahead I didn't feel comfortable proceeding with out it, plus I was starting to feel really lightheaded and nauseous and was having trouble breathing normally- probably a little panicky and a lot overheated.

This is a straight-on view - note the crooked brake on the right!

Thankfully we were only about two miles from the cars, so I took a seat and Grace went on to get the car and retrieve me. I started to feel better and then really perked up when I remembered what was in the pocket of my jersey...twizzlers! I chowed down on those babies and felt a lot better.

I've got a nice bruise on my thigh complete with a very clear ring-like imprint of the end of my handlebar which must have hit my leg head-on on its way to the ground. The bike will be heading to the shop tonight with high hopes that it will be fixed in time for Sunday's race. I'm glad I bought the extended warranty!

A blessing in disguise...this will probably help me get closer to acheiving #21 on the 30 before 30 list...21. Learn basic bike maintenance and take good care of my bike!

suggestions, please!

2010-06-10T10:18:00.004-04:00

T-Bag and CoCo - I'm mainly looking to you guys for help with this one...

I'm running either a full or half marathon this Sunday (I'll decide at mile 11 where the courses split if it's too hot!) and I know it's going to be tough either way. The forecast is calling for high 80s and humid. Fortunately it's on a rail trail so it will be flat and shady, but still, it's probably going to suck. It's also a tiny race so there will be few fans.

It's called the 1/2 sauer 1/2 kraut marathon...held by the husband of a german pastry chef! There will be runners in lederhosen and an accordion player.

So, I will need some good musical motivation. You guys know I'm a classical nerd, and while I love popular music too, my tastes usually run more on the alternative/indie/singer-songwriter side, which isn't the best running music. I need some songs to add to the ipod today that will really keep me going!

Thinking of eating this at the end won't exactly be the best motivation

Please comment with your hip-hop/rap/generally awesome suggestions. And any of you lurkers with Ke$ha/Usher/will.i.am (are they even cool? I have no idea, I just wanted to use a dollar sign in soemone's name) taste, please chime in too!

#26

2010-06-09T13:21:00.008-04:00

I have successfully learned to change a diaper. I don't think I can say yet that I've mastered it, but I've had recent practice on a 2-month old and a couple of 2-year olds.

We spent last weekend as stand-in parents for our three adorable nieces, pictured below with Uncle Kyle: Lauren, Kate and Jenna.

Kate is almost 5 so of course she is in full-on panty mode. Lauren is almost there, but Jenna's still rockin' the diapers. So between putting them to bed, frequent costume changes, swimmy diapers, and drinking lots of water to stay cool, there were also many diapers.

very pleased with themselves to be getting Uncle K wet

Jenna on the swing

Lauren, or "Oro" as her sister calls her

I've also been getting some practice on the homefront from our neighbors and friends across the street, who had the cutest baby born in 2010 just two months ago. Kim read my list and promptly offered up Bianca's dirty diapers for me to learn on - thanks, Kim! :-) Here we are together after a nice full one.

See - I told you she is cute!

Changing diapers wasn't as bad as I expected. I left the real challenge to Kyle...emptying the diaper genie! When it's finally our turn to have little ones, I think we will be putting gas masks on the registry to deal with that job!

waiting

2010-05-26T12:20:00.003-04:00

They say bad things come in threes, right?

1. Monday. 11 AM. Checked bank account online. Checking account includes:
5/24/2010 Austin Grill $27.10
5/24/2010 Weber's Cider Mill $31.03
5/24/2010 Gunpal.com $500.00
5/24/2010 Gunpal.com $500.00
5/24/2010 Parkville Library $12.00

Yes, I know that's a big overdue fine, but let's back up to gunpal.com. What?!
Investigated charges. 800 number provided by classy-sounding website bad. Left work early to get to credit union before it closed at 4. Got new debit card, submitted fraud claim.
Bank refunded $1000 by 11 PM that night. Gunpal.com refunded $1000 on Tuesday.
Hoping we get to keep both $1000s.

2. Wednesday. 7:45 AM. Driving to work through the ghett-o.
Bang.
New person to add to hitlist: Mohammad R. (along with Eric R. and Christopher C., others with whom I've had accidents)
Mohammad tried to go straight in a right-turn only lane and hit my rear passenger side. Minimal damage, no injuries. Got to stand in the sun and hang out with the homies from the neighborhood.
Have to leave work early tomorrow to bring my car to the Progressive service center in Glen Burnie.
Hell yeah. Watch this It's awesome and worth your time.

3. ??? I'm following my Papa's advice and watching my back!

30 before 30

2010-05-20T12:09:00.010-04:00

My first year of forever 29 has begun. My birthday was great - it began with a bomf run accompanied by Tera & Brett, then included not working, shopping and exploring some lesser-known (to me) neighborhoods, eating an indulgent lunch, and ended at my step-brother and his wife-to-be's rehearsal dinner with my family. I wouldn't have changed much about it! Well, except maybe chocolate cake instead of red velvet.

So now I've been 29 for a week and have been thinking about what I want to accomplish this year. The older I get, the more I've learned that I need specific goals to stay motivated. So, I've borrowed the idea of some other ladies and created a list of 30 things to do before I turn 30. I'll try to keep you updated on my progress (but keeping you updated will not be one of my 30 things). Here goes...

1. Really qualify for Boston
2. Organize and play in a benefit chamber music recital
3. Plant a vegetable garden, peonies and hydrangeas
4. Spend a weekend with my h.s. girls
5. Take more pictures and actually smile nicely in them
6. Consolidate our retirement savings plans
7. Complete a half ironman
8. Remember and recognize birthdays and anniversaries of family and close friends
9. Read the Bible (yup, the whole thing)
10. Go on at least one 3-night backpacking trip
11. Renew and use our passports (just got invited to a wedding in Ireland!)
12. Weatherize our patio furniture
13. Organize our cd collection - get rid of cases and storage binders
14. Consider saying certain things one more time before I open my big mouth
15. Keep two weeknights/week free whenever possible
16. Create our wedding album
17. Plan a surprise get-away for me and Kyle
18. Hang my old window frame picture display
19. Get back in touch with one friend each month
20. Forgive faster
21. Learn basic bike maintenance and take good care of my bike
22. Go to the beach
23. Give one surprise, non-birthday gift a month (May - done)
24. Question more
25. Eat vegetarian a couple times a week
26. ~~Learn to change a diaper~~
27. Finish planning our Patagonia trip

28. Decide what my go-to cocktail should be

29. ~~Eliminate one time-consuming activity from my life~~ (I cut back on my back on my feet days to just Friday. I'd still like to eliminate one entire activity, but this is a big step for me and a good start)

30. Have the wingback chair and piano bench cushion recovered

Here's to my final year in the 20s! Yikes!

badges of honor

2010-04-29T21:28:00.003-04:00

I made it through Boston! It wasn't pretty at times, like forthe 40 or so minutes it took me to get from mile 17 to mile 21, but overall I felt good about my performance. I definitely lacked control at the beginning and started out too fast, then paid for it through the Newton hills, but I was able to pick up the pace a little bit again for the las five miles and gut it out to the finish. I ended up 33 seconds over re-qualifying for next year which is a bummer, but I'm trying to use it as motivation to keep training hard for the fall!

Lots of people have been congratulatory and I've been very appreciative. It's easy, though, to get caught up in my disappointment with not quite reaching my goal and to discount my accomplishment. I hate to do that because I do know that it's a pretty big deal that I've come this far since my first 4:30 marathon 5 years ago! So, here are few badges of honor to celebrate my first Boston Marathon.

First, a medal that my sister brought me after the race. It's an antique - the Women's Voluntary Service Medal in it's original case. There's a seal of the Royal Mint inside. Must be from England. On one side of the medal is a sort of monogram of WVS, and on the reverse are the words Service Beyond Self. This reminds me of all the mornings I've spent doing easy miles with the back on my feet crew instead of a "real" workout - but usually I get way more out of those easy miles, mentally, than I would from a tougher workout. The friends I've made there were a big inspiration during the race.

Next, the medal from the marathon! It's way classier than most marathon and half marathon medals given out. It's simple and very nice quality - pewter! Usually they feel like you could bend them if you tried hard enough - not this one.

And finally, the REAL badge of honor...two black toenails! Well, more like red and purple. I think the downhills did them in.

are you kidding.

2010-04-27T15:51:00.006-04:00

Today's installment of unbelieveable: THE DOUBLE DOWN from KFC.

Have you seen the commercials for this? It looks even more disgusting in grilled version. Somehow they managed to keep the calorie counts pretty reasonable (which makes me doubt its existence as actual food) but the fat and calories are outta control.

Sandwich Calories Fat (g) Sodium (mg)
KFC Original Recipe® Double Down 540 32 1380
KFC Grilled Double Down 460 23 1430

Here's a picture of the real deal taken by some brave eater.
Maybe I'll rant soon about my opinions of food in America, but for now I leave you to digest this. Haha, pun intended.

Also, check out this link for a much more in-depth description of the DD: http://www.avclub.com/articles/kfcs-double-down-sandwich,32804/

Ready to Run

2010-04-15T11:20:00.003-04:00

After six years of long runs, intervals, races, reading about running, talking about running, recovery runs, cross-training, volunteering, hoping and praying, I'm finally headed to the Mecca of running...the Boston Marathon!
To many runners, "Boston" means the marathon, not the city, and it's every runner's dream to get there. I am especially fortunate to be going this year. Even though I missed my qualifying time by a lousy 4 seconds (how many times do you think I've replayed those last few miles in my head?!), the B.A.A. gave me their blessing just in the nick of time. This is only the second year the marathon has filled to capacity, which was reached in November...way earlier than in February last year. So many of my well-deserving friends were left out, and I'm on a mission to prove to myself that I deserve to be there and re-qualify for 2011!

I've been thinking a lot about which mantra(s) I will use to achieve my goals in the race.

When I ran Outer Banks this fall, I had just finished Born to Run, which features a mantra "easy, light, smooth, fast." I kept that one in mind and it helped me to focus on keeing my shoulders relaxed, my steps light, and my cadence steady as I repeated it with every four steps.

I read somewhere that a marathon should be split into three sections: mind, legs, and heart. This jives with the way I've looked at marathons: a 10 mile warm-up, a half marathon, and a 5K race. This outlook makes extra-good sense in Boston since the first downhill stretch will be all about disciplining myself not to start out too fast, the middle miles will need to be kept fast and strong, and the final third will be all about guts and heart to make it up the hills and stay strong through the finish. The heart portion especially hits home with me since I know I should have drawn on a little more of it to get those last four seconds at OBX.

The hills will require a mantra all their own, and I often think of one from my high school cross country coach when doing hill work. "Light and little", April would call out about our steps up the hills. She coached us to lean forward, keep our elbows back, and focus on our shadown in front of us while tackling them, all the while keeping our steps short and easy.

I often think of a mantra my sister shared with me a while back which applies to running and life - "It's only temporary." Whatever pain or hardship you're experiencing, it's helpful to remind yourself that (most likely!) it's only temporary. This one definitely helps me see the light at the end of the tunnel when the going gets tough in a race.

Finally, there's a passage in the Bible that resonates with me especially during races - Philippians 4:13 reads "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." This is a reminder that it is not ME who has control over the race, but God - who gave me this body and the determination to train, who will give us whatever weather He wishes to challenge us with that day, and from whom I will gather my strength on Marathon Monday morning! I often choose one thing to pray about for each mile during a run or race. Normally the first few focus on my own body and spirit, then they open up to other runners and friends and family. If you have a prayer request for one of my miles, please let me know!

If you're a runner or athlete, what mantra(s) do you use to motivate yourself? Even if you're not, are there any mantras you use to get through life in general? I'd love to hear them and may borrow them for the big day!

breakfast on the go

2010-03-19T09:15:00.002-04:00

Kyle and I have early and rushed weekday mornings, and we need to take advantage of every extra minute possible to sleep. But we also need enough energy to get through our early morning pursuits (mine - running, his - getting reemed out) without breaking the bank. We used to turn to Clif and Luna bars, but after spending $10+/week on those I switched to generic nutri grain-ish bars. Those were way too sugary and unnatural though, and at only about 100 calories a pop, didn't provide quite enough fuel for early 6-10 milers. So, in the interests of saving money and eating more healthfully, I offer you my two favorite grab & go breakfast recipes.

Banana Flaxseed Muffins
Adapted from Moosewood Restaurant New Classics

1/3 cup vegetable oil (canola also works and is a tad healthier)
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
2 eggs
1/3 cup nonfat plain yogurt (vanilla's good too)
1 cup mashed bananas
1/2 cup rolled oats, ground into flour (I don't grind them)
1/4 cup ground flaxseeds
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour (I use half soy flour for extra protein)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preheat the oven to 350-degrees F. Grease a 12-cup muffin pan.

In a mixing bowl, combine the oil and brown sugar. Add the eggs and beat well. Mix in the yogurt and bananas. In a separate bowl or a blender, combine the three flours, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry mixture to the banana mixture and stir just until combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared muffin tin and bake for about 15-20 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and place the pan on a rack to cool for 10 minutes.

Thick, Chewy Granola Bars
Adapted from King Arthur Flour

1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar (use more for a sweetness akin to most purchased bars; use less for a mildly sweet bar)
1/3 cup oat flour (grind whole oats in a blender or food processor to make your own) 1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts*
1/3 cup peanut butter or another nut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons melted butter
1/4 cup honey or maple syrup
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1 tablespoon water

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line an 8″ x 8″ x 2″ pan in one direction with parchment paper, allowing it to go up the opposing sides. Lightly grease the parchment paper and the exposed pan, or coat with a non-stick spray.

Stir together all the dry ingredients, including the fruit and nuts. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, melted butter or oil, liquid sweeteners and water. Toss the wet ingredients with the dry (and peanut butter, if you’re using it) until the mixture is evenly crumbly. Spread in the prepared pan, pressing them in firmly to ensure they are molded to the shape of the pan. (A piece of plastic wrap can help with this, as you press down on the back of it.)

Bake the bars for 30 to 40 minutes, until they’re brown around the edges — don’t be afraid to get a little color on the tops too. They’ll still seem soft and almost underbaked when you press into the center of the pan but do not worry, they’ll set completely once completely cool.

Cool the bars in their pan completely on a cooling rack. (Alternately, after about 20 minutes you can use your parchment “sling” to lift and remove the bars, and place them in their paper on the rack to cool the rest of the way. This can speed the process up.)

Once cool, a serrated knife to cut the bars into squares. If bars seem crumbly, chill the pan of them further in the fridge for 30 minutes which will fully set the “glue”, then cut them cold. To store, wrap the bars individually in plastic or stack them in an airtight container. In humid weather, it’s best to store bars in the refrigerator. They also freeze well.

*Suggestions: Dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, chopped pecans or walunts, sunflower seeds, coconut, raisins, pepitas, dried apples, ground flaxseed, or even mini chocolate or white chocolate chips.

YUM!!! Enjoy and have a great weekend!

S.P. inspiration

2010-03-12T10:26:00.003-05:00

Finally, I've found a real image of the one that's been in my head for the lovingly named Service Porch room - really our third bedroom that moonlights as a family room so we can have a more formal living room. My sis made fun of me for using the term family room, so we settled on calling it the Service Porch, harkening back to our days of rushing home after sports practices to catch the Brady Bunch on TBS at 4:35. Anyhow, here it is.

Here are the elements that we've already got:
- grayish walls (ours are a bit darker and more on the slate/blue side of gray)
- classic styled couch in a neutral color - it's a tan canvas sleeper sofa from Jennifer Convertibles
- blue & white striped cotton rug - from WS Home. We've managed to keep it fairly clean and I actually don't mind the few little stains that have popped up. Couldn't believe we got through the aforementioned Focker Fest without any more serious ones.
- well-worn wood desk, used by my step-dad's late father for many years in his law practice. I'd say it's closest to mission style, but definitely has a touch of old-school office feel to it.
- guitar resting out of the case
- hot guy in jeans
- we also have a pretty neat old typewriter (I'm guessing from the 30's) that I picked up from a garage sale I stopped at while on a long and hilly bike ride this fall. I used my mad old man flirting skills to get it for $5.
- finally, we have a tall military green and old filing cabinet snagged when it was being discarded from one of the Baltimore City schools. That was one good outcome of Kyle's bad job experience.

And we still need:
- another seating option. We do have a neat chippy old stool which migrates around the house as well as a cool leather-sling kind of stool that serves as the desk chair. But I love that wire chair and think it or something similar would be a perfect option because even though it's not tiny, it's so airy that I don't think it would overwhelm the small space. Plus, it will be sitting in front of a closet door which we rarely open, but when we must, it wouldn't be hard to move.
- I'd like to consider repainting/re-finishing (hmmm...which is the correct way to write those words? dash or no dash?) the tv stand that Kyle and his cousin made for us. I painted it white and it looks too new and fresh for the room now. I may consider a color like the one on the shelves in the left side of this room.
- industrial inspired lamp. I've got one in there now that I love, but it's too big for where it sits on the desk now, and just not the right style.
- new ceiling light fixture. We've been replacing a few around the house with ones from www.schoolhouseelectric.com and may opt for another one of those. I also came across a blogger who made and gave instructions to make the fixture below, but I'm not completely sold on it yet. What do you think? (are you still reading??)

I think I might visit some antique shops tomorrow instead of doing my 22-miler in the rain, so I'll post some pictures early next week of the room today, and after the weekend if I was successful at finding anything. And don't worry, I'll get those miles in on Sunday instead.

two awesome things

2010-03-08T14:43:00.001-05:00

1. this video

2. the fact that I figured out how to get it to show up on this blog.

bad news/good news

2010-03-05T12:31:00.003-05:00

Which do you pick when someone asks which news you want to hear first? I'm going first with the bad here...

Soon, we won't have access to some hilarious and unbelievable emails that circulate around Kyle's current place of employment. I share this one with you today. Again, names have been changed to protect the innocent (or not so innocent).

Subject: Morning Roll Call

Team,
Starting Tuesday, March 2, 2010, and every work day thereafter I will conduct morning "ROLL CALL", at 7:30 am. Please email me and copy the Director your whereabouts at present, and your following location sites, expected times of arrival/departure, including scheduled visitations.
Thanks, Kyle's boss

What? You can't believe anyone actually gets treated like that at work? You need one more email just to prove it to you? Well, ok, you convinced me:

Ms. You Need To Find A New Job Stat, (again, names have been changed)
I spent part of my meeting today discussing keeping the original people on the email. Apparently you were napping during that discussion. This is why I had you sitting in the front. Future meetings you are to sit in front.
Secondly, I do not care who was to do what. What is troubling is that TODAY the task has not been completed. As the manager you are totally responsible. Your email should have been sent to me last week. I should not have heard through Homer Simpson. This lack of paying attention to details will not be tolerated.
Kyle's boss' boss

Whoa. Raise your hand if you would have cried/quit/spouted profanities upon receiving an email like that, with 5 other people copied, to make matters worse!

Anyway, you get the point that Kyle is not in a happy place at his current job. Sooooo the good news (which is quite out of proportion with the bad) is.....

he has a new job! Hooray! Praise God, bow to Allah, appreciate good karma or thank your lucky stars; it's a great day! He'll start on a yet to be determined date at this company: www.smartbuildingaudits.com, which provides energy audits to homeowners and business and advises them on how to improve their energy efficiency. Kyle will be the one to lead the installation of whichever products/services they choose to buy to accomplish the energy savings. They are a subsidiary of a really cool commercial builder in Baltimore so even though they're new, they have a strong foundation under them. They are so new, in fact, that they weren't ready to hire for his position yet, but when they met him through his networking efforts, they didn't want to pass him up! So, we're hoping business picks up quickly and they'll need him soon. They have a great vision and growth plan and are going to provide Kyle with a lot of training, so it looks promising that he'll be able to be there for a long time, which is exactly what he was looking for.

On a totally different subject, I need to start doing some posts with pictures. Sorry about that. Have a great weekend!

mug shot

2010-03-02T08:18:00.003-05:00

One of my Back on My Feet girlfriends was telling me recently that she had been talking with one of the residential members one-on-one and learned just how candid they seem to be about the appearances of us female volunteers. Keep in mind that they live in a shelter with about 100 other guys, and many of them spend almost all of their time there, so they don't exactly have that much contact with women. Anyway, our buddy Keith told Shelley that she looks a LOT better in her normal clothes than she does in the morning while running, going so far to actually say that she looks "really bad" in her running gear! Lovingly, of course. :-)

I had a similar experience yesterday that was quite funny. Some background...we have monthly social events with the guys, anything from beach volleyball to pre-race potlucks and in this month's case, taking in a the Loyola-UNH basketball game. It was the first social event for a newer member, Chris, who has only been running with us since the cold weather set in. I always wear a fleece hat (like a touque, not a baseball cap) when running in the winter, so it was the first time he'd seen me with my normal hair-do. We didn't really talk much at the game because we were sitting in different sections.

Well yesterday morning when we were stretching in our circle after the run, he said to me "was that you with the curly hair and glasses at the basketball game?" I confirmed that it was, and he went on to gush about what a "beautiful head of hair" I have. Very complimentary at first and I accepted appreciatively, and then he went on to say, "I mean, in the mornings here you look like you're in a mug shot!".

Thanks for the warning, Shelley, now I see what you mean! And you're almost there Chris...just need a little polishing before you're ready to re-enter the real world. We'll help you get there. :-) He is probably right though...see the picture below for the telltale evidence - I'm muggin' it up front and center on a recent coooold morning. And Mom, thanks again for the jacket; it's been a lifesaver this winter!

a good day

2010-03-01T15:47:00.003-05:00

Sorry, Saturday - your place in my heart has been stolen by Sunday. I still love your long runs in the morning, and your occasional evening out, but you've got nothing on Sunday anymore. Now that I have a job which very rarely activates the Sunday blues, I love the (relatively) late mornings in bed, the chance to enjoy a cup of coffee with Kyle, an uplifting church service, and lazy afternoons.

This Sunday was missing a few of those elements, but it was a good one nonetheless. I was up at 6 to head to a 7:30 race just south of Baltimore, the first test of my arduous winter training season. It was a hilly 10 miler and I was shooting for 8 minute miles, and I felt a little intimidated by the women in their fancy arm warmers, discussing their anticipated 7:40 pace.

Well, it turns out that I showed them, finishing up in a very surprising 1:13:14 - 7:19 pace. I knew after the first 6:45 mile that I had to either drop back or commit, and opted to see if I was up for the challenge. My last couple of miles were around 7:30 so I slowed down a little, but was really thrilled overall. Take that, arm warmer ladies!

I carpooled down with my buddy Dan, a social worker therapist at Hopkins a little younger than our parents, with whom I volunteer for Back on My Feet. I told him I'd drive him if he let me pick his brain about counseling for part of the 30 minute ride. He was extremely receptive and helpful, already trying to figure out how he could help me land an internship that's more than 2 years away. We decided to establish a casual mentorship and I'm really excited to call on his experience and local connections as I finish up the second half of my master's. (Is that proper use of the apostrophe? I never know in this case! Please tell me if it's wrong...using those incorrectly feels to me like having something stuck in my teeth or my zipper down and nobody telling me!)

We hosted "Focker Fest" for Kyle's roller hockey team, the Fockers (as an aside...my mother-in-law asked if she could get a Fockers jersey and wanted it personalized. Kyle told her ok, but it would have to read Mother Focker). It was a tightly-packed service porch (family room for those of you who missed that post) for the vieweing of the heartbreaking US-Canada gold medal hockey game. I enjoyed witnessing the differences between girls' and guys' get-togethers:

- girls wait until the food is served to indulge, and even then usually have to be prodded to serve themselves; guys dig in before you've even got it on the serving platter

- guys burp, belch and fart at will, without exclusing themselves (occasionally congratulating each other on "a good one"); girls never burp, belch or fart - everyone knows that. ;-)

- girls offer to help the hostess clean up; guys retreat to the basement to check out the host's stuff, and make more of a mess when they track the dirt back upstairs.

It was a great time though, and I felt fully justified in partaking in the wings, ribs, pizza and beer due to my earlier run.

Almost done... it was an excellent day because of the anticipation of good things to come this week for Kyle. He has two companies vying to gain him as a new employee, and either would be a good long-term career move. He'll get the second official offer tomorrow afternoon so we're praying it's a good one and the decision will be easy!

Ok, finally...the 8:30 bedtime. aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh.

are you kidding.

2010-02-26T11:59:00.004-05:00

Many bloggers have charming little "series" in their blogs. A few I've come across include: Frou Frou Fashionista Fridays, Look & Learn, Freebie Fridays. I have decided to jump on the series bandwagon, with: are you kidding.

It will probably happen often on Fridays because by then I am so fed up with life at the office that I have to vent, but who knows, you may get a surprise every now and then.

For today's installment: are you kidding. Do not walk into my office and place something on my chair when there is a perfectly good mailbox with many sections to choose from hanging right outside my door. Why are people lazy enough to circle for hours around the wal*mart parking lot so they can get one spot closer, but then manage to muster up the energy to take those extra 10 steps in and out of my office?

Can't wait to shut this door behind me at 4:30 today.

red sky in the morning, sailors take warning...

2010-02-05T10:02:00.002-05:00

My "merry band" of running buddies, as we like to call ourselves, noticed the red sky this morning and recalled this old weather warning: red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky in the morning, sailors take warning. Now the forecast is set for up to 34 inches of snow and high winds. We cancelled our weekend trip, but T&B will visit us here next weekend instead.

Back to the run. I am so fortunate to have a few different running groups, so I never have to run alone and rarely have to resign myself to the treadmill in the stinky stale air of the gym. Fresh air is where it's at, yo! You'd be surprised at just how many people are willing to get up before 5 to run, and actually relish it. I place myself squarely in this group - even though it is sometimes torturous to pull myself away from my cozy bed and cuddly hubby at 4:45, I have very rarely regretted it (no offense, Kyle!).

My Tuesday/Thursday group is a sub-group of a large Baltimore running club, the Baltimore Pacemakers. The Pacemakers do long runs together on Saturday mornings (at a more sane 7 AM), and track workouts on Wednesday mornings. This little group of us that convenes on Tuesday and Thursday includes 8 or 10 folks who run about the same pace and just prefer the company of others to the solitude that some crave while running. We range in age from 28 (ahem, I am proud to be the youngster) up to 60ish, men and women, several Ph.D.s, an M.D., a professor, an architect, one of my fundraising colleagues, a lawyer, a Washington Post editor, a published author, and a professional mom. In a normal setting I would probably be slightly intimidated by a group like this, but on the road before dawn, we're all just runners. Albeit, runners with very enlightened conversations through labored breaths.

Sorry, I tend to get wordy when it comes to running. I like it! What I meant to write about was what we experienced this morning, mostly before dawn and all before 8 AM. We started early to get 15 miles in before the storm hits. Several of these folks are heading to Beantown with me, and all have one spring marathon or another planned, so missing our long run isn't really an option.

On the first leg of the run I had an inspiring strategy conversation with my colleague about the shape that my program is taking and it's potential for the future. So much better to talk about that stuff outside of the flourescent lights of the office. We headed to Druid Hill Park, a place that has a bad rap in Baltimore as it's on the brink of a sketchy hood, but is really a hidden jewel full of challenging hills and a freshly paved 1.5 mile track around the lake. We encountered a contingent of Hopkins ROTC members, decked out in camo, combat boots, and huge packs, and exchanged cheers for one another as we passed. Which led to a shared book review on Jon Krakauer's "Where Men Win Glory" which I'm almost done listening to in the car. We saw the ducks gathering around the line between ice and water in the lake, wondering if they know the storm is coming? They probably have a better idea of what's going to happen than we do. We watched the sun rise over the city and noted the red sky and clouds. We talked about the crazies we encountered at the grocery store last night and what we all plan to cook up this weekend as we're snowbound. There was no mention of the Super Bowl, but one of the group who had recently hosted a party at her house for the Packemakers did share an interesting insight from her teenaged daughter: Mom, when you guys are running you never talk about running, but when you're not running that's all you talk about! So true.

I pulled away from the group a little bit at the end because the water breaks were becoming more frequent and I just wanted to finish. As they came in, a few told me how strong I was looking and we all shared a "great run, guys" and many thanks before heading our separate ways - to the lab, the hospital, the courthouse, the office, wherever. Even though I'm sitting here sore and tired now, I already can't wait for Tuesday morning. And for that matter, Monday morning, when I run with my team at the homeless shelter - there, though very few have jobs or homes, but similarly, you don't notice the differences out on the road. But more about that next week.

What was the best thing that happened to you between 5 and 8 this morning?

FREAK OUT!!!

2010-02-04T09:05:00.005-05:00

I listen to the radio throughout the day at work and between that and checking weather.com, am hearing and reading some pretty amusing and panic-inducing (for others, not this noco native) terms describing the impending storm. I will document them here as the day progresses. Should you hear any good ones, leave a comment and I'll add them to the list for all to enjoy. Let it snow!

how balti-morons clean up snow
9:04: paralyzing

9:07: high-impact

11:22: Here's a picture to make Dave swoon:

1:51: Disruptive Snowfall, Potenially Paralyzing

1:21 on 2/5: the snow has begun! Here's what I just found on the NOAA website...maybe I shouldn't be kidding around!

THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS STORM IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE RECORD SNOWFALL FOR THE BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON DC METROPOLITAN AREAS. TRAVEL CONDITIONS TONIGHT ACROSS THE REGION WILL BE EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS AND LIFE-THREATENING. HELP YOUR LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT FIRST RESPONDERS AND TRANSPORTATION AGENCIES BY STAYING OFF THE ROADS.

Fine, I'll stay inside and drink hot cocoa with my hubs. :-)

check ya later, city

2010-02-04T08:19:00.005-05:00

The next two days can not go fast enough - I am so excited for our weekend trip! We'll leave mid-afternoon on Friday to drive 6 or 7 hours southwest, hopefully in the opposite direction of the impending snowstorm, to meet up with Tera and Brett in Damascus, VA. It's just about as close as we could get to halfway between Atlanta and Baltimore.

buh bye, balto (yes, people call it that - weird)

Tera found a cute little bungalow to rent for very few U.S. dollars (as Kyle commonly refers to what most of us usually call money) and we're going to do some hiking, seek out some live bluegrass and small town food, and officially start planning our big trip for the fall.

hello, bungalow

What big trip, you ask? We'll be heading waaaaaay south in probably October or November, to check out Patagonia and the Andes. We'll likely try to stay mostly in either Chile or Argentina, yet to be determined. We'll definitely be checking out these craggy beauts, do lots of hiking, hopefully some rafting and mountain biking, and maybe even ice climbing on glaciers ridiculously close to Antarctica.

So yeah, it's time to get down to planning and training. We want to be in great shape so we can enjoy our adventure to the fullest, and of course, we have to break in our gear so we don't look like the inexperienced city dwellers who stopped at REI on their way to the airport. For now, we'll start here.

the mountains of Virginia

And we should make it home in time for the Super Bowl. Phew! You know I didn't want to miss that. ;-) Have a great weekend!

good management "NOW".

2010-01-26T08:39:00.002-05:00

Ah, Mondays. I thought mine was going less than swimmingly until my husband forwarded me this correspondence from his oh so tactful (and well-written!) supervisor. If you think you are fed up with your job/boss, read this and you'll be thankful for what you've got. It is verbatim, except the names have been altered slightly so when poor Laron Washingtan, who is already embarrassed for being singled out by the delinquent boss, googles himself he won't find this.

Team,
Please let's not adopt the practice of "Out of Sight Out of Mind". This morning I asked you to supply me with any change(s) you may have in the February, 2010, Visitation Schedule. Up to now I have only received responses from Valerie Gallup, Art Square, Larry Marton, Roscoe Hensin, Marlin Johnston, and Laron Washingtan. Needless to say this is totally unacceptable that out of 15 people I have only 6 responses. I have a deadline to keep and when I have to gather information from people responding at the last minute it makes you look bad and it makes me look bad. I don't like it when I look bad and you should not like it when you look bad. I need this information "NOW".

Needless to say, Kyle continues to search for a new job. Happy Tuesday.

budgeting 101

2010-01-13T13:50:00.004-05:00

One of our goals for 2010 is to create and stick to a budget. Sub-goals include giving more to church and charities, saving more in our 403b/IRA, and saving for a big trip we're planning with Tera and Brett. I love Excel so I made a kick-@$$ (why did that create a link? I don't know. where does it link to? Please don't blame me if it's something dirty...I was trying to keep it clean!) spreadsheet to track our expenditures. It's on google documents, allowing me to update whenever, wherever, we'll always be together. I'll be there and you'll be here -- oh sorry, Shakira took hold of me there for a minute!

Anyway, back on track! I've still got a ton to learn about money management and budgeting, but I feel like we're on a really good start after a couple very expensive years of getting married, buying and renovating a house, and generally living a carefree newlywed lifestyle. It is SO much easier to say no to impulse purchases if you know you have to go home, enter it into that spreadsheet, and watch the balance for that category decline. It's really been making me re-consider my choices and only purchase things I love. And I get to use Kyle's favorite phrase of the post-Pike ladies "I don't love it", which of course conveys a feeling only slightly better than indifference.

Now, onto the GO DO THIS RIGHT NOW part of the post. I just got off the phone with Comcast and had our monthly cable/internet bill reduced from $109.25 pre-tax to $84.95 pre-tax, and ended up with 20+ more channels, including HBO! Oh, Larry, Brett and Jemaine, how I've missed you! I had put off calling for several weeks since I'd heard that my sweet-as-pie sister-in-law Lesley did this, because I really hate confrontation and asking for things, even when it's over the phone and I know I could just hang up the minute things get awkward if it bothers me enough! But I worked up the courage and got a really nice girl on the phone, whom I told that I was considering switching providers because I just couldn't justify spending more when others were offering the same service for much less. Without question, she offered me the current promotions being offered to new Comcast subscribers.

Off I went to my budget spreadsheet and changed the cable category from $120/month to $95/month (just in case we are too lazy to go to the redbox and fall victim to the temptation of pay-per-view). That extra $25/month will be going toward paying off my new bike and our other athletic pursuits. What would you use it for?

I heart

back to school

2010-01-11T09:05:00.003-05:00

An intellectual shock looms this coming weekend as I return to school after taking the fall semester off. Evenings spent on the couch with Kyle, feeling smart because we beat the nerdy high schoolers on the Jeopardy Teen Tournament (Just put some mousse in that hair, sweetie! Hey kid, they even make contacts for moles like you these days!) and casting our vote for who should be told to pack up their knives and go home on Top Chef will be distant memories.

I'm a little more than halfway through my Masters program in Counseling. With about 18 classroom credits and a semester-long internship to go, I should be ready to graduate in May 2012. Even though I'm going to miss that free time to log a few extra miles or grab a drink with a girlfriend, I am planning to come back with a vengance this spring.

Why? Being halfway done with something, no matter how long the task, definitely helps motivate me to push through to the finish. Also, I'm taking Human Development from the professor who challenged me enough to lose a few decimal points from my GPA, and I want to show her and myself that I can do without that dreaded "-" after my grade.

This weekend's academic activity should help prepare me both for that class and for my busy semester and spring in general. I'm taking a quick 2-day 1-credit class on Reality Therapy, a modality which empowers the client to make real changes in his or her life through problem-solving type techniques and cognition, from one of the top practitioners and researchers of it today. See below for the title of one of the books we'll be using:

Yes, friends, this is why I study counseling. Some day it will be great to help others learn how to put and keep themselves together, but for now, it's not a bad deal to learn it for myself, for free (thanks, Hopkins!), and from one of the best. I'll letcha know how it goes.

P.S. Sign up in the comments section to borrow this book from me after class is over. :-)

patchwork

2010-01-08T08:53:00.004-05:00

I guess it's time to jump on the New Year bandwagon and resolve to get back to this darn blog. I have some reservations about continuing it this year, such as:

- Um, we're not in pursuit of the place anymore. We found it like 2 years ago.

- I'm kind of sick (ok, really sick) of the title. I never really liked it in the first place but my laziness beat out my creativity and that's whatcha got stuck with. I do, however, still like the picture of the guy picking up trash by the bench proclaiming Baltimore's greatness. You might have to live here to understand.

- Once we found the house, the blog turned into a journal of our renovations. Well guess what, my husband has been busy and we're almost done with those too.

- I'm really busy! Like, REALLY! Here's what I do (prepare for the sub-list): Run 5-6 mornings a week, swim or bike a couple days a week, book club once a month (ok, wine club), string quartet rehearsal every other week (another wine club), bible study group every Tuesday night and church on Sunday(gotta repent for all that wine consumption), class one night a week for my Master's program, various volunteer activities and get-togethers as assigned for Back on My Feet, and oh yeah, my job. And I'd like to fit in the Financial Peace University classes that Tera & Brett gave us, and a date night (as much as I hate that lame term) with Kyle.

- I don't know what else I would write about. My life is not that interesting.

There are a few good reasons to keep going, which include:

- Blogging lets people choose whether or not they want to see my photos/hear about the mundane details of my life, instead of me inundating their email inboxes.

- Who am I kidding about business being a factor against it. I blog at work. Duh.

- Blogging makes me feel cool because my big sister and her friends do it. It's kinda the same feeling I got when Megan would convince Tera to just let me ride to school in the uterus with them already.

- Once we have kids in like 10 years, I won't have to set up a new blog to share every single detail of my pregnancy with the world.

Weighing the pros and cons....weighing, weighing....Oh! I almost forgot! My awesomely creative sister and brother-in-law think I am a good writer. (despite my, albeit intentional, overuse of the word "like"). Decision made. I shall press on. Thank you, TPS and BS - haha!!! Funniest set of married people initials ever!! - for your votes of confidence. I'm sorry, but few things feel better in life than the approval of your older sis.

Now, what to write about... here's what's on the docket so far for 2010:

- a few final renovation postings, including a grande finale before and after!

- funny names I encounter at work while cleaning hundreds of thousands of records in preparation for mass mailings

- a new name/look for the blog

- maybe some training stuff as I prepare for Boston and my first triathlon, but no self-congratulatory bs, I promise.

- a continuation of the great words-we-hate family email exchange started last night

Whatever else you guys (all 2.5 of you) want.

Finally, here's a cute picture from my Christmas vacation. Other people's kids are the best!

to tide you over

2009-10-07T08:34:00.010-04:00

Ok, enough of you have been nagging me for a new post lately...sorry again it's been so long! I meant to post a bunch of updates on our recent projects this morning, but realized I didn't upload those pictures. Maybe tomorrow! Until then, here are a few of our recent non-house related activities...it's been nice to have time for those again lately!

In September I went to the Finger Lakes to celebrate two of my favorite people. Kerry got married and all of us girls had a great time together...

...and we celebrated Tera's impending nuptials with a ladies weekend at a lake house in Geneva.

I finally returned home to my husband (and a newly re-finished guest closet to be documented later!) and we were soon off to Virginia to top off his birthday celebration with a U2 concert, compliments of Lesley and Rob. The stage was not over-rated and really did seem like a spaceship at times. Great show and great company!

We spent the night in Richmond and had just enough time to play with these gals for a while the next morning. Kate and I take a self-shot each time we're together, which is much easier than capturing Lauren and Jenna in a still moment on film! The picture below depicts well what they're up to lately though...bows, necklaces, and stealing bows from the other's hair. Ouch!

Finally we were off to Atlanta for Tera and Brett's wedding. We had a great time all weekend, from the family mexican feast on Friday night, through the Braves game on Saturday, to the main event on Sunday afternoon. They were a gorgeous bride and groom and threw the most fun and stylish wedding I've been to yet!

Congrats Mr. and Mrs. Smith!

The End.

patio progress

2009-08-19T14:43:00.002-04:00

We're just waiting for a few finishing touches on the bathroom, and in the meantime have started yet another project - a new patio! The house was previously surrounded by lots of old, cracked, mis-matched cement, including a sidewalk from front to back that really wasn't necessary. Also lots of random flat rocks placed around the yard, including a mysterious figure 8 formation in the back yard (a tribute to Baltimore's favorite Cal Ripken, perhaps?).

Kyle and a former co-worker jack-hammered up the old concrete a few weeks ago, and we've been pulling all the rocks out and stacking them up by the garage for use in a future project - fire pit!

Anyway, here is what our yard looks like as of last night. They are pouring the patio as we speak! It's going to be exposed aggregate, that pebbly looking tan concrete that you often see around pools.

a room of a different stripe

2009-07-21T15:29:00.003-04:00

Finally, the surprise! It's going to be a disappointment, I promise - we only decided to re-paint a room. But it does look a lot better and feels a lot cozier to hang out in.

The blue-gray we had painted the tv room, aka service porch, was a little too close to the color of the kitchen, so we decided to darken it a bit. And to get a little crazy, we left some of the old color at the top. We've since added roman shades similar to the color of the couch but I haven't taken pictures of those yet. They are nice though and make it really dark for watching movies.

executing the perfect stripe

We also got a new rug really cheap from WS Home. It reminds me of an LL Bean boat & tote! We got a nice cushy carpet pad to put beneath it - here I am cutting it in my pjs.

And here is our male model, dressed to match the new room:

Now we just need to get some shelves on the wall above the desk (just barely visible in the left corner of the above picture - it's a hard room to photograph), get some stuff on the walls, and replace the light fixture.

new look

2009-07-07T12:50:00.003-04:00

I've pretty much been copying my sister my whole life, I'm just old enough to admit it now. She got a great new background for her blog, so naturally I had to follow suit! Sorry Tera, hope you're not mad.

you say spotty, we say shoddy

2009-07-06T08:54:00.005-04:00

The renovation of the original bathroom has been a loooooong adventure. We had planned to have it finished several weeks ago, but two big things beyond our control have stood in our way.

First, the window...it was one of the few that had not already been replaced when we moved into the house. Kyle called the supplier he had used at former jobs and ordered a replacement window - the guy said it would be delivered in about two weeks.

Fast forward about three weeks...no window yet. Kyle called the store and they had no record of the order. Sweet. So he ordered it again. A few weeks later the guy called and said he'd leave it on his front porch for us to pick up. Of course he wasn't home when we stopped by and Kyle realized it was a new construction window - not a replacement. (I wouldn't have known there was a difference 15 months ago!) Kyle was, um, not happy.

He talked to the guy later and they decided that Kyle would just try to cut the flashing off (I think that's the correct terminology...fortunately, most of my readers probably wouldn't know the difference anyway.) and see if it worked. After installing and spraying water at it for 10 minutes, we were satisfied. So, about 6 weeks later, we had our window installed.

Meanwhile, we visited the granite store where we purchased our kitchen countertops to choose a top for the vanity Kyle and Corey built. It's a small vanity, only 30 or so inches across, so we were able to get a marble remnant for a great price. Score!!!

Delivery #1: while drilling the holes for the faucet, they cracked the marble. Fast forward two weeks to...

Delivery #2: Install successful, and it looks beautiful from afar, but up close there are these little brown spots (in gray and white marble) with greasy looking "halos" surrounding them. It looked as though they had filled in a scratch with some brown putty and it seeped through the porous stone. In choosing marble, I was aware of its porous nature and agreed to be really careful with hair products, toothpaste, etc (and you guests had better be too!) but I would have liked to at least start out with a perfect piece. See the evidence below:

See what I mean? Not awesome. So my persistent (and dashing, might I add) husband sent digital pics to the store. They agreed to send someone to the house to check it out. The guy who came - one of the owners we think - claimed that it was naturally occurring in the stone. We disagreed because 1. these marks go against the natural grain that all the other markings follow, and 2. that is just b.s. I mean come on, we're not idiots. That halo effect wouldn't happen naturally.

So, finally after Kyle pushed up the sleeves to show his rippling biceps, they gave in and agreed to try one more time. (oh, and after Kyle went to the store again to see other pieces and verify that they didn't have those same kinds of spots) So Delivery #3 is happening this afternoon.

We have a suprise that I'll try to unveil in the next few days. Try not to get too excited.

UPDATE: Delivery #3 did NOT happen on Monday. Big surprise. They just didn't show, even after Kyle left work a few hours early to be sure he'd be there when they arrived. Supposedly they're coming on Thursday - I'll believe it when I see it.

new life to a garage sale find

2009-06-22T17:58:00.002-04:00

When Mom was here last month we sat in the living room with the new green window treatments and noticed that there was a lot of green and a lot of brown, but that was about it. I knew I needed a little more seating in there and threw out the idea of finding some old beater chairs and painting them to accomplish two things at once: more seating and more color. She suggested red.

I did some garage sale shopping soon after and found these for $5 each.

I'm all for mixing up colors, but who ever thought burgundy and bright blue would look good together?! I sanded the chairs down until they were smooth, leaving most of the blue paint on. I went to the local Calico Corners and was pleasantly surprised - they have a huge selection of reasonably priced fabrics and beautiful custom furniture for less than C&B, PB, etc. I found some cool ikat fabric with a little touch of the green from the curtains, brown from the furniture, and lots of new colors to boot. I picked a red paint to match the red in the new fabric and slopped three coats on the chairs. After they were completely dry, I did a little sanding around the edges for a worn effect - some of the blue showed through and I got down to the original wood in some spots. Then Margie helped me staple the new fabric right over the old this weekend and voila! Here are the final results:

Here's a close up of the backside of the cushion. It was really easy to just fold the corners over nice and tight and make them look neat on top.

One of these days we'll have the upright piano here - that will sit back in this nook with one chair on either side. I'll probably end up sitting on one of the chairs to play too so we won't crowd the walkway with the piano bench.

One more thing crossed off the checklist!

bathroomania

2009-05-27T19:23:00.004-04:00

Apparently we can't get enough of new bathrooms - we originally thought we would wait a few years before renovating the original bathroom downstairs, but decided to go ahead with it now so we don't have to endure a dusty house again after we're fully settled in. So we gave up dreams of spending our tax refund on anything fun and Kyle set off on yet another project. Behold. The bathroom in its original state, minus window framing.

Where the pedestal sink once stood
The hole left from the old medicine cabinet

The destruction has begun. The shower area. Rob spent the weekend working with Kyle and they moved 11 tons of trash both out of the bathroom (below) and from the garage to the dumpster. The garage still contained the old kitchen from when we tore it out last year. I guess plaster is heavy.

The homemade trash chute.
We tore out the old ceiling tiles in the hall while we were at it. The ceiling has to stay low because of the a/c duct, but at least it's drywall now.
Kyle, Doug and Elliot hanging the new drywall.

The hallway with its new ceiling

Partly finished drywall

Paint! Pale Grey by RL.

New, clean tile! That 70 year old scum wouldn't come up no matter how hard we scrubbed with a toothbrush. We decided to stick with a vintage b&w look, but I much prefer this basketweave to the old square pattern. Here's a close-up:

The shower area with new tile. Same look as before but cleaner and with a darker grout for a vintage look. We kept the old cast iron tub and are going to have it refinished soon, so it will be a brighter white to match the tile.

We just went to the granite store today to pick our countertop. We chose this marble below:

Finally, Kyle and Corey are working on building the vanity and a tall cabinet for linen storage. The bathroom grew by about 3 feet in width because we incorporated the linen closet into it. The cabinet they're building will have a few drawers on the bottom and a glass door on top so I can display some pretty things inside. The vanity and cabinet will be white. I showed them pictures of ones I liked from Restoration Hardware and they are copying them...they are looking very close so far!

More to come soon!

curtain call

2009-05-17T18:13:00.005-04:00

Ok, enough pillow talk. Sorry for the long delay in posting - we took a little break from projects.

A few rooms in the house look completely different now than they did two days ago, thanks to new curtains! It's amazing the difference they make. Here are some photos of our bedroom with it's curtains made by Margie.

Here is the living room. I picked up a lady's card at JoAnn fabrics and she made them for us. She had the brilliant idea of making roman shades for the bay window, which alleviated the need for any expensive hardware and allow us a lot of options in terms of coverage.

Lots of light
A little less

Full coverage so Kyle can walk around in his skivvies.Expert installation by Kyle and Dave

I realized after they were all up that all of our curtains are a linen-esque, floral fabric. At least I know what I like!

pillow talk

2009-03-11T08:13:00.004-04:00

We spent the past weekend in "the dred" with MargeCat and TNort and had a great time.

I had to get a little ghetto there for a minute because the rest of this post is going to be about crafts - but the dred is a.k.a. Edlred, PA, Kyle's hometown, and M-C and TN are my awesome parents in law, for those who don't know.

Ok, back to original subject. Up too early this morning, can't focus. Margie and I took a detour on the way to dinner to JoAnn's for bedroom decorating inspiration. We ended up placing an order for curtain fabric and bringing home some coordinating fabric to make pillows. Here is the step-by-step (oh, baby! sings NKOTB's Joey in his best falsetto) process:

1. Choose fabric. Here is a selection of the fabrics we chose, against a brown silk very similar to our bedspread and the paint chip of the wall color. It's actually a little darker and greener than it appears here.

(Sorry, technicial difficulty...I'll upload picture later if possible)

2. Watch mother in law measure and cut fabric to proper size - a few inches larger than circumference of pillow to allow for the puffiness of the filling. (you could also do this yourself if you are in fact the crafty type). You can use sharp scissors or this neat roller thingy with a really sharp wheel blade. I understand it's usually used for quilting. Be sure to use a mat underneath so you don't scratch the table.

3. Put two pieces of the same size fabric together, nice sides facing in. Sew straight lines around three edges, keeping track of how far in from the edge you sewed in case you need to fix it later. When you're done, turn it right-side out and try it on the pillow.

4. Re-do as many times as necessary to get a nice, snug fit...we re-did about 4 times! The pillow looks much nicer and more tailored if it's just the right fit and not too loose. You may also have to kind of shove the pillow around in there to get it to fit in the corners nicely.

5. Right-side out, place over the narrow end of the ironing board and iron the seams nice and flat. Insert pillow and get ready for the penultimate (yes! People seem to find that word impressive) step.

6. Hand sew the last side of the pillow with a thread that is very close in color to the fabric. If you want to get fancy-nancy you could put a zipper here, but we're not too fancy.

The neck roll pillow is not quite done yet. That is the advanced lesson!

7. Put your pillows on the bed and admire!

Thanks, Margie, for the lesson! Next addition to the bedroom: drapes by Margie in tan linen with a red floral pattern.

artistic endeavors

2009-02-10T16:26:00.003-05:00

All of you Potsdam folks will smirk at this title. For others, it's the name of the big art show our high school used to have - there were some real gems, lemme tell ya.

Anyway, the other night I asked Kyle what is holding us back from keeping our house neater and generally making it feel more lived in. We came up with a few answers: rugs, art, curtains, and motivation. Since he's now working again - even if unofficially - we are feeling a little more optimistic (check, motivation!), and decided we can allow ourselves to spend a little bit toward the other three solutions.

We ordered a cream-colored shag rug from JC Penney and got a great deal - under $180 including shipping for an 8x10! I think it will be a nice contrast against the pine floors upstairs, and will be oh so nice to step onto when getting out of bed on chilly mornings!

I also found these prints at allposters.com for the wall in the living room behind the couch. I love arts & crafts style art and furnishings, and these fit that as well as the botanical theme I am going for in that room. At just $16.99 each and 20% off, they were a great deal too! Now I just have to dig up that Michael's coupon for 50% off framing and we'll be in business.

Finally, we hired a lady to make some ceiling-mounted roman shades for our bay window. These will solve all the problems that window has posed, provide privacy yet still allow light, and hopefully, look beautiful! Also, Margie is going to make drapes for the normal window in the room in the same fabric to save us a few bucks. And, I may get a sewing lesson as a bonus! Here is the fabric I chose - it goes on sale this Friday at JoAnn - wish me luck that it isn't discontinued like the last one!

heading south...me and the economy

2009-01-16T08:23:00.005-05:00

I'm off to Palm Beach for work for nearly a week! I'm sure I'll have some progress from the house to document when I return...Kyle suddenly has a lot of free time on his hands.

He was unfortunately one of the many homebuilders to get laid off recently - we got the news last week. He's got a few leads but most everyone in the industry is cutting back right now. So if you know anyone who needs a {very} handy man in the next few weeks, let us know! Meanwhile, he'll be networking, applying, and puttering around our house.

I haven't been too good about taking house pictures lately, but here's some eye candy for you from our ugly holiday sweater contest on Christmas Eve. I had already taken mine off because I was too hot with it on in the kitchen. Kyle's sweater has been in his dad's dresser drawer for probably close to 30 years!

Have a great week, and pray for a new job for Kyle and good weather for me!

Bring us some figgy pudding!

2009-01-12T12:09:00.006-05:00

We didn't have figgy pudding, but we ate just about everything else...Christmas 2008 at the Nortons' was full of culinary delights! Here is a photographic re-cap.

Dave is marveling over his good fortune of marrying into a family of sugar-addicts.

Lemon drops, Russian teacakes, mint brownies, sugar cookie cut-outs (aka "trees"), peanut butter kisses, and chocolate crinkles. And a hungry Kyle.

Christmas Eve Dinner

Tera artfully prepares Potatoes Anna.

They were as delicious as they were beautiful!

My favorite ham recipe - herb encrusted. There are some pearl onions carmelizing too - a delicious side accompaniment.

Dave carves the ham.

Christmas Morning

Carrying on the Norton tradition of cinnamon buns (extra sticky this year!) on Christmas morning.
From scratch? You bet! Totally worth getting at up at 6 on Christmas morning for. These and some strong coffee gave us just enough energy to open presents.

An egg bake with hash browned potatoes and cheese for brunch.

Christmas Dinner

Kyle decants the Christmas wine.

Preparing Lesley's yummy dijon green beans, with a bonus steam treatment.Roasted root vegetables. Even the brussel sprouts were good! The man of the house goes to town on the prime rib.Caught! Mom sneaking a pre-dinner bite.Yorkshire pudding. It got a LOT puffier than I expected, and made a huge mess of drippings in the bottom of the oven. Thanks again, Mom, for cleaning it up! Mmmm....can't have steak without sauteed mushrooms.
The obligatory 'round the table picture. Gramma, this one's for you!
Finally...my plate is ready. YUM!

I don't have any pictures of dessert but it was another Norton tradition - Margie's chocolate mousse. It was great, but I don't think it was quite as good as hers. There's always next year!

Christmas cartoon

2008-12-29T13:17:00.003-05:00

It's my first day back at work and of course I can't concentrate, so I have been fooling around with my photo software. Kyle and I volunteer every year at the Baltimore Symphony's Holiday Spectacular show, and get our picture taken as part of the project we help with. Here is this year's...as a cartoon!

And the original, pre-crop and cartoon.
I hope everyone enjoys the last few days of the year and Christmastime!

FABric

2008-12-16T14:08:00.002-05:00

Here's a picture of me with a swatch of the fabric I ordered for the curtains in the living room. When I went back to JoAnn's to order it, I found out it was actually 50% off, instead of the 40% I was expecting. So I got 15 yards at just $10 each! Now, if I can only decide what to buy with that extra $22/yard I'm saving by not buying it at the fancy upholstery shop... :-)

Gramma took the picture while she and Papa were here visiting - I'm still waiting for her to be a guest blogger and tell about their visit! C'mon, Gram!

Finally, please excuse how large my rear end appears in this picture. I've gotta ditch those jeans.

Dear Santa,

2008-12-15T09:54:00.003-05:00

Thank you for the beautiful house that you and the Easter Bunny gave me and Kyle. We just decorated it this weekend so you'll be able to find it in 10 days! Doesn't it look nice?

This year, our family is coming to visit. I really want the house to look great for them, so we're trying to finish lots of projects before they come. We still have to finish our work on the stairs, do a little bit of painting, and hang a light. Then, we have to clean - the house is a mess right now! There is dust everywhere from drilling and sanding and sawing. And flour all over the kitchen from baking cookies for you! And then, when we're done cleaning, we have to decorate! We still need to get a tree and deck the halls - all two of them.

So, Santa, this year I'm just asking for one thing, but I need it early...can you please send me an elf to help with all this?

Love, Katie

19 months and 3 new stairs

2008-12-15T09:29:00.004-05:00

Can anybody else say that your husband can come home after playing hockey, whip up a brand new beautiful staircase in front of your eyes, give a concise biblical history of where Christianity/Islam/Judaism split (complete with verse references), and randomly belt out tunes from the Phantom of the Opera, all in one morning?!

Kyle is quite the renaissance man, and has taught me so much during our first 19 months of marriage. Plus, he lets me cut his hair, which is really fun.

Pre-hair cut, in the wife beater. Oh, yeah.

We wanted to update the railing, newel post, and balusters, since they were all a little worse for the wear and dingy. We also wanted to change the risers from natural to white, to add a little bit of architectural interest and go a little more formal in the living room. We got more than we bargained for when Kyle took the old railing out and realized that with the new newel post which was sized slightly differently than the old one, the existing baluster holes in the treads wouldn't work. Long story short, it was easier to replace the treads (so he thought at the time) than to fix the holes.

Preparing to attack the stairs

The old treads with filled baluster holes- never quite worked out how Kyle hoped

Buh bye, old stair treads.

Welcome, new treads and newel post!

Kyle put the edging on the stairs, stained, and added the first coat of poly.

Caution: wet stain. We have perfected the art of climing up to the top of the ladder and jumping to the landing to get upstairs.

Tonight he plans on drilling the holes for the new balusters, and sanding that nasty old trim on the wall. A former resident of the house had painted right over stained wood, so the old white paint is peeling off.

In other news, we finally received the correct thermostat for our heated tile floor in the upstairs bathroom. It is AWESOME! So nice to get up in the morning and walk onto a toasty warm floor. Thanks, Kyle for having that great idea and making it work! Thanks, also, for re-grouting the tiles where I spilled red nail polish a few weeks ago, and letting me off with just one warning never to do it again. That is why I love you.

breaking up is still hard to do

2008-12-04T11:55:00.003-05:00

You may remember way back when we were choosing a realtor that I had to break up with a few of the ones we considered. Well, it was a good thing I gained some experience because I just had to break up with the lady at the store that we were considering having make curtains for our living room.

Paula spent a lot of time with me, in the store looking through fabric swatches, coming to the house to measure, and searching for hardware that would work in our bay window. Aah, the memories. But, like most break-ups, it came down to money.

Yup, she got greedy. The fabric I chose was $32/yd at their shop, plus about the same cost in labor per yard. Mother-in-law Margie helped me find the same stuff for $19.99/yd + 40% off at JoAnn Fabrics! So, I'll be placing an order there this Saturday and then begging my mom to make them for me. Don't worry, Mom, you'll figure out how to do the lining. You've got plenty of time to learn - after all, you are retired now.

AND I remembered that Newell Rubbermaid, where my sister works, is the parent company of several window treatment/hardware lines! So I can get the same hardware Paula wanted to sell to me for like $400 for much, much less.

Well, Paula, it's been fun, but just remember, it's not you...it's me. (Boy does uttering that phrase remind me how happy I am to be married!)

Thanksgiving Day review

2008-12-03T08:26:00.005-05:00

Hi there- wow, I didn't realize quite how long this little break was that I just took! It wasn't intentional, I promise, I guess things just got a little busy!

We hosted Kyle's side of the family for the first Thanksgiving at our new home(9 adults and 5 of the cutest little girls you've ever seen, all 4 years old or younger) and had a wonderful time and a great meal, if I do say so myself! Here are a few of my favorite shots from the day.

Father-in-law Terry carving the turkey

The kids' table! From left to right, Kate, Emma, and Paige.

Gramma always likes to have a picture of the table - nothing too fancy here but I like the fact that we're grown up enough to have 9 people over for a holiday, and have real chairs (ok, one desk chair) for them to sit in and matching place settings!

Kate got a new angel costume from "Mimi" for the church pageant, so of course she wore it most of the day and tried to fly (from the ottoman to the couch).

We don't have many (ok, any) toys at our house so I like to let the girls use my camera. This is a shot of me and Emma, by Kate.

I knew buying a new couch for the tv room, aka Service Porch, was a good idea. Little did I know it could hold seven humans. And one duck.

We accomplished a lot of projects in preparation for Thanksgiving, and now have a few more to check off the list before my family arrives for Christmas. Nothing like company as motivation to get things done! More to come tomorrow on some of the latest.

Until then, many thanks to all of our family for a wonderful Thanksgiving! We loved having you all here!

busy bees

2008-11-10T11:25:00.004-05:00

I'm going to steal Kyle's funny line today and say that I am happy to be at work so I can relax! We had a really busy, but very rewarding weekend, making a lot of headway on our list of things to be completed before company starts coming...see you in a week, Gramma & Papa! Here are some things we got to cross off:

1. Dresser mini-makeover
We snagged this sub-$300 dresser at Ikea and are loving it for its spaciousness, smooth action drawers, and style versatility. However, the round burnished metal (really chincy metal) knobs weren't doing it for us. So, I scored some knobs at my favorite place (RH Warehouse sale...you guessed it) for $1.99 apiece, and voila! A dresser worthy of our swanky hotel-style retreat bedroom. The new, heavier, shinier, and more luxe knobs go really well with the bedside lamps and that Jonathan Adler ceiling light that's on my wish list. Now if we can just get all of our junk cleared off the top of the dresser...

Before

After

2. Re-frame living room windows

Kyle worked his pants off (all the better for checking out his calves that I love!) this weekend on the window trim in the living room. The bay window has been a mess since I hastily ripped the tile off the sill back in June, so he got a bunch of wood, a new router bit, and worked the table saw to come up with this:

He stripped the other LR window and the little on in the stairwell of their trim too, and patched up some drywall before hanging the new stuff. Next it's my turn to paint and dress the windows!
3. Paint new tv cabinet

Kyle and his cousin Corey built this piece of furniture a few weeks ago in a mere 5 hours and for just 60 bucks. I decided to paint it white to coordinate with the trim in the house and to keep it versatile should our decor in that room ever change. Here it is, before and after! We haven't put the tv back on and boxes back in yet, but I'll post those pictures once we do. They custom built it to hold those cute file storage boxes, which are housing our cds, dvds, etc. You can just make them out (they're green) in the background of the second picture.

4. Assemble new headboard and make bed

Thanks to Mom and Dave for this awesome early Christmas present! I was going to try making my own headboard, but after seeing prices for the fabric I wanted, realized it would cost pretty much the same to buy a new one, and it would most likely be a lot nicer. So, they obliged and didn't even make us wait until December. Here it is!

5. BAKE!

My coworker's birthday was Sunday, so I wanted to bring in some treats to celebrate today. I thought I'd use the opportunity to make some double batches and freeze some breakfast goodies for the aforementioned holiday guests! So I spent yesterday afternoon alternating between the kitchen and the service porch (a.k.a. tv room...see previous post for explanation), baking and painting. I think I washed my hands more than I ever have in one day. But I made some good chocolate-hazelnut biscotti, lemon blueberry scones, and orange oatmeal muffins in the meantime! They met rave reviews at work and the rest are waiting in the freezer for ya'll.

Oh yeah, we managed to squeeze in a 14 miler, a hockey game, church, and a tapas party at the neighbors' in there too. How was your weekend?

c'mon baby, light my fire

2008-11-03T16:05:00.003-05:00

I have not been blogging lately because I have been spending all of my time searching for a light for our bedroom. Well, now I can start again because I've finally found the perfect one!

from Jonathan Adler, via www.shadesoflight.com

She's a beaut. And I'm even willing to pay the slightly higher than my normal range price tag because it fits perfectly with the decor for that room, and is only 7.5 inches high, so we won't hit our heads on it!

Ok, I was kidding about spending all my time searching for the light. I've been doing other things, like flying to San Francisco, running one marathon and training for another, raising money both at work and not at work, having company, taking two graduate classes (and getting As!), and still working on the house little by little. But I am going to continue my haitus on posting pictures of the house until after the holidays, because I want there to be some element of surprise for the holiday visitors we'll be having. Until then, I'll try to come up with some other creative posts...but don't hold your breath, this fall is really getting the best of me.

spring, sprang, sprung

2008-10-06T21:30:00.002-04:00

The guys got the box spring upstairs! Here is the play by play from Kyle who is sitting beside me, but who has trouble typing on the mini keyboard of his toughbook work computer.

1. Cut or pull back dustcover and fabric from bottom and sides of box spring.
2. Cut side and center length struts - cut in one place where you anticipate bending to navigate staircase.
3. Bend while carrying up tight staircase.
4. Place 2x4 blocks at cuts and re-attach struts using screws.
5. Google for better directions.

Sorry folks, he's a tired little guy tonight. It was a long day of doing little to nothing for a home building suffering from the economy. He did cook a mean pad thai dinner though.

Box sprung

2008-10-02T08:59:00.002-04:00

Well, we were all excited last night to have the upstairs bedroom clean and ready for the bed. Around 9:30 we mustered all of the energy we had left from a long day and prepared to bring the box spring and mattress upstairs and to make the bed. Only to find out that it doesn't fit up the staircase. I guess that explains why the upstairs bedroom, although the biggest, always belonged to the littlest kid! I also guess that they didn't make queen size beds in the 1930s when the house was built.

So, this afternoon, Kyle and Corey will go about cutting the box spring (google says you can do it!) to fit it around the corner and up the stairs. Or, as my dad always said, up the wooden hill.

Movin' on up(stairs)!

2008-10-01T09:31:00.004-04:00

After 4 months in our new house, we are finally ready to move into our new and improved master suite! The bathroom is done (really this time...I jumped the gun a little bit last month in announcing its completion), the bedroom is painted, the floor has been re-finished and cleaned, and the closets are finished. The only thing we're waiting for is the arrival of the new closet doors. Tonight we'll move the bed upstairs and maybe spend our first night up there! Here are some pictures from yesterday.

Bathroom

Does anyone else think the faucet bears a striking resemblance to Gonzo's nose? I still love it though. :-) Good job Kyle for fixing the tile surrounding it that the plumber messed up. It looks just as good as the rest! Next time he might have to install all the tile himself...we all know that the reward for good work is more work!
Bedroom

Closet

To borrow blogger buddy Corey's term, I think my new closet is truly Carrie Bradshaw worthy! Now if we can just get the wardrobe elevated to that status too...

shop at Bluehouse!

2008-09-25T11:25:00.003-04:00

For you Baltimore readers who know I'm always plugging the RH warehouse, here's another place you've got to shop: Bluehouse. It's where the chairs are coming from, and they provide the best customer service I've experienced in a long time (not to mention some of the coolest merchandise!). I let them know that we could really use the chairs by next weekend since we're having a party and they gave me several options of ways to get around the standard 45 day delivery time for the chairs. I opted to buy two they have in storage in their warehouse, and to buy the two floor models, which they usually don't sell (and at 10% off to boot!). They also offered to loan the two floor models to me for the fiesta weekend if I wanted to order fresh ones from the supplier. How great is that?!

They have one location now in Harbor East, at 1407 Fleet Street, and are opening a second soon in the Kenilworth Mall in Towson. Also check them out online at www.bluehouselife.com.

have a seat and hang your hat

2008-09-25T08:13:00.005-04:00

I finally took the plunge and made my decision for the DR chairs! I was really, really leaning toward the Eames, but since I knew Kyle was a little hesitant, I asked the store if I could borrow one for a few hours to see how it would look at home. The staff at Bluehouse, in Baltimore's Harbor East neighborhood, was so helpful and friendly, and generously loaned one to me for three days! He liked the chair a lot, so we're going with those! Here are a few shots.

I love the crisp white (compared to the off-white slip covers on the folding chairs....look behind the table in the above photo), and how the curves of the table and the chair complement each other to blend the two contrasting styles. The steel base looks great with all the stainless in the kicthen too! I'm hoping to have the other three delivered in the next week - I think they've got a few stored away in a warehouse.

Upstairs, work continues on the closets in our bedroom. Kyle finished an oh-so-exciting day of OSHA training early yesterday afternoon, so had a lot of time to devote to finishing the trim in the bedroom. He painted the window frames, leaving me the detail stuff, and installed and painted the baseboard. He also installed this great light in my closet!

I didn't even have to use the dishwashing scrubby brush to install the teeny halogen bulbs, as Ikea included a little suction cup with the light. Which, of course, ended up stuck to my forehead. Sorry, no pics of that. Tonight and tomorrow we'll keep working on putting together the shelving system, which looks like it's going to be a perfect fit! This is how it looks now......stay tuned for the fully assembled version on Monday!

For those of you who call me on a regular basis...my phone is currently out of comission. I left my charger at Tera's, and since I was up for a free upgrade anyway, I just ordered a new phone thinking the delivery time would be quicker than having Tera mail the old charger. :-) I'll be checking my voice mails from my work phone and Kyle's so just leave a message if you need to chat!

clean house!

2008-09-23T08:01:00.002-04:00

I got back from a great weekend in Atlanta with my sister on Sunday night to find a whole bunch of awesome work Kyle had accomplished while I was busy antiquing, getting my nails did (mani/pedi Atlanta style!), eating out, and doing the last 20+ mile run before the taper starts to San Francisco. Kyle framed the windows in our bedroom, which is painted now, by the way- I just haven't gotten any pictures up yet! He and his cousin also built a sweet piece of furniture to hold our new tv - we finally joined modernity and got a flat screen. Pictures of that to come later - I'm going to paint it and try to do sort of an antique finish, so I'll be sure to document that process for ya'll.

The trip to Tera's awesome apartment also inspired me to get moving on decorating! Her place is the perfect eclectic mix of styles in a huge 1 BR apartment with really high ceilings and great details - molding, windows, etc. So, last night Kyle and I went on a cleaning spree and got a few more boxes out of the way and put their contents where they belong.

We're going to put the second coat of paint on the bedroom this week, assemble and install the closet shelving, and we should be ready to get settled into our new room next week! Pictures to come soon.

P.S. Thanks to all for your input on my chair dilemma. I am a little closer to a decision...

chair despair

2008-09-12T14:04:00.008-04:00

I am very indecisive, a trait which usually bothers Kyle a lot more than it bothers me. But lately, it's really been getting to me, about one topic specifically...chairs for the dining table. I just can't decide what I want, and we have lots of entertaining to do this fall, so I really need to get some soon! So, I need your help.

Here is what we're starting with:

The table I scored at the RH warehouse for $199.

I just picked up four of these chair covers for the old Ikea folding chairs in the above photo. When I finally choose new chairs, these will be used to dress things up when we need extra seating for company.

We don't plan to be in this house forever, so on one hand I'm thinking I should get some cheaper chairs that are pretty casual and cheap that could become kitchen table chairs if/when we have a house with separate kitchen and dining room eating areas. Maybe something like the one below, and I could get a fabric that coordinates with the room to re-cover the seat.

These are only $60 at Ikea, and appear to be very close in color to the table.

I have kind of had my heart set on some classic Eames Eiffel chairs for a while- something that would be a bit of an investment now, but that could transition to really any room of a future house and will never go out of style. However, Kyle isn't a big fan - he thinks they are too "Jetsons" for our place. Sure, most of our decor is on the traditional side right now, but we hardly have anything yet! This is the time to start bringing in some eclectic styles, if I'm going to do it! I keep showing him pictures like the one below to prove that different styles mixed together looks really cool.

Or, I could go for something with kind of a cafe style like this:
Or add an extra pop of color, and complement the jute rug we're waiting for with the green or blue version of these: It's all too much - I just can't decide! What do you think? Any other suggestions? Let me know...I'll check the comments when I'm back from meeting with my therapist!

Ikea mania

2008-09-09T13:41:00.008-04:00

I have gotten to be a pretty lazy blogger lately...between the busy season at work, the fall semester beginning, and fundraising and training for races, I just haven't had much extra time! I did have time, though, to go to the neighborhood Ikea last weekend to organize me a closet. By the way, there is a very high concentration of Ikeas in the mid-atlantic; there are two within 40 miles of our residence, and a third another 30 or so miles away. The closest is only 10 minutes away!

I was there for about two hours, figuring out, with the help of the lovely sales associate Evelyn, exactly which pieces I'd need to assemble something like this:

Then I went on down to the self-service area and loaded every one of those 50+ heavy metal pieces into my cart. Then from the cart to the check-out belt thingy. Then back into the cart. Then into the car. Then Kyle brought them in. We haven't attempted assembly yet, but we've already found one error. I'm sure we'll find others, so it's a good thing we only have to go 10 minutes to make the switcheroo.

I also picked up this light for the wall in the closet:

And of course some little halogen bulbs to go in the light:

And, when little Miss Evelyn noticed these items in my cart, she made a great suggestion. She told me how difficult it is to screw the tiny bulbs into the just-so fitted fixture, but hark! For only 99 cents, I could purchase a dishwashing brush with a suction cup on the end- the perfect tool to wrangle the bulb into its place. Wow, is that knowing your product or what?! Way to go, Ev!

And my tip for you: use your debit card at Ikea. You will receive a 3% rebate good for your next purchase. And of course, don't forget the meatballs and vanilla soft serve.

closet laborers

2008-09-02T07:48:00.005-04:00

Labor Day weekend is supposed to be a time for rest from the daily grind, right? Not if you're training for two marathons and renovating a house!

We kicked off our weekend with a Saturday of framing and antiquing. Kyle framed the new closets in our master bedroom-to-be, while I scoured the row of antique shops on York Road for decorating ideas. I found this great mirror for above the fireplace, but need to get them to come down a little on the price before buying it. And Kyle got this far on the closets.

Sunday started off with a 20 mile race for me at the North Central Railroad Trail. It was a tough, boring race, but I came in third in my age group!! I was psyched. And somehow managed to stay awake all afternoon playing with five little girls between the ages of 4 months and 4 years.

We slept in on Monday, then spent the rest of the day hanging drywall on the closets. We're thinking of starting the first ever husband & wife drywall business. Here are the results, along with a black fingernail (Kyle) and a few blisters (me) to show for them!
This weekend showed us that we're on pace for two things: to have the bedroom complete by the end of September and to be ready for holiday company, and just maybe...to qualify for Boston!

Which is best: East or West?

2008-08-25T08:41:00.009-04:00

I haven't had much to post about the house lately because we have been too busy taking vacations and watching the Olympics to do any work! So I'll just share some picutres from our bi-coastal mini-breaks. First East Coast, then West.

The People

East Coast:

Margie and Terry celebrating 35 years of marriage - congrats!

Jenna and Lauren at 3 months

Kate showing off her moves from dance camp- almost three years old!

West Coast:

The beautiful bride and groom, Caitlin and Tory

Me with friends Caitlin, Ali, and Erin

Then just me and Kyle for a few days, here in Big Sur, CA.

The Places

East Coast:

On the porch at the Chesapeak Bay-front house in Reedville, VA

Tangier Island, VA- most of the area's soft shell crabs originate on this tiny island in the Bay.

West Coast:

The Lone Cypress in Pebble Beach, CAThe famous Bixby Bridge in Big SurOur ocean-front B&B in Pacific GrovePebble Beach linksThe view from our room!

The Wildlife

East Coast:

Practically impossible to make out here, but we saw a big group of dolphins swim by!The seagulls chillin' at Tangier

West Coast:

Bird Rock on Seventeen Mile Drive in Pebble Beach. Also impossible to make out, but there are sea lions playing at the base of the rock.More sea lions - one swimming and one perched on the rock in the top left corner.

The Tangier seagulls' crazy hippy cousin who moved out to Carmel, CA.

Well, folks, I think the seagulls have taught us that whether east or west, just living on the coast is best!

We're getting back to work this week by finishing up some details downstairs and starting to build the closets in our master bedroom. Details to come!

Back on my Feet

2008-08-08T15:49:00.003-04:00

This is a non-house related post, but one that is important to me!

As many of you know, I'm training for my fourth and fifth marathons this fall, in San Francisco and Philadelphia. Lots of people think I'm crazy for getting up at 5 AM most days to run, but I love how it makes me feel and appreciate the good health I have that allows me to do it!

Some people are not so fortunate, many of whom I see sleeping on the streets of downtown Baltimore as I run by with my friends. A woman my age in Philadelphia saw the same thing, and took action, starting a non-profit called Back on My Feet. BOMF partners with shelters to introduce running to the homeless. Through a structured program, BOMF's members start with one mile and many end up running marathons, gaining confidence, leadership, discipline, friendship, and important skills along the way.

BOMF is starting its first pilot program in Baltimore this spring, and I'm excited to be joining them as a volunteer! I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing yet, but they're just now starting to build partnerships around the city and raise funds to support the members with gear, race fees, job skills training, and much more.

As part of my training for Philly, I've set a goal to raise $3,000 for BOMF in Baltimore. I hope you'll consider helping me reach it, and more importantly, helping the homeless in Baltimore get back on their feet!

Please visit http://www.backonmyfeet.org/ for more information about the organization, and http://www.active.com/donate/bomfbaltimore/katienorton to make a donation. All proceeds benefit BOMF and your donation is completely tax-deductible.

Also, let me know if you're interested in volunteering, or if you work at a place that might be willing to partner in providing medical or dental care, sports massage, job training, furniture, or running gear.

THANK YOU!

complete new bathroom - check!

2008-08-08T10:20:00.005-04:00

It's not decorated yet, but the new bathroom is done! Ok, not completely, but almost. Geez, this is a tough crowd. I apologize for the bad photos - the bathroom is a tough shape to get good ones in.

We had our vanity custom made to look like one from Restoration Hardware, which doesn't come in the right size and is way overpriced. We're pretty happy with how it came out. Not like jumping up and down happy, but happy enough for the price. I did snag some hardware from there, though, on sale, to dress it up a bit.

The mirror was a steal at $50 from Home Depot (it became an even better deal when Mom offered to buy!), and it looks like it was made to go with the vanity. We did splurge on the Kohler faucet, but we love it. It brings a bit of modern style, without seeming out of place in the old house.

Oh, and the water-saving toilet was free from one of Kyle's subcontractors. Can't beat that!

Now, we've just got to give it a good cleaning, put one more coat of paint on the baseboards, have the tile guy come and fix the mess that the plumbers made in the shower, and do a little decorating.

And, we are excited to have JoAnn, our realtor, over for dinner and to play our own little version of HGTV's My House Is Worth What? to see how much value was added by going from a 1 bathroom to a 2 full bathroom house. We are sure that at least a lot of comfort will result!

Finally, Kerry - here's a shot of the new 'do for you. As they say in Atlanta, I got my hair did.

Have a great weekend! We're heading to a house on the bay with Kyle's parents and sister & family to celebrate anniversaries and birthdays. And we get to play with the cutest toddler and baby twins ever!!

HUGE pet peeve

2008-08-01T10:56:00.005-04:00

UPDATE: We went for #10 in brown. On sale at West Elm... $299.99 for the 8x10, with a 10% discount coupon- not bad!

When store websites do not include sale items on the main page for that type of item. Like, putting the sale rugs in with the normal overpriced ones. Here are a few more that I missed that are late additions to the ballot. Also accepting write-ins.

#10: only left in brown

#11: in orange only
#12:
#13:#14:Ok, proceed. And, if you ever start a website selling your wares, put the sale items in the the rest of 'em. Because they're good enough, they're smart enough, and dog gone, people like them!

rug round-up

2008-08-01T10:36:00.004-04:00

Since the living room is now painted (it's kind of a puttyish, mushroomy beige), complete with fresh paint on the crown molding, new baseboard, and quarter-round shoe molding all the way around, we are finally ready to start decorating! The first step will be choosing a rug to set the tone for the room.

Our couch and chair are espresso brown velvet, with dark brown wood feet. Since there is a lot of greyish-blue in the kitchen/DR, I'd like to stay away from too much more, and maybe bring some earthier colors into the living room. It's a very bright room, with light oak hardwood, so I'm not afraid to choose something on the darker side. Below are some that are currently in the running - if anybody out there is still reading after my long haitus, weigh in on your favorite!

#1:I love how cheeky this one is. It also comes in green.

#2: (not sure which color I would choose!)
#3: This one just looks so cuddly, like a nice sweater you're so happy to put on once fall finally rolls around
#4: this would be in brown
#5: This one does have that steely blue I'm trying to stay away from, but I think it's really pretty so had to give it a chance

#6: I am trying to stay away from the animal print trend in any long-term commitment type pieces, but I think this is just far enough away from being in-your-face animal print that you might not look at it in a few years and say, "that is so 2008" #7: Is the green a little too vibrant?
#8: See #s 5&6!
#9: Last but not least, this one is kind of a nice combination of traditional and contemporary, with some nice color choices. But, that might be a disadvantage for me, who is inheriting more of my mother's indecisiveness every day...

Cast your votes! You don't even have to be registered!

lazy days of summer

2008-07-28T09:00:00.004-04:00

Well, the Baltimore humidity must be getting to me...I have been very remiss in posting lately.

We've been doing fun things like this instead:

Kyle's first visit to Fenway

We have been doing a lot of work between fun weekends away- the downstairs is almost finished! We painted the hall this weekend, so now it's a nice beige rather than the former light salmon. I must have really wanted it to be done, because I managed to work for about five hours on it after my 17 mile training run before passing out! We've re-painted the living room a darker shade than the first, which was too close to the ceiling color. It's kind of a mushroom-putty color now and provides much better contrast. So we're just touching up the trim this week and installing the shoe molding, then we can start decorating!

The new bathroom is also coming along. The vanity is installed and the plumbing is all hooked up. The plumber installed the wrong type of pipe for the tub faucet at first, so Kyle had to rip out a bunch of tiles around it...he was not too happy about that! But, the tile guy will be back this week to do the repair and then we can start putting the finishing touches in. I found some good deals this weekend and ended up with these:

Two 18-in. towel bars, in a chrome finish

Gotta have a cool way to display your TP, right?

They match our mod faucet and shower fixtures perfectly, but came in at much less than the Kohler prices! I got some knobs for the vanity from this same line too and can't wait to see it all dressed up.

More pictures soon, I promise!

Happy Belated 4th!

2008-07-15T12:00:00.004-04:00

We had our first real party at the new house on July 4. Our favorite neighbors, a few friends from the hometown, and some family- Kyle's cousin and my sis & new man, joined us for dinner, drinks, and sparklers. It was a lot of fun, despite a little rain, and I learned how to use the fireworks setting on camera. Here are a few fun shots from the end of the night.

Tera and Brett

Dunder Mifflin Infinity

My Statue of Liberty pose

N is for Norton!Kyle made this heart for me...awww!

one project closer: us and them

2008-07-14T11:09:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the delay between updates- the last few weeks have been chock full of working on the house, having work done on my teeth, and celebrating holidays and a marriage with friends.

I am so excited, though, to share that we were featured on a great Baltimore home improvement blog, One Project Closer! The two couples who host this blog are conducting a before & after contest throughout the summer, featuring one great project each week. And for each winner, they donate $25 to Habitat for Humanity in your honor!

I submitted our huge kitchen re-do and the folks at One Project Closer dug it. Check out the post here and please consider making your own donation to Habitat! And be sure to read through their blog for some awesome DIY tips.

Meanwhile, we really are one project closer to having a fresh first floor. We tackled the second bedroom last week. Kyle tore down and re-installed the window trim and sills, the door trim, and the baseboard. We painted the walls a fresh lemony yellow, which I think looks so clean and just right with the white bed and paisley linens.

Next up we'll paint the radiator cover white to freshen it up a little, and we'll eventually get around to adding some window treatments to finish it off. Until then, we're thankful that we at least have the mini blinds from the previous owner!

Hot Dog! and cruel cats

2008-07-01T15:33:00.004-04:00

Kyle and I returned from a long weekend in the NoCo (for those of you not from Northern New York...that's what the cool kids call the North Country) on Sunday night, and stopped at Wegman's on the way for a few groceries. I noticed some Hoffman's hot dogs in the deli case, and decided to get a few to show Kyle that Sahlen's of Buffalo aren't the only good dogs out there. So, we fired up the new grill and had ourselves a little taste test.

On the left is the white Hoffman's, in the middle is the Sahlen's, and on the right is the red Hoffman's. And in the back is the healthier tomato salad.

We both decided that the white would make a good lunch hot dog, having a slightly more breakfast sausage-ey flavor. We preferred the taste of the Sahlen's, but the fluffy texture of the Hoffman's red. Sadly, these are about the best things coming out of both cities right now. Except maybe Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse.

In other news, we are mourning the loss of our two baby birdies. Mrs. Robin was on round #2, and the little guys appeared to be doing well, but were definitely not ready to fly yet. Kyle went outside yesterday morning and found them gone from the nest! We think the culprit is one of the FIVE cats that live with the new neighbors two doors down. Apparently these beasts can jump about 6 feet straight into the air to get over their fence, so one of them probably could have jumped up to our elevated swing to rob the nest of its precious contents too. Neighbors are quickly taking sides in this cat problem...those with dogs hate the fact that these cats are allowed to roam around the neighborhood and terrorize thier pups. And the owners have expressed only beligerrence in response to neighbors' expressions of concern about the situation. So, one neighbor has already gotten his bb gun out, and Kyle is about ready to join him. Another suggestion I heard is a water gun...I may be heading to Toys R Us for a new Super Soaker tonight. Any other suggestions?

the back shed/service porch

2008-06-26T14:06:00.004-04:00

For an explanation of this title, just see the comments from Tuesday's post.

Here are some pictures of aforementioned room, in the late stages of painting:

The color is a little darker in person, but it's not quite what we were going for. Oh well, it still looks fine! Definitely not worth buying two more gallons of paint and spending several more hours to re-do.

Also, we finally received notice that our cash prize from Mr. Bush is on its way.

Just look at that hard workin' man's hand. Too bad we have to spend the dough on my root canal/gum surgery-jaw bone demolition/crown instead of on something sweet like this:

miscellany

2008-06-25T09:50:00.004-04:00

We've been chipping away at various projects little by little each night lately.

The new bathroom is almost complete, we're just waiting for our vanity to arrive. It's one of the many things in our lives right now that keeps promising to be here "in two weeks". That's about as accurate as when I tell Kyle I'll be ready "in 5 minutes". Anyway, it's painted, the tub & toilet are in, the mirror is waiting in the wings (thanks, Mom!), the waterproof window has been installed, and the light fixture is in.

We put up shelves in the kitchen to fill the empty wall space between the window and the door. I like this option better than another big cabinet, because you can still see the window and it keeps the workspace nice and open over there. I can also feature some of the prettier/bulkier pieces that don't quite belong hidden in a cabinet. See:

I am fully expecting big sis Tera to rearrange the goods on the shelves when she arrives next week, but hey, at least it's a start.

We've also been painting one of the bedrooms that we've decided to turn into a "den", as much as I dislike that name for a room. I also dislike "office" becuase really, who uses their office for anything other than surfing the web and storing junk? I tend to still use the term "family room" but get mocked for that by aforementioned sister. Another choice is "bonus room," of which Uncle Tom and Aunt Lisa have a lovely one, but I somehow can't help giggling every time I say it. I think it's a ploy of builders to make you feel like you're getting something extra special. So, any suggestions on what to call this multi-purpose TV/desk/pull-out couch for guests room? I'll have new pictures of it soon- we're going to try to finish most of the painting tonight.

two little monkeys

2008-06-23T09:53:00.002-04:00

jumpin' on the bed...

These little monkeys, Emma and Paige, visited us with their parents/our cousins Jess and Corey yesterday. We had a great time with them and then napped for a good hour and a half after they left! We are definitely not ready for kids yet- for now, we're enjoying letting other people's children jump on our bed.

a culinary tour

2008-06-18T08:42:00.015-04:00

We've been giving physical tours of our house for a couple months now, and now that we're finally able to cook there, I thought I'd give a little taste (hee hee) of what we've been cooking up in our fab new kitchen. While we did accomplish a lot of work this past weekend, we also made eating a priority. (but when is it not, really?)

We started with a nice lunch to welcome Mom and Dave on Friday afternoon, which we soon followed with a trip to the amazing Italian deli, Mastellone's, nearby to stock up on some goods for dinner later.

After dinner, we had some canneloni with ice cream, and the two chocoholics had to add some hot fudge. I know these two are only in-laws, but there seem to be a lot of similarities...

On Saturday we were so caught up in our work that we ate out for lunch and dinner. Here we are enjoying some Charcoal Grill, a local bbq favorite.

Getting to dinner was an adventure...we were determined to introduce Dave to MD crabs, and when Kyle asked me if I knew how to get to Mr. Bill's, the restaurant where I wanted to eat, I uttered my famous "I'll know it when I see it". Well, that turned into an adventure in which we saw several other places in Essex with interesting names (Mom's favorite being Mr. B's 7 Day Package) and finally ended up at Mr. Bill's only to find a 1.5 hour wait. So, we headed over to Bluefin's Bar and Grill instead and had a rollicking good time.

More ice cream and hot fudge when we got home...Mom and I teamed up on Sunday to make a special Father's Day breakfast. We used recipes from the b&b where Kyle stayed on our honeymoon. One was so fabulous, I have to share.

Cobblestone Hobo Breakfast

Potatoes: 5 large, new red potatoes; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 T butter;
1 T oil; paprika for browning agent; salt and pepper to taste; 3 T chopped parsley

Cream Sauce: 1/4 cup butter; 1/2 cup flour; 1 cup half and half; 1 T lemon juice; 1/4 cup crumbled bacon; salt and pepper to taste

8 eggs, poached; 1 cup grated cheddar cheese; 1 T white vinegar

Potatoes: Boil in salted water until just tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Drain, cool, and cut into cubes. Chop onion and saute until tender, then set aside. In a separate pan, melt 1 T butter with oil and add potatoes, paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Fry, stirring as little as possible, until brown and crisp. Stir in parsley and onions.

Poached eggs: Fill a saute pan half full with water and 1 T white vinegar. Bring to a boil and crack 8 eggs gently into water. Poach about 4 minutes and remove carefully with a slotted spoon. Drain on paper towels.Cream Sauce: Melt butter in a small saucepan. Add flour and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly for 2 to 3 minutes. Add half & half and cook until thickened, adding more if necessary. Add lemon juice, bacon bits, salt and pepper to taste.

Place a layer of the potatoes in a quiche pan. Reheat in oven, then add a layer of grated cheese and return it to oven to melt. Gently place poached eggs on top of the hot mixture. Top with dollops of cream sauce and a small piece of parsley. Serve hot.
YUM! Here was breakfast dessert:
And ready to eat...with the special guy looking ravenous after a ride through the ghettos of East Baltimore!

parent trap

2008-06-16T09:26:00.005-04:00

In this case, it was the parents who were trapped...working on the house for the weekend. We had an awesome time and accomplished a ton. Thanks so much for making the long journey, Dave and Mom (aka Shelley-in-law)!

We did a lot of work with windows. Fortunately, all of the windows in the house were replaced before we bought it, except for two. Kyle and Dave replaced those in one of our bedrooms.

Before: (I realize it looks fine here, but it's the really old window with the rope on the sides, totally covered by coats and coats of paint so it barely slides)

(Even if he didn't really know what he was doing, he sure looks like he does!)After. Now it just needs some paint.Mom and I did a lot of touch up and trim painting, and got the kitchen really looking beautiful. Here is a window that Kyle had framed last week: And here it is after Mom's flawless paint job: (and some gorgeous flowers from Kate!)

We also painted the door shown behind us in this photo. It was a dingy off-white before, and it makes such a huge difference to have it brightened up.

We did a lot of eating too...those adventures will be documented tomorrow. Suffice it to say that I LOVE cooking in our new kitchen!!

slow and steady

2008-06-09T09:31:00.002-04:00

That's how our progress has been lately. After the big rush to get all of our belongings out of the apartment by Thursday night (turned the keys in at approx. 10:30 PM), we spent our first night at the house. Sure, we had to wade through rooms full of miscellany to get to our bed, but it felt good to be there. We actually fell asleep in silence for the first time in a long time...no more hearing neighbor guy's X-box war games through the wall!

Spent the weekend organizing - now pretty much everything is at least in the room where it belongs. Friend Grace came over on Saturday to help arrange the living room - wow, is she full of great ideas! And she has a way of supporting both my and Kyle's side of an issue and helping us reach a great compromise. (i.e. put tv in 3rd bedroom, allowing me a formal living room and him a long time before finishing the basement) Thanks, Grace! I didn't take many pictures but here are a few from the (messy) kitchen.

We're going to be working one room per night this week - finishing up trim, arranging furniture, etc. And making a list of tasks for the parental units to help with this weekend! Dave and Shelley-in-law, bring your work clothes!

workin' for the weekend

2008-06-02T13:43:00.002-04:00

Lately, we've been working on the weekend instead of for it, but we both got a much-needed respite this weekend. (Me more than Kyle). I went to NYC to hang out with my friends from studying in Italy, and a few of Kyle's friends from college came to visit. We watched Sex and the City and celebrated Caitlin's upcoming wedding, they watched baseball and drank beer.

But big news to come tomorrow: the kitchen counter is being installed today!!! I'll take lots of pictures tonight. And, Kyle did squeeze in some work over the weekend, including finishing off the recessed lighting in the kitchen. Hooray!

homeward bound

2008-05-28T08:49:00.006-04:00

Well, we're in the home stretch. Finally.

We had some great help and company this weekend in the form of Uncle Pete and cousin Ashley. Ash was on her way back from being a ski bum in Utah all winter, and they made a stop to help us out and, oh yeah, catch the Syracuse Womens' Lacrosse team play in the NCAA finals. The girls lost their game, but they are sure to make it all the way next year with 'Smash' as their new Assistant Coach!

We got a lot of painting done this weekend, including the new bathroom, baseboards in the upstairs bedroom and dining room, and crown molding in the dining room. See....

Overall, the house looks completely different than it did at this time last week. The cabinets have been installed in the kitchen, the hardwood has been refinished, the appliances have arrived, and I actually mowed the lawn! Check out the cabinets - as Uncle Pete would say...Dude, Sweet.

What else...Kyle defied gravity and horrible directions (thanks for nothin', Kohler) and with just a tiny bit of assistance from yours truly, installed the kitchen sink. In pink.

And as if that weren't enough, we MOVED! All that remains at our apartment is our mattress, clothes, and kitchen stuff. We extended our lease a few extra days so we won't have to take icy showers, so we'll be sleeping there until June 5. Many thanks to Jeff, Brandon, and especially sleep-loving Brian, for getting up early and helping us shove our stuff out the window (seriously) at 8 AM.

Luckily, we have this little guy (Blue) across the street to cheer us up when we get overwhelmed. Blue, you're my boy!

they rocked our world

2008-05-19T11:07:00.004-04:00

The "they" in this title refers to several people.

1. The sheetrock crew who accomplished some awesome work last week- see below.

Props to Kyle are in order again for building the beautiful arch. Now that it's painted, it looks as though it has always been in the house.

2. Our many friends who helped out with painting, etc. this weekend.

2a. Kim- the quick study novice (who was inspired to do some painting at her own place!)

2b. Jennie- the seasoned pro and Boston qualifier! Woo hoo! 2c. Jen & Brian (we just included the better half here. ;-) - they are serious contendors in the running for MVP helpers, having already put in several days of work. 3. Kyle and Corey, who laid the hardwood in the kitchen. Corey was

working so hard I wasn't able to stop him for a picture! Check out the blending! It is all being finished today and will soon match perfectly. These guys have skills.

4. Mrs. Robin whose three baby birds hatched last weekend! She has been feeding them all of the worms from our yard and we've been able to watch it all from about 6 inches away through our front window. It's truly a zoo inside and out. Here's a picture that's a little weird because it's through a window, but you can just make out one of the babies.

5. Ryan at the Perring Plaza Home Depot, who helped me get rid of "icy blue" (turned out WAY too turquoise on the walls!) and replace it with a much more nicey blue. I did not ask Ryan for a picture, but just picture a guy about my age with a huge beard and long hair. Also the only person in the paint department of two Home Depots with evidence of a human brain!!

Kyle and I have a few days to do some shopping, since the floors will be wet with varnish. We're off to buy a sink tonight, and to make some decisions for our new bathroom. We're expecting cabinets and appliances to arrive mid-week, and to start moving next weekend!

and the winner is...

2008-05-14T08:51:00.003-04:00

neither this one nor that one! Sorry folks, we went for simplicity and decided on a 2-hole model instead of these 4-holers. (Does anybody else dislike that word as much as I do? For some reason it sounds much different than "whole" and I don't like it.) Anyway, here it is.
I have not had a chance to snap a shot of the drywalled kitchen yet, but let me tell ya, it looks incredible. It looks so much bigger, and my master craftsman hubby did a seriously bang-up job on the new arch. I don't tell him enough, but he is pretty wonderful and is doing an amazing job on this project. Thanks, Kyle!

Ready to Rock!

2008-05-12T09:03:00.004-04:00

Sheetrock that is... Kyle, Doug, and I spent a long Saturday finishing everything inside the walls to be ready for the drywall crew today. We accomplished a lot! We had some serious motivation though...in addition to needing to finish all of this stuff to be ready for drywall, we also really wanted to be able to go to Richmond on Sunday to see these cuties. Jenna and Lauren

Here's what we did:

-Kyle and Doug built a bulkhead in one of the bedrooms to hide the pipes that drop down from the new master bathroom.

-Kyle finished all of the wiring for light fixtures, etc.

-I insulated the new bathroom and kitchen.

-We at some really good sandwiches from our new favorite italian deli down the street.

-Kyle built the arch between the kitchen and dining room.

A few pics of the action:

poll #1

2008-05-09T10:32:00.003-04:00

Which kitchen sink faucet?

This one:

Or that one?

SOLD!

2008-05-08T16:25:00.003-04:00

Wow, I am posting up a storm this week. A lot has been happening.

I just posted our old kitchen appliances on Craig's List, which I had put off doing for weeks because I wasn't able to get a good picture of the fridge since the doors were off and it was stuck in a corner. But Kyle wisely encouraged me to just do it and see what happened. So at 2:27 PM I posted the listing- you haul all 3 for $200. At 2:32 I had my first bite for the fridge only, and at 4:27 all three are officially sold (for $100) and will be picked up tomorrow morning! We probably could have made a little more, but since the drywall is going in very soon we just wanted them outta there.

And, now we have cash to buy beer for those who will be lending a helping hand this weekend.

this little light of mine

2008-05-07T14:34:00.003-04:00

We have recessed lights! Now that the elements of a house that I am familiar with are being installed, I'm starting to be able to see it come together more. If we stay on schedule, drywall should be installed on Monday!
And here is our electrician getting fresh with his assistant. Congratulations to the grandparents of brand new baby twins, Jenna and Lauren!

nesting

2008-05-06T08:31:00.004-04:00

We're not quite ready to get a dog, especially since we've got Blue, the best Beagle ever, across the street. We also don't need to add any kids to the mix yet- Rob and Lesley's two newest will be here on Thursday! But we do sorta have someone under our care at the new house...

This mama Robin has built a nest in our swing for her babies! We try to hammer quietly so they can rest peacefully, but maybe they will be more comfortable in our Bird House Complex once the little chicks are born? I mean, it is a complex afterall, complete with a bird house, bird bath, and bird feeder. And, we will be able to watch them through the one-way magic mirror. What better way to keep track of our new brood?

attic fanatics

2008-05-05T12:36:00.005-04:00

That's what you could call me, Margie, and Elliot this weekend. Margie suggested that we explore the upstairs room a little more, and what did we find but a hidden attic room under the eaves, full of old "treasures." I stood in the approx. 85 degree room for an hour or so (maybe that explains my feeling dehydrated during Sunday's half marathon...) and handed things out to Margie, who then handed them to Elliot, who then threw most of them out the window. Old pieces of insulation, ceiling tiles, lots of styrofoam, empty cardboard boxes. We did find some cool stuff that we held on to for now, though. Check it out.

The contents of the attic. Notice also the newly sanded hardwood- done by Elliot last week. It looks so much better without the orangey stain that was there before. We'll have it finished along with the downstairs, and think the naked pine will match the downstairs oak nicely. That's also our sweet new jacuzzi tub. lamps, duh. These actually went, just out the door, not the window.
The wave of the future: a mirror that lets you see the back of your head!

And a lovely back of the head it is, indeed! A little dresser that I'll definitely find a use for- maybe even as a temporary dining room sideboard, painted white.
Those ipod headphones have got nothin' on these babies. Except for the fact that when you touch the foam inside the headphone, your finger kind of melts into it... uh yeah, out the window.

We may have to save this beauty for our little bird friend- more to come on her tomorrow. Check out the 'stache on this guy.
Any modelers out there? This one's got all her pieces.
Looks like the makings for a boys night in! Too bad the cigars are gone...he only left their glass holders.
Delicious!

The piece de resistance: almost 30 Avon cologne boxes, a few including their cologne. Was someone in the family a salesperson? Or was Dad just lucky enough to get a new bottle for Christmas every year? Here you see the American Buffalo, Longhorn Steer, and Ten Point Buck bottles and boxes. It takes a real man to wear these scents. And finally, a glimpse into history. Did you know that Washington and Lincoln were Avon men? Tera- I smell an art project. Literally.

David F. - if you are still reading, please let me know if any of these things are meaningful to you - I'd be happy to get them to you!

as they say in pennsyltucky

2008-05-02T21:12:00.002-04:00

That thing on the ceiling that connects to a beam...apparently it's a "joist" not a "joyce" as I previously called it. That's what I get for taking my husband's pronunciation literally.

Now, in Potsdam speak, we'll be going upta the house tomorrow. And we may stop at Loweses' on the way.

Welcome, Elliot!

2008-04-24T15:55:00.004-04:00

Kyle's bro Elliot is coming in today for a week and a half to work on the house! Hooray for little brothers! I'm not sure he knows what he's getting himself into...Kyle has some choice tasks picked out for him, starting with tearing out the remaining plaster kitchen ceiling. But I will feed him well, which will hopefully make up for it! In fact, we won't even be showing him the house tonight, we're going to ease him into things with a visit to his favorite Baltimore mexican restaurant, Holy Frijoles.

Meanwhile, Kyle ordered our appliances today, and of course we received a call from the Visa fairy to make sure it was not a fraudulent purchase! Check out these babies:

A lovely but rather un-remarkable microwave (what can really be that special about a microwave, though?)

The microwave's much hotter and smarter big sister: a duel fuel range with convection oven and six burners!

The sleek and sexy dishwasher with hidden controls that - get this - holds an ENTIRE BOTTLE of dishwasher soap and dispenses according to how dirty the dishes are!! Too bad the china isn't included...it would look nice with the icy blue walls.And the mack daddy of the whole set, this french door, bottom freezer, counter-depth fridge. Complete with internal water dispenser to keep that sleek look going on the outside.

All this from the GE employee website at a hefty discount off retail...thanks, Bob Ward.

if walls could talk

2008-04-23T12:01:00.009-04:00

We have been doing some serious structural work lately. Last weekend, we finished the demolition of the old wall that stood between the kitchen and dining room, completely separating them. The last few studs, and another one on the ladder, are pictured at left.

On Sunday, Kyle, Jeff, and Justin worked on moving a supporting beam to line up better with the floor joyce, or something like that. I tend to zone out when words like that come into play. All I know is that the house did not collapse, so each of their levels of intelligence has increased greatly in my book.

On Monday evening, Kyle and I did some more tearing out of old ceiling plaster, and I had my first serious case of dust boogers- it was lovely. Here is an action shot of Kyle swinging from a nail that was lodged in the ceiling. Also note: no wall!

We also worked on framing a new wall, that will be placed resulting in the kitchen being a foot wider and the dining room being a foot narrower. It will also be open- there will be a bar top on the dining room side, and an arch built into the top to mirror the other arched doorways in the house. We're trying to make the kitchen and dining room feel more like one big room.

I got to use the power saw and nail gun, and now I understand a little more guys' desire for power tools at every holiday. Oh yeah, we also managed to get the power saw cord stuck in the blade. Glad that wasn't either of our fingers.

And finally, last night, Jeff and Brian came over to help stand the new wall up. And Jen and Brian provided the third pizza dinner consumed at the house so far- thanks, guys!

color inspiration

2008-04-17T13:12:00.005-04:00

As many of you know, I am very indecisive - a trait that I proudly inherited from my beautiful mother, pictured with me below. I'll just get it out of the way now, I know, she looks more like my big sister than my mother.

As a result, I have been trying for weeks now to decide on a paint color for our kitchen and dining room. It is going to be more like one large room now, since Kyle is currently in the process of tearing down the wall that currently separates them. To make it feel even more like one big room, I want all of the walls to be the same color. I was set on using a grayish blue color, but when I brought some chips home and put them next to the curtains I want to use, it didn't quite work. The blue in the curtains has more of a greenish tint. So, cousin Jess, Margie, and I went scouting paint colors while they were here last weekend, and picked up a few more chips. I followed Jess' suggestion to hang them on the wall by the curtains and get used to them for a few days, in different lights. I kept coming back to Benjamin Moore icy blue, which was Jess and Margie's favorite, but was still a little stuck on that gray-blue idea for some reason.

Then I was blog surfing today and came across this lovely photo which convinced me that icy blue just might be the one! It showed me that the color can convey a french cafe kind of look, and will work well with both the stainless appliances and the natural colors of the drapes (they are linen).

Here is a swatch of icy blue:

The other obvious advantage is that the color is very reminiscent of the Tiffany box, so I will always feel like a million bucks while cooking and eating. And maybe it will send a subconcious message to Kyle...

What do you think? Love it or leave it?

Happy Anniversary to us!

2008-04-15T13:15:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was our first anniversary, and while it did get a little bit lost in the busyness of buying and tearing apart a house, writing a 15 page paper, and hosting family, it was lovely indeed. We were so delighted to receive cards, calls, and even gifts for this occasion that is a gift unto itself! Thanks to you all, and to Kyle especially, for making it so nice.

My grandmother taught me to always take a picture of the dinner table on special occasions, so here is our dinner last night. It is the same meal we shared together on our very first date, with cousin Doug as our chaperone...aawww. And of course our year-old wedding cake, which was scrumptious! Thanks, Dee!

Let's get this party started!

2008-04-14T10:21:00.010-04:00

Closing was a success, we are homeowners! We really had a good time at settlement, and enjoyed meeting the son of the previous owners, who grew up in the house and shared some great history and secret hiding spots with us. You won't find any money in the cookie jar at our house!

Day One of renovations was, in the words of Borat, "great success!" We accomplished in one day what Kyle had scheduled for six! We had some fabulous help- Kyle's parents Margie and Terry, his cousin Corey and Corey's wife Jess, Kyle's other cousin Doug, and our friend Brian. Basically, the men ripped the kitchen out, and the women spent time in the glorious sun working in the yard.

Here is the kitchen at 8 AM:

Here it is mid-morning:

At the lunch break: (and by the way, because it's our anniversary today, I am allowed to say that I think Kyle looks really hot in this picture.)

And, at the end of the day:

And finally, the kitchen is now...in the garage:

And, a shout out to the Day one crew:
The Supervisors/Gardeners/Decorators, Margie and Jess

The laborer/electrical engineer with a constant smile, Brian

The laborer/electrician/ol'man-in-residence, TerryCorey "who says a sawzall isn't a garden tool?" Norton

And I guess that makes me the safety goggle model (we really were working in the second picture).

We're headed back tonight to spend our anniversary working! Don't worry, we're going out on the town this weekend.

tomorrow is the big day!

2008-04-10T09:33:00.002-04:00

Wow, I've really been slacking lately. Is anybody still out there? I promise it's going to get exciting again soon...we're closing tomorrow! So, in approximately 48 hours, this will turn into a home renovation blog.

We had our walk-through on Tuesday night, and I was very pleasantly surprised to find a beautiful pink dogwood in the front yard. Of course it was there before, but I just never noticed it in the gray and brown of February and March. I can't wait to see what other surprises pop out of the ground this spring! And Kyle can't wait to see what surprises are lurking behind the dropped ceilings in the kitchen and dining room. Hopefully they'll both be new drywall and a few inches higher in a few weeks. Oh, and the same height.

Here's hoping all goes well tomorrow, so we'll have something extra to celebrate on our anniversary on Monday!

the calm before the storm

2008-03-20T20:53:00.002-04:00

I haven't posted lately because nothing has really been going on, with the new house, anyway! I think all of the waiting we're doing, for the title, the termite inspection, the appraisal, interest rates to go down... you get the picture. Anyway, I think this is all just the calm before the storm- I am preparing for a rude awakening on April 11, the anticipated closing date.

Margie, thanks for the lavender bath salts- they will come in handy after long Saturdays of hammering or painting or caulking or doing whatever Kyle tells me to do.

picture and link

2008-03-10T12:54:00.003-04:00

Found this picture of the table in an old RH catalog online:
And, for you Balti-morons who want to check out the warehouse, here's the site: http://www.restorationhardware.com/rh/info/warehouse.jsp . Call me if you're going!

noT ABLE to resist!

2008-03-10T09:59:00.007-04:00

ok, I apologize for the lame title. But I am excited to share my awesome deal, so I didn't want to waste time trying to come up with something more creative. Plus, this one seems like something Will Shortz, the NPR Puzzlemaster, would come up with on the Sunday Puzzler.

Anyway, this Saturday my wonderful friend and best ex-roommate ever Janae came to Baltimore to do some antiquing/dining room table shopping with me. Here is Janae looking smashing while dancing up a storm on an equally blustery day last April:

First we visited a place called Second Chance, Inc., a series of warehouses behind the Ravens stadium in Baltimore, containing, well just about everything, including antique furniture in excellent condition, antique furniture in poor condition (like this table that fell on top of Janae while we were under it trying to figure out if the leaf worked),

salvaged mantlepieces, doors, windows, and a very random assortment of new and used cabinetry, sinks, tubs, and hotel furniture! It was fun to look around, and we did find a brand new Kohler bathtub that Kyle and I may consider buying for our new bathroom (goes down to $57 on April 4!) but we didn't find anything I had to have.

Next stop: Restoration Hardware Warehouse, aka one of the best things about living in Baltimore. It is one of only two in the country, and contains scratch & dent merchandise at a fraction of the original (albeit, inflated) price. We found a dark brown, round, pedestal table with a leaf- exactly what I've been looking for! List price: $2,195. Warehouse price: $199. Delivery price: $170. So, we were determined to make it fit in the Rav4, or as Caryl calls it, the family car. Lukily, the mister was along for the ride too.

We figured we'd just remove the top, but it was just a few inches too wide to fit in assembled. So, we had to separate the two halves, connected by a gear system and lots of screws. The really nice loading dock employee lent Kyle his pocketknife screwdriver, which got the job about halfway done, but some of those screws were really in there! So, as it was getting late and dark and rainy and cold, we called upon our friend Jeff to come on over in his truck and bring his screw gun. While Jeff was on his way, our loading dock friend remembered there was a screw gun in the office- hooray! Jeff arrived momentarily, and good thing, because the green screw gun just wasn't cutting it. Jeff's did the trick, and we finally got the table apart and in the car. Janae and I cuddled in the front seat for the ride home and loved every minute of it (at least I did).

The table is not quite ready for its close up yet, but when it is, we'll be sure to post its pretty mug. Thanks, Janae, Jeff, and warehouse guy!

inspect yourself, hey hey hey hey

2008-03-08T21:54:00.003-05:00

We spent four hours at soon-to-be our house yesterday, while it had a house's equivalent of "turn your head and cough"- the home inspection! Kyle and the inspector spent a couple hours of quality time together in the basement, making good use of their flashlights and pocket knives (and other sophisticated tools, too).

They found a slight crack in the basement wall letting in a teeny bit of water, a few termites having a party in the crawl space, and the hose from the dishwasher fertilizing the lawn with sudsy water. Margie, my mother-in-law, called the latter "country plumbing." Good thing the termites were partying, because there was a funeral in the chimney...a poor little birdy had looked for heat over the winter but couldn't find his way back out.

We expect all of these things to be fixed, then we'll just be waiting on the interest rates to drop again and we should be, as our favorite (NOT) Rachael Ray says, good to go.

the inside scoop

2008-03-04T08:37:00.007-05:00

I have had a few requests to see some interior pictures of the new digs. This is wonderful because it gives me an opportunity to practice posting pictures in a visually appealing manner- something I have obviously had difficulty with in the past. Here goes! The for sale sign should be down around April 11!
I am so thankful for the nice landscaping- I'll want to learn about flowers eventually, but it's nice to have it pretty much set up for now.There is a porch swing right where I'm taking this picture from. Our streetThe front door opens into the living room.
Bay window looking out to the street.
I need suggestions on what to do with the fireplace...leave as is, paint white, install fancier mantle?
The dining room. Window looks onto front porch.I know, I know, the kitchen looks pretty cute already, but we're going to remodel. The cabinets are old and sticky and we love to cook so we want a really great kitchen! The wall on the right backs up to the dining room and will most likely come down. LOVE this window right above the sink.

This is the other end of the kitchen. Lots of wasted space right now. I love that the fridge is set back into the wall.

The only bathroom. It may eventually get a little facelift, but it's great for now!

Moving upstairs....This will be the master bedroom. There is a large closet outside and to the right of that doorway, that we will convert to a second full bath.
There are also two good size bedrooms downstairs. They are both about 12x12 and each has a closet.Oh, here is that large closet!
The back yard. I'm envisioning a nice patio on the left.
And a nice little side yard- perfect for a grill. You can just make out a staircase on the side that goes into the kitchen.

loans and titles and inspections, oh my!

2008-02-28T10:50:00.002-05:00

We're done with the fun part of snooping through other people's houses now, and getting down to the business of being homeowners. We've been scheduling inspections (home, termite, chimney- there's a lot that can go wrong with a house!), securing a title, and waiting to see what the market is going to do and deciding when to lock in our interest rate. About a month ago we had 5.875% locked in, now we're thinking we might be lucky to get six and a quarter. Oh well, this house is a heckuvalot cheaper than the first one we bid on, so we'll still be in a better place financially, despite a slightly higher rate.

I've been spending spare time scouring the internet for dining room tables. Must haves: expandable, under $1K, adaptable style, dark brown. Would be nice: round, free delivery. Send me links to any you find that fit the bill!

I'm taking next Friday off to be around for the home inspection in the afternoon, and to be the first one in the door at the Restoration Hardware warehouse sale at 10AM in Edgewood. It only happens once a month in two locations nation-wide: MD and CA. I knew I moved to Baltimore for a reason! (I mean, other than my wonderful husband, of course.)

Victory is mine!

2008-02-25T20:25:00.002-05:00

That title was Kyle's contribution, a quote from Stewie on the Family Guy.

Anyway, we got the house- hooray!! He accepted our offer with no counter! Kyle, does that mean I can splurge on a dining room table from Restoration Hardware?!

April 25 is the settlement date now, but we may choose to move that a little earlier if we get antsy.

Enough of you guys- back to the champagne!!

STILL WAITING

2008-02-25T13:43:00.000-05:00

'nuff said.

the waiting game

2008-02-24T11:15:00.002-05:00

2808 Alden (the stone cottage with brick porch, below) turned out just as cute as I had imagined! We saw it, along with two other decent places and one huge disaster, on Thursday, and as Kyle said, it was the first house that didn't give us the heebie-jeebies. We went back on Saturday to see it in the daylight and signed a contract!

JoAnn sent the offer over to the listing agent right away on Saturday afternoon. No word from the seller yet, but the listing agent has been keeping JoAnn informed so I'm sure we'll hear just as soon as there is any news.

Since we've been a little pre-occupied with this house over the last few days, I haven't given any updates on the others we saw on Thursday...but one of them sure was bad. It was by far the most cluttered house any of us had ever seen. I am kicking myself that I didn't have my camera with me. It smelled like a hunting camp because they BURN THEIR GARBAGE IN THE FIREPLACE. They had "updated" the kitchen, but left old paneling on half the walls. They had added a few coat closets, without doors, in the living room- why not? Then upstairs, we found four bedrooms, but we could only walk into one of them. The other three were basically filled with stuff from floor to ceiling. These homeowners are the perfect candidates to be on HGTV's Clean House!

Anyway, I'll post some pictures of the prospective new home on Monday, and letcha know as soon as we hear a response to our offer!

just for the record

2008-02-21T08:38:00.005-05:00

This is the first house we made an offer on in this whole process. Obviously, we didn't get it, or we would be on to the renovations phase of the blog by now. I just thought, as much as it pains me, I owed it to this place, our efforts, and our adoring supporters, to include it as part of the history.

It's in our ideal neighborhood, and we'd had our eyes on it since December. It needed to be completely renovated inside, but for the location and the fact that it has a 2-car garage, big yard, and most importantly, adorable built-in benches on the front porch, we were up for the challenge!

We made an offer the day after they dropped the price, but so did 3 other jerks. We came in third. Well, we didn't get it, but hey, as Mitt Romney would say, "we got the bronze!" And, as JoAnn's partner, big Hank, who helped us make the offer says, the sellers were just being greedy piggies. And nobody likes a greedy piggy.

Interesting fact: the house was built in 1929 and the seller has lived there for the entire life of the house, and since he was 4 years old! From the following images, you'll see that not much has changed inside since 1929...

That does say "old fashioned" above Moth Balls.

Close-up of the wallpaper in bedroom.

fingers crossed!

2008-02-19T12:47:00.003-05:00

We're going to look at this house on Thursday. It's not in our first choice neighborhood, but it is in Baltimore County (as opposed to the City...much cheaper taxes in the county!), and is on a very cute street.

I think it's adorable and the price is definitely right, so cross your fingers for us!

P.S. I have learned that "cute" is the wrong word to use as a descriptor, around Kyle. To him, it translates as "Katie is in love with this house and is not going to make a rational decision. I will have to make lots of repairs because she thinks it's cute." So, I'll use it as much as possible here to get it out of my system. Please excuse my repetition.

dazed and confused

2008-02-18T13:57:00.000-05:00

We checked this beauty out a few weeks ago. It is a foreclosure, and looks much worse in person than it does here! The lawn is a jungle, and when you walk in the front door (from which the padlock and doorknob had been removed) you have to walk through about 5 feet of mail that has been delivered since the owners left - probably all from the collection agencies!

It was pretty bad inside. The kitchen cabinets were white laminate with a yellow racing stripe down each one (I promise to start providing more interior pictures), many of the outlets had been torn out of the walls for some reason, and there were some seriously dead plants in there.

One plant in particular caught our interest, however... we were looking the basement over and JoAnn called to us from the back of it to come over. In addition to the unnecessarily strong iron floor joyces we noticed in the ceiling, the windows in this section of the basement had been blacked out, there were some large spotlights (still on!), and there was a structure housing more dead plants, of the illegal variety.

It didn't take advanced detective skills to figure out why this place had been foreclosed!

Later, dude...

Included with purchase: random dude

2008-02-17T15:37:00.000-05:00

On Thursday we looked at this house.

I was pretty excited to see it- it's on a picturesque street in a neighborhood we like, it's in the lower end of our price range, and looks so cute - just like a little gingerbread house! We're looking for a fixer-upper, so we expected it to have some oddities.

But, what we found was a little more odd than we're looking for... we arrived a few minutes after JoAnn, and found her inside talking with a man who looked like a really tired combination of Jerry Garcia and Tom Petty at this year's Super Bowl halftime show. She awkwardly introduced us to this seedy guy and said that she had gone to high school with his sister decades ago, and that he is a friend of the owners and would be there while we looked at the house. We checked the place out- found a really wet basement, roofing shingles used as siding, a washer and dryer in the kitchen, a sloping floor, and teeny tiny bedrooms- with all kinds of knick knacks and junk in between. When we came down from the second floor, we found JoAnn on the phone- with the sister she hadn't talked to in so long! We left as quickly as possible and then she told us the real story.

When she arrived at the house to open it up, she fiddled around with the lock for a while, and when she finally got it, saw this guy sleeping in the chair with all of the lights off. Eeew! She had to kinda yell at him a few times to get him to come to, but was at least happy to find out he was still of this world!

Obviously this one is not in the running for us - could it possibly be for anyone?!

breaking up is hard to do

2008-02-15T09:57:00.000-05:00

The first step in our home search was choosing a realtor. We met with three - Agent A (and partner Agent A1) was a recommendation from a friend, Agent B a representative from a small firm in our neighborhood, and Agent C a more experienced realtor we met at a few open houses.

We really hit it off with Agents A and A1- they were young, hip, and hungry for business. The day after our meeting, A1 emailed me to ask if I had lost an earring- they found one on the floor in the room where we met - it had fallen out of my purse. We ended up emailing back and forth about how we always lose things for months in purses we haven't used in a while, then it's like finding hidden treasure when you pull that purse out of the closet again.

We ultimately decided to go with Agent C (JoAnn for future reference) because of her experience and the fact that she is an architect so will be knowledgable in helping us find structural faults, come up with renovation ideas, etc.

But then I had to break up (over email...only slightly better than by post-it) with A, A1, and B! They all took it pretty well, but it was way too awkward for me to ask for them to send my earring back to me. So far- Baltimore housing market: 1, Katie & Kyle: 0.