Additions to the Kitchen!

Saturday Mark took me to this store he found near our house. It's called the Warehouse Outlet and I wasn't overly excited as I thought it was like a Big Lots or one of those stores full of lots of crap really cheap. I don't do well digging through crap. I was pleasantly surprised and spent a long time scouting the aisles - it was very organized and clean. This is a unique one of kind store - not a chain of any kind I don't think - I might be wrong. Anyway they buy all sorts of Target closeouts among other stores I'm sure. They have all these boxes of logo wear - anyone need a chef's coat with the name Ingrid on it? They have it! LOL! Just think of all the fun things I could buy Julie for Christmas! haha... joking!

My greatest find of all... new bar stools! I've been being very good about not buying any because I just think it's nuts to spend $100 a chair and I wanted something nice. So we struck gold - they were $39 each! Woohoo! That's a great deal. I did have to put them together which is not a big deal as I'm good with directions. Now you know when you see those bar stools in the store and they are all wobbly and feel cheap? I now know why! Some poor soul who just wanted to get it done did it and did a shabby job. It's all about the person doing it and I did a bang up job! No wobbles here. If you look closely you might notice I also got an area rug for eat in kitchen. We won't discuss how much that was... let's just say Mark just got to buy one of those Craftsman tool chests from Sears on wheels and we will call it even.

And of course the kitties - they found their old favorite spot to share on the chair. Naughty! Need to put some blankets on there again. Stinkers!

Perks of Work

Some jobs have perks - mine is one of them - sorta. I was asked yesterday how I would suggest getting a vehicle back from North Carolina. Mind you I'm all about saving money and I love to travel so this was an easy answer and the boss thought it was great so.... Next weekend we are flying to Charlotte early Friday morning (6:30 am - yes we are nuts!) to pick up a car from a former employee and bring it back. How I con him into meeting me at the airport at the right time will be my next mission. I'm sure I can handle that one! I was also smart enough to ask if Mark could come along and we'll make a weekend of it - just so happens it's Halloween and the day after our anniversary. Roadtrip and free day off! Nothing like spending 12 hours in a car for our anniversary right? All joking aside I am excited because it's prime color time, we are in the great furniture state and I will be driving an Expedition (and won't be paying for the gas!), and just maybe we will get to spend Halloween in DC seeing some friends. All for F-R-E-E! The furniture thought hit me today as we need some office type stuff and what better place to get it than NC. Most likely it will fit in the big beast we'll be driving. At the very least I need 3 bar stools. How convienent is that? Don't worry I'll be sure to bring back pictures!

Blog On

Kelly had a very good question on her blog yesterday and it caused me to do a bit of surfing and maybe your surfing brought you here - if so say "hi" and leave a little comment. Please, pretty please... It's fun to see where people are from and how they happened upon a blog. Maybe you clicked the button "next blog" at the top of each blog? Kind of interesting - it's always a different one every day! And sometimes it's in another language and you bomb out. LOL!

I have also noticed something interesting about blogging and maybe something that should be pointed out to Aquinas College Alumni Relations ... we have some alums that have managed to find each other and pick right back up at many years. It's interesting to think how much time has passed since we've lived on campus - this is something I'd really rather not add up so let's move on! Then there are my old "work" friends, who have nothing to do with Aquinas - we just keep up on each other without missing a beat.

As you can see this is a fun and quick way to keep up with friends and family and if you've dropped by to see what I'm up to keep in mind that I would love to know what you are up too (hint, hint... a blog is easy and doesn't take much time and you can always find something to blog about - just click the next button to get an idea!)

What you've all been waiting for!

Inside pictures! Finally! I've saved a few rooms so there will be a reason for you to come visit - I can't give it all away (or get it all cleaned in one weekend!). haha...

As you come in the front door the dining room is to your left (as below)

If you are going up the stairs this is the dining room: From the dining room you can walk into the kitchen (dinner in process)

from the kitchen there is an eat in kitchen spot and then the living room (do you notice anything new mom?)
Sunday is Nascar watching day (and also nap day for Mark and Cali and they are both sleeping for real!)

This is the master bath - I'm going with blues and will be adding in some brown for the colors (again mom... find what's new?) Sort of like "where's Waldo"....

this is the tub

...and the shower

this is the master bedroom - I gave up cleaning - there is quite a bit to do in here as you can see

and this is Mani - he loves the messy bed as it makes for a good cap nap nest!

the guest bath/Mark's bath (where is Waldo mom...)

the laundry is upstairs... this is probably one of my favorite features because it's upstairs - makes doing laundry super easy and I love the new Fischer Pykel dryer. The wrinkle free feature is priceless - just ask my iron, which I never use anymore! WOOHOO!

So that is the mini-tour until you visit (or I finish a few more rooms!)

Porto Rico Tea!

Sunday in the city we went to my favorite tea shop - Porto Rico in Greenwich Village. I'm always searching for the Seattle Market Spice Tea closer to home and I found one that is even better! It's called Spicy Cinnamon Orange - hmmm... sounds much the same, but has a bit less cloves I think. It is very good and I'm enjoying a cup right now! Anyway I love it! Haven't even broken into my favorite Irish Breakfast yet. Unfortunately I only bought a half pound so that means I might be going back sooner rather than later - not such a bad thing as it's always fun in the city.

In the event you need a cool gift idea they do ship all kinds of coffee and tea and I think there might be over 100 to choose from in their shop. The Danish coffee has a smooth even flavor. You can also call and describe what you want and they'll pick out something for you. How easy is that and it's not expensive at all. Most coffee's run around $6.99 a pound or less. Of course there are always the "gucci" coffee flavors that are way more - you know harvested the green way in the middle of the Columbian jungle or whatever - way up the Amazon river type thing. Like I believe that. Anyway here is a link...

http://www.portorico.com/store/

And in case you're wondering I will be posting inside shots of the house by Sunday - need to rustle up the camera. Also want to get some cool shots of all the color around here. It is amazing. Some of the best views are on my way to work - almost makes you not want to go to work - so much so that I did take a vacation day yesterday. That's also why I am finally able to post inside pictures - LOL!

A few shots

From the front yard. Took a few pictures for our "we've moved" postcard.

My Halloween Kitty!

Mom and Dad in front of the NY Stock Exchange

Pretty sure this was before I got "pooped" on. Too many birds in the big city and that's a hazard of sitting on the top of the bus. LOL!