Cheers, to many more!
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
Showing posts with label San Francisco. Show all posts
February 17, 2012
February 8, 2012
Humpdate Update
Our nanny is in the swing of things. T still sobs when I leave, but I stand in the garage to listen for him and he stops moments after I'm through the door. When I walk in at the end of my day, they are always playing so sweetly.
*****
This morning I went for a run (week 6, day 2 of Couch25K) and it felt fantastic. It was two ten minute runs with a three minute walk in between. I was VERY ready to start walking at 4 minutes into the first run. VERY. But, I knew how good I would feel when I was done, so I powered through. Next thing I knew it was minute 8 of the second run. MJ (or Michael Jackson to you) helped me get through it nicely.
When I lived in Venice, CA (coastal LA) on Sunday mornings I would wake up at 7 and get on my bike. I would cruise around our little town and up the beach bike path in the stillness and silence of the morning. I'd get a coffee and with my ipod blaring, walk through the farmer's market in my own little world. I haven't felt that silence since moving to San Francisco.
This morning, I found it walking home through Golden Gate Park on my run. It was amazing.
I was just truly present, blaring Ben Taylor on Pandora and just have a moment with myself.
I was bad - with Bubbs starting a new job and the new nanny, I've had a hard time getting out to run. I've started eating poorly and craving sugar and carbs (and eating ice cream every night before bed!).
Running has made such a difference in my life. Gotta keep it up.
Oh - and...
Shelves are up. We ordered extra butcherblock at ikea and installed it as floating shelves (with brackets from homedepot).
They have less space than I thought they would, but I am really happy with how they turned out.
We put some dishes on them this morning and they look fantastic!
Hopefully Bubbs can get the outlets installed tonight so we can finally get everything up there...
Then I just have to do the backsplash.
And one more coat of waterlox on these counters.
I'm deathly afraid the contractor got adhesive on the edges of the sink and that the waterlox isn't soaking in...the color is different there than elsewhere. I think I'm going to have to sand it down and do several more coats there to be SURE we don't have water damage.
We've come a long way, baby.
*****
This morning I went for a run (week 6, day 2 of Couch25K) and it felt fantastic. It was two ten minute runs with a three minute walk in between. I was VERY ready to start walking at 4 minutes into the first run. VERY. But, I knew how good I would feel when I was done, so I powered through. Next thing I knew it was minute 8 of the second run. MJ (or Michael Jackson to you) helped me get through it nicely.
When I lived in Venice, CA (coastal LA) on Sunday mornings I would wake up at 7 and get on my bike. I would cruise around our little town and up the beach bike path in the stillness and silence of the morning. I'd get a coffee and with my ipod blaring, walk through the farmer's market in my own little world. I haven't felt that silence since moving to San Francisco.
This morning, I found it walking home through Golden Gate Park on my run. It was amazing.
I was just truly present, blaring Ben Taylor on Pandora and just have a moment with myself.
I was bad - with Bubbs starting a new job and the new nanny, I've had a hard time getting out to run. I've started eating poorly and craving sugar and carbs (and eating ice cream every night before bed!).
Running has made such a difference in my life. Gotta keep it up.
Oh - and...
Shelves are up. We ordered extra butcherblock at ikea and installed it as floating shelves (with brackets from homedepot).
They have less space than I thought they would, but I am really happy with how they turned out.
We put some dishes on them this morning and they look fantastic!
Hopefully Bubbs can get the outlets installed tonight so we can finally get everything up there...
Then I just have to do the backsplash.
And one more coat of waterlox on these counters.
I'm deathly afraid the contractor got adhesive on the edges of the sink and that the waterlox isn't soaking in...the color is different there than elsewhere. I think I'm going to have to sand it down and do several more coats there to be SURE we don't have water damage.
We've come a long way, baby.
January 19, 2012
Lighting Up Our Life! Or Our Kitchen
We needed an electrician. Our range hood wouldn't be possible without one.
Along with it, we wanted to move a few outlets and a light switch.
After some electrician quotes that were clearly just to take us for a ride...we found someone highly recommended and within the range our contractor suggested ($400-800).
We liked him - kinda an old hippy who cared about the environmental impact and suggested things we hadn't thought of. Plus, he worked on an hourly basis, gave us an estimate of time it would take, and didn't just come up with a magic number in his head for all the work.
So we booked it.
And he came the next day.
Between his visit and when he arrived, we had to go pick out lighting (track lighting for the ceiling, an under cabinet light, and a pendant for over the table).
*note that I didn't originally plan to do lighting at all. Seemed superfluous. I had read over and over again that lighting would make a huge difference, but I think taking out nasty nasty tile would make a bigger one - and we are on a budget.
My plan was to buy our lighting at Ikea - better design than home depot and more options.
-----------------
Life lesson learned below. Visit stores in person. Use the brick and mortar. Better for the economy and better for my house.
-----------------
Our electrician sent us to Universal Electric. It was like a whole new universe of options. Affordable options.
He sent us to see Robin. Who rocked our lighting world.
I would have been lost in that store without her. I'm the kind of person who will wander around lost guessing what I need before I let someone finally help me.
I don't want pressure.
She let me find what I wanted and knew her lighting stuff. And could explain it to lay people.
How cool is this one?
Or all these little pendants?
We got our order all ready with normal track lighting and this pendant lamp:
Bubbs went to pay.
So I walked around and found my love
Ain't she pretty?
So I stopped the presses and as he was handing over the plastic - I dragged Bubbs and Robin back over to see if this light would work with our track lighting.
As T would say, "yup!"
And the deal was done.
Yesterday around lunchtime I took this picture:
Today at 5pm I took this one:
I know it looks a little industrial or something in this pic, but in reality, it looks like magic hit our kitchen. This is an amazing transformation. Even with complete demo, our kitchen has never looked better.
The paint looks fresh - the appliances are pretty - and we can see our food!
Noon yesterday:
5pm today:
The chord on that pendant is a little funky and I'm not sure it is supposed to be that way. We ended up with the floor model so I'm going to have to get creative with it.
Anyway.
I don't know that I've been so excited about anything in my life.
Along with it, we wanted to move a few outlets and a light switch.
After some electrician quotes that were clearly just to take us for a ride...we found someone highly recommended and within the range our contractor suggested ($400-800).
We liked him - kinda an old hippy who cared about the environmental impact and suggested things we hadn't thought of. Plus, he worked on an hourly basis, gave us an estimate of time it would take, and didn't just come up with a magic number in his head for all the work.
So we booked it.
And he came the next day.
Between his visit and when he arrived, we had to go pick out lighting (track lighting for the ceiling, an under cabinet light, and a pendant for over the table).
*note that I didn't originally plan to do lighting at all. Seemed superfluous. I had read over and over again that lighting would make a huge difference, but I think taking out nasty nasty tile would make a bigger one - and we are on a budget.
My plan was to buy our lighting at Ikea - better design than home depot and more options.
-----------------
Life lesson learned below. Visit stores in person. Use the brick and mortar. Better for the economy and better for my house.
-----------------
Our electrician sent us to Universal Electric. It was like a whole new universe of options. Affordable options.
He sent us to see Robin. Who rocked our lighting world.
I would have been lost in that store without her. I'm the kind of person who will wander around lost guessing what I need before I let someone finally help me.
I don't want pressure.
She let me find what I wanted and knew her lighting stuff. And could explain it to lay people.
How cool is this one?
Or all these little pendants?
We got our order all ready with normal track lighting and this pendant lamp:
Bubbs went to pay.
So I walked around and found my love
Ain't she pretty?
So I stopped the presses and as he was handing over the plastic - I dragged Bubbs and Robin back over to see if this light would work with our track lighting.
As T would say, "yup!"
And the deal was done.
Yesterday around lunchtime I took this picture:
Today at 5pm I took this one:
I know it looks a little industrial or something in this pic, but in reality, it looks like magic hit our kitchen. This is an amazing transformation. Even with complete demo, our kitchen has never looked better.
The paint looks fresh - the appliances are pretty - and we can see our food!
Noon yesterday:
5pm today:
The chord on that pendant is a little funky and I'm not sure it is supposed to be that way. We ended up with the floor model so I'm going to have to get creative with it.
Anyway.
I don't know that I've been so excited about anything in my life.
November 29, 2011
Thanksgiving Weekend All Rolled into One Post
We may have had the most scenic Thanksgiving ever
(yes, that is the golden gate bridge peeking up over there).
Some "big boy" cousins made a butter turkey
Our contribution to the pot luck Thanksgiving was frying two turkeys
With our electric fryer they only take 45 minutes each - and they are SO amazing. We've tried to out roast them and will challenge anyone to a Turkey cook off to see if they can beat the perfection of the fried brined turkey. Last year I did a fancy brine/herb butter rub/flipping the bird upsidedown to try to beat it and no dice. This year my mom thought hers would beat it out, but the winner was by far the fried birds.
Here is T yelling "HI HI HI"
"A boo!"
T played "HI" (hide) with his Bibi at the table and for the first time in a long time, I got to sit and enjoy my dinner and wine (dumol pinot - YUM). T had enough cousins in the VERY babyproofed house, that I didn't have to worry and he was plenty entertained.
Well, until someone left the baby gate open (See Bubbs running from across the room?)...
We left on time. Which never happens. We left while the party was still going, but the boy wasn't out of control from exhaustion and we weren't too tired to debrief about the evening over a glass of wine.
Earlier that morning, Turner and I had started some Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls.
(don't worry cousins, we used a different stick of butter).
Friday morning we rolled the dough out (super easy), put the gooey sugary amazingness in it, rolled it, cut it, and gave it one more rise.
Here they are in the moments before the magic happened...
And.
Once again.
I TOTALLY forgot to take pictures before we ate them.
The cousins came over...Mostly grownups, but some kids too.
The grownups talked and the kids played quietly (YAY) in the bedroom.
I think this was right before the moment where T started spitting in his cousins faces.
Cousin party ended at nap time.
We installed T's new Wee-Ride Kangaroo Bike seat (BIG HIT).
And.
We had a blissful ride around Lake Merced.
The boy LOVED his new bike. He sat without fighting with the helmet.
He rode with his hands on his knees and waved at the people as they jogged by.
Then we chased ducks and had stale rice cakes as a snack.
Against our better judgement we went to the Christmas tree parking lot. Yup, welcome to the city. An empty city lot with Christmas trees.
Turner didn't seem to care about all the trees.
But did love picking up the hay and putting it in the "enty" (empty) Christmas tree bowls.
2011 Christmas Tree Photo
(yes, that is the golden gate bridge peeking up over there).
Some "big boy" cousins made a butter turkey
Our contribution to the pot luck Thanksgiving was frying two turkeys
With our electric fryer they only take 45 minutes each - and they are SO amazing. We've tried to out roast them and will challenge anyone to a Turkey cook off to see if they can beat the perfection of the fried brined turkey. Last year I did a fancy brine/herb butter rub/flipping the bird upsidedown to try to beat it and no dice. This year my mom thought hers would beat it out, but the winner was by far the fried birds.
Here is T yelling "HI HI HI"
"A boo!"
T played "HI" (hide) with his Bibi at the table and for the first time in a long time, I got to sit and enjoy my dinner and wine (dumol pinot - YUM). T had enough cousins in the VERY babyproofed house, that I didn't have to worry and he was plenty entertained.
Well, until someone left the baby gate open (See Bubbs running from across the room?)...
We left on time. Which never happens. We left while the party was still going, but the boy wasn't out of control from exhaustion and we weren't too tired to debrief about the evening over a glass of wine.
Earlier that morning, Turner and I had started some Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls.
(don't worry cousins, we used a different stick of butter).
Friday morning we rolled the dough out (super easy), put the gooey sugary amazingness in it, rolled it, cut it, and gave it one more rise.
Here they are in the moments before the magic happened...
And.
Once again.
I TOTALLY forgot to take pictures before we ate them.
The cousins came over...Mostly grownups, but some kids too.
The grownups talked and the kids played quietly (YAY) in the bedroom.
I think this was right before the moment where T started spitting in his cousins faces.
Cousin party ended at nap time.
We installed T's new Wee-Ride Kangaroo Bike seat (BIG HIT).
And.
We had a blissful ride around Lake Merced.
The boy LOVED his new bike. He sat without fighting with the helmet.
He rode with his hands on his knees and waved at the people as they jogged by.
Then we chased ducks and had stale rice cakes as a snack.
Against our better judgement we went to the Christmas tree parking lot. Yup, welcome to the city. An empty city lot with Christmas trees.
Turner didn't seem to care about all the trees.
But did love picking up the hay and putting it in the "enty" (empty) Christmas tree bowls.
2011 Christmas Tree Photo
2010 Christmas Tree Photo
How many years can we do the picture on his dad's shoulders?
You think we can still do it when he's like 15?
Saturday we lazied and did laundry and decorated the tree.
I came to the conclusion that we shouldn't have jobs. And everyone gets to stay home all the time. And play. And make turkey soup.
You think we can still do it when he's like 15?
Saturday we lazied and did laundry and decorated the tree.
I came to the conclusion that we shouldn't have jobs. And everyone gets to stay home all the time. And play. And make turkey soup.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)