Truth: Apparently my Uncle Morris, who has worked in construction for many years, has a hypothesis for determining how long a project will take.
X*2+10%
What you think it'll take, multiplied by two, plus 10%.
We have proven this hypothesis true.
The kitchen project is more or less (we'll go with less) on schedule. We've been very busy tackling both anticipated and unanticipated projects. I have learned that our kitchen is as complex as an onion, the floors at least. The more layers we peel off, the more we find and have to peel up. For all of you who think you have a clean house, have you checked your sub-sub-sub floor for dust bunnies?
Truth: My mother has a theory that when your husband sends you on a "simple" errand to "just buy this" or to just "have this done to the car," he cannot be trusted. Inevitably, the sales person will stray from the script you've rehearsed, making your handwritten shopping list from your husband worthless. They will not carry the screws you are looking for, and they will grill you on which drill bit you have and if it's the correct one, because the Phillips 2 bit will not work with this torq screw that uses a T20. You will sheepishly insert the self-defeating "All my husband told me..." They will likely roll their eyes at you. Not that I hold any ill feelings towards the sales man at Ace's Hardware on Winnetka Avenue.
Lie: I cannot operate a power drill.
It's a lie, it's a lie! Cause I can! I am a drilling machine and have sore forerms and blisters to prove it!
Well, time for the Easter bunny to do a few preparations. Happy Easter! :-)
[No pictures today. The pictures would be deceiving in that you wouldn't be able to see any progress (like shiny new appliances), and knowing how hard we've been working, my ego can't handle that.]
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Here We Go!
An update on the kitchen project, for those of you who have been curious:
Last weekend I packed up the kitchen (I'm getting pretty good at packing after living in 9 different places in the last 7 years), then this weekend we gutted the kitchen, scraped the popcorn texture off the ceiling, vacuumed, sanded the ceiling, vacuumed, took out the laminate flooring, found 2 layers of classic 1970s linoleum, pulled up 2 layers of classic 1970s linoleum, vacuumed, scraped the floor, vacuumed. Did I mention we vacuumed? And Kevin did some other odds and ends that I don't understand. Wires? Phishing? Fishing? Better him than me.
Living in a construction zone is quite the feat for a germ-a-phobe such as myself, but I/we are surviving. We have a make-shift kitchen set-up in our front room, the fridge in another room (just a quick trip outside -- we're struggling to get above 20 degrees still -- through the garage and mud room since the kitchen is plastic/taped off), sink in the basement...We do have a freezer full of leftover food and are still managing to keep a fridge stocked with fruits and vegetables, so I really can't complain. Add to that a few bags of Easter candy, which we dug into early, and we're all set for a busy month or so!
It was a busy and productive weekend, and quite gratifying. I say that now, showered, sitting, breathing (relatively) dust-free air, and in clean clothes, although in the midst of tearing up the linoleum, I remember asking Kevin to remind me of ripping up linoleum when I'm in childbirth, just to see which I'd rather be doing. (Mothers, don't harass me for that comment. There's a good chance I'd jump at the chance to be back in Demo. It'll be interesting to see).
Kevin is a super hard-worker, so he keeps me going. I've learned all kinds of new things this weekend and have a few blisters and lots of sore muscles to show for it. Tomorrow I learn something new again when I start my first day at a high school, where I'll be working one day a week through the end of the school year, a contract placement through my current employers.
So lots of new things and a bit of instability, but we're hanging in there!
Thanks for checking in!
Back when life was "normal"
The Zone
Last weekend I packed up the kitchen (I'm getting pretty good at packing after living in 9 different places in the last 7 years), then this weekend we gutted the kitchen, scraped the popcorn texture off the ceiling, vacuumed, sanded the ceiling, vacuumed, took out the laminate flooring, found 2 layers of classic 1970s linoleum, pulled up 2 layers of classic 1970s linoleum, vacuumed, scraped the floor, vacuumed. Did I mention we vacuumed? And Kevin did some other odds and ends that I don't understand. Wires? Phishing? Fishing? Better him than me.
Living in a construction zone is quite the feat for a germ-a-phobe such as myself, but I/we are surviving. We have a make-shift kitchen set-up in our front room, the fridge in another room (just a quick trip outside -- we're struggling to get above 20 degrees still -- through the garage and mud room since the kitchen is plastic/taped off), sink in the basement...We do have a freezer full of leftover food and are still managing to keep a fridge stocked with fruits and vegetables, so I really can't complain. Add to that a few bags of Easter candy, which we dug into early, and we're all set for a busy month or so!
It was a busy and productive weekend, and quite gratifying. I say that now, showered, sitting, breathing (relatively) dust-free air, and in clean clothes, although in the midst of tearing up the linoleum, I remember asking Kevin to remind me of ripping up linoleum when I'm in childbirth, just to see which I'd rather be doing. (Mothers, don't harass me for that comment. There's a good chance I'd jump at the chance to be back in Demo. It'll be interesting to see).
Kevin is a super hard-worker, so he keeps me going. I've learned all kinds of new things this weekend and have a few blisters and lots of sore muscles to show for it. Tomorrow I learn something new again when I start my first day at a high school, where I'll be working one day a week through the end of the school year, a contract placement through my current employers.
So lots of new things and a bit of instability, but we're hanging in there!
Thanks for checking in!
Back when life was "normal"
The ZoneSaturday, February 23, 2013
That Was Then, This is Now
It only took me 6 months to make my way back to the blog.
Kevin and I are doing great here in Minnesota. We made a trip to Vancouver over Christmas but other than that have been little hermits in our comfy home. I miss my family a ton, but it's nice to finally have my own home and family, too. We both have new jobs and are enjoying those, for the most part. Marriage has been so fulfilling and we learn more about ourselves and each other every day. It's everything I hoped it would be and more, but that's not to say it doesn't require effort. We are loving our home, even though we are currently ripping it apart (literally). Which is the inspiration of this blog post...
That was then, this is now.
Then: I can still feel the horror of Mom and Dad listing an appliance or lighting store as one of our Sunday errands. Oh, the boredom! Oh, the lack of age-appropriate stimulation! At least if we were clothes shopping for Dad at Meier and Frank we kids could have pin-collecting-contests (I do admit to cheating and pulling them out of the perfectly folded shirts instead of just picking dropped pins off the floor). But appliances?! Carpet samples?! Fortunately, we kids were usually able to avoid the torture of these stores by offering to wait in the van, where we delved into the next adventure in our "Box Car Children" saga. This consisted of Heather and I trying to convince Erik to complete our posse by playing the role of Benny and him insisting on being Watch, the dog.
Now: Plans to go to an appliance or lighting store is a huge carrot at the end of my busy work day. I even initiate visits to such stores. I've been known to get a wee bit giddy before going inside. Oh, the bottom-freezers! Oh, the gas cook tops! These errands are especially appealing since we are actually in the market for these items, as we are finally executing our kitchen remodel. (Yay!)
What's happened to me?!
HGTV is my new favorite channel and I can speak Recessed Lighting Lingo with the best of them. I could spew appliance specs and Consumer Reports' ratings until I put you to sleep.
This morning I left the house in one piece, went to a -- you guessed it! -- home improvement store and met a friend of coffee, then came home to a missing door, a 1/2 torn out wall and insulation, shavings, and who-knows-what-else covering the counters and floors of home. 02-23-13: The Day My Home Became a Construction Zone.
Let the kitchen remodel (and mess) begin!
Stay tuned for upcoming posts:
*45 Days of Meals Using a Toaster Oven
*How Many Days Can a Paper Plate Be Re-Used?
*Complementary Seasonings for Dry Wall Dust
*I Do What With That Sledge-Hammer?
*The Kitchen Remodel That Almost Took My Sanity (I'm hoping this will be a fictional tale)
Kevin and I are doing great here in Minnesota. We made a trip to Vancouver over Christmas but other than that have been little hermits in our comfy home. I miss my family a ton, but it's nice to finally have my own home and family, too. We both have new jobs and are enjoying those, for the most part. Marriage has been so fulfilling and we learn more about ourselves and each other every day. It's everything I hoped it would be and more, but that's not to say it doesn't require effort. We are loving our home, even though we are currently ripping it apart (literally). Which is the inspiration of this blog post...
That was then, this is now.
Then: I can still feel the horror of Mom and Dad listing an appliance or lighting store as one of our Sunday errands. Oh, the boredom! Oh, the lack of age-appropriate stimulation! At least if we were clothes shopping for Dad at Meier and Frank we kids could have pin-collecting-contests (I do admit to cheating and pulling them out of the perfectly folded shirts instead of just picking dropped pins off the floor). But appliances?! Carpet samples?! Fortunately, we kids were usually able to avoid the torture of these stores by offering to wait in the van, where we delved into the next adventure in our "Box Car Children" saga. This consisted of Heather and I trying to convince Erik to complete our posse by playing the role of Benny and him insisting on being Watch, the dog.
Now: Plans to go to an appliance or lighting store is a huge carrot at the end of my busy work day. I even initiate visits to such stores. I've been known to get a wee bit giddy before going inside. Oh, the bottom-freezers! Oh, the gas cook tops! These errands are especially appealing since we are actually in the market for these items, as we are finally executing our kitchen remodel. (Yay!)
What's happened to me?!
HGTV is my new favorite channel and I can speak Recessed Lighting Lingo with the best of them. I could spew appliance specs and Consumer Reports' ratings until I put you to sleep.
This morning I left the house in one piece, went to a -- you guessed it! -- home improvement store and met a friend of coffee, then came home to a missing door, a 1/2 torn out wall and insulation, shavings, and who-knows-what-else covering the counters and floors of home. 02-23-13: The Day My Home Became a Construction Zone.
Let the kitchen remodel (and mess) begin!
Stay tuned for upcoming posts:
*45 Days of Meals Using a Toaster Oven
*How Many Days Can a Paper Plate Be Re-Used?
*Complementary Seasonings for Dry Wall Dust
*I Do What With That Sledge-Hammer?
*The Kitchen Remodel That Almost Took My Sanity (I'm hoping this will be a fictional tale)
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Thoughts from a Frantic Bride
Okay, so I'm not that frantic, but my mind, emotions, and (sometimes) body are definitely running in Turbo mode these days. 2 weeks to go! I'm super excited and mostly just looking forward to the big day. Fortunately, I haven't hit that "Let's just get this wedding over with!" attitude yet. As busy as things are, I am still enjoying taking care of the little wedding details. It would just be so much easier if that could be my 40-hour-a-week job!
An update on our lives, for those of you (makes sweeping gesture across audience) I have been delinquent in correspondance with:
*Kevin and I bought a house! It is in a Western suburb called Plymouth. It's a 3-bedroom, splint-level home built in 1973, with a new sunroom and mudroom addition. It is essentially move in ready, except for a growing list of projects we're coming up with. (By choice, not necessity). The most involved project will be gutting the kitchen and putting in our dream kitchen, stealing ideas from all the kitchens I've drooled over during our house search. As part of the counter-offering, we close on September 13th, the day after we return from our 3-night honeymoon. As romantic as moving that following weekend would have been (especially in the presence of parents, friends, etc.), we decided to postpone the big move until the following weekend. We might be crazy, but we're not that crazy.
*I found a sub-leaser for my apartment. They'll move in the end of September. This is a HUGE relief, as it will prevent us from having to pay a hefty penalty for breaking my lease. And prevent me from the guilt of breaking a "rule" (For shame, for shame!). I'm just not that kind of kid.
*Kevin's house is still for sale. Hutchinson is a charming little town if anyone is looking for a vacation home. 6-stall garage - the perfect man cave!
*Kevin is still looking for a job in the cities. He's had some interviews, but no word yet. Worst case scenario, he'll commute to Hutchinson - but a job's a job.
In the midst of a lot of uncertainty, we are trusting that all will unfold in due time, just as it's meant to be. Lately Kevin and I have been reflecting a lot (more than usual) on how far we've come in the last year. It's fun to exchange stories of last July and August, when the intrigue and attraction was far more mutual than either of us dared to think. Neither of us could have ever imagined things unfolding how they have, so who are we to try to imagine what the future holds?
I'm grateful to have a small group of family and friends from the PNW joining us at the wedding. I think it will be a wonderful, wonderful day, though we will certainly miss all of you who aren't able to make it.
Until Next Time,
Miss Jutila (but not for long)
An update on our lives, for those of you (makes sweeping gesture across audience) I have been delinquent in correspondance with:
*Kevin and I bought a house! It is in a Western suburb called Plymouth. It's a 3-bedroom, splint-level home built in 1973, with a new sunroom and mudroom addition. It is essentially move in ready, except for a growing list of projects we're coming up with. (By choice, not necessity). The most involved project will be gutting the kitchen and putting in our dream kitchen, stealing ideas from all the kitchens I've drooled over during our house search. As part of the counter-offering, we close on September 13th, the day after we return from our 3-night honeymoon. As romantic as moving that following weekend would have been (especially in the presence of parents, friends, etc.), we decided to postpone the big move until the following weekend. We might be crazy, but we're not that crazy.
*I found a sub-leaser for my apartment. They'll move in the end of September. This is a HUGE relief, as it will prevent us from having to pay a hefty penalty for breaking my lease. And prevent me from the guilt of breaking a "rule" (For shame, for shame!). I'm just not that kind of kid.
*Kevin's house is still for sale. Hutchinson is a charming little town if anyone is looking for a vacation home. 6-stall garage - the perfect man cave!
*Kevin is still looking for a job in the cities. He's had some interviews, but no word yet. Worst case scenario, he'll commute to Hutchinson - but a job's a job.
In the midst of a lot of uncertainty, we are trusting that all will unfold in due time, just as it's meant to be. Lately Kevin and I have been reflecting a lot (more than usual) on how far we've come in the last year. It's fun to exchange stories of last July and August, when the intrigue and attraction was far more mutual than either of us dared to think. Neither of us could have ever imagined things unfolding how they have, so who are we to try to imagine what the future holds?
I'm grateful to have a small group of family and friends from the PNW joining us at the wedding. I think it will be a wonderful, wonderful day, though we will certainly miss all of you who aren't able to make it.
Until Next Time,
Miss Jutila (but not for long)
Friday, July 6, 2012
Contrary to what you may think, I have not fallen off the face of the earth or chosen to "unplug." I haven't even fallen so ga-ga deep into love that I've cut all communication. Life has just been a whirlwhind.
Kevin and I get married 2 months from Sunday. I can't wait but am also embracing this engagement period. Lately I've been reflecting on how quickly each and every phase passes by -- for better or worse.
Here's the quick synoposis of Life of The Soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Lee.
Kevin is applying for jobs in the Twin Cities. His house is up for sale (a few showings, no bites). We have a realtor we're working with in Minneapolis and are looking at houses here. We went out and saw 13 houses last weekend and have a couple of houses we're interested in. Our realtor is a stud (Kevin knows I feel this way and is okay with it) and I'm confident he'll find us a great home. It's been a lot of fun, mixed with a little stress. We are so excited to start this next chapter together, and getting to talk about houses makes it all feel so much more real.
Wedding plans are "up to date" and we're kind of in a holding pattern until closer to the wedding. Although, I do keep having dreams where I just forget to do things, like forget to get my dress altered or forget to get my hair done. Or that one nightmare where I forgot to put fancy soaps in the church bathroom. The other night I dreamt that my bridal party sang and danced down the aisle to the tune of Meet the Flinstones, complete with chunky-bead necklaces just like Wilma (their idea, not mine).
This weekend Kevin and crew (family) are re-shingling his roof. It has been 90-100 degrees for the past week, so... Ish. As of 10pm last night, they were still hydrated, alive, and kicking... haven't gotten an update today so hope they're faring okay.
Kevin will be busy with that this weekend so I will be tapping into my Singledom days, which I'm actually looking forward to. I've done pretty well so far, including getting a massage and wandering around a few favorite stores. I have plans to get together with girlfriends throughout the weekend, have two baby shower cakes to bake on Sunday, etc.
It's going to be a different type of summer, sticking very close to home and without a lot of certain plans. My parents will be here in a couple of weeks, which I'm very much looking forward to, and I'll be making a short trip home in August.
So that's about it. Thanks for checking in!
Kevin and I get married 2 months from Sunday. I can't wait but am also embracing this engagement period. Lately I've been reflecting on how quickly each and every phase passes by -- for better or worse.
Here's the quick synoposis of Life of The Soon to be Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Lee.
Kevin is applying for jobs in the Twin Cities. His house is up for sale (a few showings, no bites). We have a realtor we're working with in Minneapolis and are looking at houses here. We went out and saw 13 houses last weekend and have a couple of houses we're interested in. Our realtor is a stud (Kevin knows I feel this way and is okay with it) and I'm confident he'll find us a great home. It's been a lot of fun, mixed with a little stress. We are so excited to start this next chapter together, and getting to talk about houses makes it all feel so much more real.
Wedding plans are "up to date" and we're kind of in a holding pattern until closer to the wedding. Although, I do keep having dreams where I just forget to do things, like forget to get my dress altered or forget to get my hair done. Or that one nightmare where I forgot to put fancy soaps in the church bathroom. The other night I dreamt that my bridal party sang and danced down the aisle to the tune of Meet the Flinstones, complete with chunky-bead necklaces just like Wilma (their idea, not mine).
This weekend Kevin and crew (family) are re-shingling his roof. It has been 90-100 degrees for the past week, so... Ish. As of 10pm last night, they were still hydrated, alive, and kicking... haven't gotten an update today so hope they're faring okay.
Kevin will be busy with that this weekend so I will be tapping into my Singledom days, which I'm actually looking forward to. I've done pretty well so far, including getting a massage and wandering around a few favorite stores. I have plans to get together with girlfriends throughout the weekend, have two baby shower cakes to bake on Sunday, etc.
It's going to be a different type of summer, sticking very close to home and without a lot of certain plans. My parents will be here in a couple of weeks, which I'm very much looking forward to, and I'll be making a short trip home in August.
So that's about it. Thanks for checking in!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Breakfast of the Month Club
No, I do not really participate in a Breakfast of the Month Club, but it does sound like a great idea.
This blog post is mostly to share my newfound love:
Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut oats, in the crockpot overnight. This is where magic happens.
When it came time to eat this stuff, I had to enforce some serious self-discipline and portion control. And we're talking oatmeal, not a pint of B&J or Salted Caramel Brownies (which are also delicious).
And they're so easy! All you do is:
-Fly to Portland, visit Bob's Red Mill factory, and purchase steel cut oats from bulk pins. Or go to your local supermarket.
-Put in 1 part oats to 4 cups liquid. I did water with a splash of skim milk)
-Add some salt, dump whatever spices strike your fancy (might I recommended cinnamon, vanilla, and fresh grated nutmeg?), add some sweetener (I did a splash of agave syrup which was more than enough)
-Plug in your crockpot (very critical), set it to low, and try to sleep.
-Suffer from insomnia at 5am, check on crockpot, stir, smell, and smile... try to fall back to sleep.
IMPORTANT: When eating, do not douse Steel Cut Oats in butter, brown sugar, raisins, or other distractors. I will allow you to add a splash of milk. But, at least for your first bite, taste it in all it's pure, healthful deliciousness.
This blog post is mostly to share my newfound love:
Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut oats, in the crockpot overnight. This is where magic happens.
When it came time to eat this stuff, I had to enforce some serious self-discipline and portion control. And we're talking oatmeal, not a pint of B&J or Salted Caramel Brownies (which are also delicious).
And they're so easy! All you do is:
-Fly to Portland, visit Bob's Red Mill factory, and purchase steel cut oats from bulk pins. Or go to your local supermarket.
-Put in 1 part oats to 4 cups liquid. I did water with a splash of skim milk)
-Add some salt, dump whatever spices strike your fancy (might I recommended cinnamon, vanilla, and fresh grated nutmeg?), add some sweetener (I did a splash of agave syrup which was more than enough)
-Plug in your crockpot (very critical), set it to low, and try to sleep.
-Suffer from insomnia at 5am, check on crockpot, stir, smell, and smile... try to fall back to sleep.
IMPORTANT: When eating, do not douse Steel Cut Oats in butter, brown sugar, raisins, or other distractors. I will allow you to add a splash of milk. But, at least for your first bite, taste it in all it's pure, healthful deliciousness.
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