The Big Kitchen Reveal

Okay, it's not completely finished. I will be adding hardware to the doors, getting outlets/covers that match with the tile better, and at some point (a MUCH future point) I will be getting new floor tile...but for now here it is (no, the faucet isn't completely installed. I am waiting, as I type, for the plumber to reconnect the sink, and then I will install it myself to save 200 smackaroos...)

Before- love me some pink Formica

After
I didn't know they were going to add the granite windowsill- I really like it!

Before

After- porcelain and glass tile backsplash

Before

After- they added about 6 inches, which I hadn't asked for, but I like- hmm, short barstools mayhaps?

Before

After- they also extended the top part of this "bar"

:)



:) I love this glass tile!

Geek Shirt #1

I have a geek shirt #2 coming in the mail...but I can't post it until after Father's Day...'cause I got my dad the same one :)

Geek Shirt #1

World Cupness

Ah, the wonderful time of World Cup...at least 3 soccer games a day...LOVE IT.

Here's proof that I have tickets to the World Cup (Ghana vs Germany...and after seeing Germany play Australia today, I'm a bit more sad I can't be there)...'course, we aren't going...airline tickets were just TOO expensive (seriously, like $2600-$2900), so we (my bro, Jana, and Scott) decided back in January that we'd wait until Brazil in 2014...

For the US vs England game on Saturday, some of my co-workers decided to head to a park in downtown Houston called Discovery Green to watch the game on a big screen that was being set up in the park. Barry, Adrienne, and I carpooled together and ended up with some great front-row-on-the-grass seats. It was pretty muggy and hot out, but the crowd was great! Good times!

Barry, me, and Adrienne


Go USA!!!


da big screen...


wicked hot, 90 deg, 60% humidity

Memorial Day Weekend

I had such a busy and enjoyable weekend:

Friday- painting

Saturday- met Lisa at 630am for a 20 mile bike ride, then Pam came to my place and we met up with Lisa and Erin to drive to Morehead Blueberry Farm for some blueberry picking! I picked a little over 5lbs...it was steamy hot and I think I sweated about 5lbs away during the process ;-). After a fender bender on the way home (everyone is fine, Lisa's Expedition was only slightly damaged...compared to the accordioned-front end of the guy who slammed into us...but he's okay too...), I tackled some bushes in my front yard that were starting to resemble Krynoid bushes (name that reference fellow Whovians...). 1.5 hours and 7 trash bags and 1 trash can full later, the bushes look slightly better. Of course, I can't trim in a straight line, so there's a decided slant to the bushes right now...I'll rectify that later... I then packed for a fun-filled camping adventure the next day in Brazos Bend...

Sunday/Monday- Some friends of mine organized a overnight camping trip to Brazos Bend State Park. I had not been camping in years (uh...like 10 or 12...) and never been to Brazos Bend (it's about 1.5 hours away from where I live). So I went to their church on Sunday so that we could all caravan out afterwards (great church, awesome message). We had about 15 people, 6 tents, hot dogs, alligators, s'mores, singing around the camp fire, applied so much bug spray I am convinced we all are going to mutate from the Deet and grow arms out of our legs or foreheads, braved the lone NASTY port-a-potty, ate REALLY well (seriously- bacon, eggs, pancakes, fresh fruit and awesome coffee for breakfast), laughed a LOT, and just had a really fun time. And...I didn't get eaten by an alligator, always a plus...

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's an...


ALLIGATOR!!!!!


Erin, Abby, and me on top of the observation tower...observing the swamp and pondering the difference between a swamp and marsh...


Roasting hot dogs and making camp pies. Yum!!!

House doings

I've been doing a LOT of painting...and shopping...still no furniture...but I am making headway and having a lot of fun along the way...

The first room to be painted- the living room- in Behr's "Happy Camper". I am a HUGE fan of the paint and primer in one. These walls will soon have crown molding as well (no, I'm not doing it myself, I decided contracting it out was wiser for now...)


Love fresh flowers!



I tackled the dining room and entry way on Friday. Color-matched Behr from Valspar's "Cafe Latte".


Yes, I meant to only paint 3/4 of the wall :). I am going to run a chair rail along the orange/white border and then paint below the rail white (it's currently a cream color). Then I am going to add some wall frames. In the center of the wall frames will be some funky fabric that ties in the orange and green...


I have never bought dishes before. I had a few melamine bowls I used in the apartment and a set of glasses my aunt gave me for Christmas back in college. I picked up these glasses at World Market and the bowls from Anthropolgie...apparently, I don't like things that match- I'm on the hunt for some funky salad plates...


My new down alternative comforter (thanks Grandma G!) and wicked awesome duvet cover from West Elm that I fell in love with about 5 months ago. I love the quilts my Grandma W. has made me over the years, but I am ready for a change...

Today was a Sears run to get a screwdriver set, orbital sander (::gulp:: I bought a DeWalt...I am such a traitor but the DeWalt reviews were much better than the Craftsman equivalent), and a level- the required implements for two projects- installing the chair rail and refinishing my craigslist vintage couch. Coming soon to a blog near you.... :)

Graduation announcements

Nope, I'm not graduating :P...my good friend Pam is...from medical school. She's awesome. Here's what I came up with- she and Claire helped with the assembling...

House pics

A lot of folks have been asking for house pictures. Here are a few...

The house
(that's my roommate's car in the driveway)



When you walk in the front door and look to the left, this is the TV room (there's a dining room behind the chair as well, but it's empty right now.) I just have my apartment furniture in here for now...


Looking back towards the front door


Getting ready to paint soon...



Living room


Kitchen....the pink countertops are getting replaced with gray granite in the next few weeks and I will be adding hardware to the cabinets.


Breakfast nook...a friend is loaning me the cardtable :) Must go furniture shopping soon....

There you go...I'll be posting before and after pics as I start tackling my list of things to fix/change/decorate :)