Stick A Fork in This Kitchen 'Cause It is DONE!

Here it is! The first completed room in the house!

I went with a red and white color scheme to showcase my vintage red & white milk glass collection. The white bead board was already up in the room which was convenient. Also, the large amount of white in the room really allowed me to go bold with this red. Beneath the custom valance is a freshly installed mini-blind for privacy.

Normally, there will be a vintage table cloth on this table (my other vintage collectable passion). However, it was either iron the cloth, or take pictures before I lost the light. The rug represents a large and angst-ridden search for the perfect floor covering to define the eating area. I was so happy with the way this sisal rug adds another natural element to the room.

Blinds on slider to the deck were just installed on Labor Day. They haven't even lost that new blind smell yet!

Afore mentioned milk glass collectables on display.

Refrigerator and pantry. OK, probably not that exciting to anyone but me.

More stainless steel appliances shown here as well as my Martha Stewart Everyday Food cookbook collection (I am a charter subscriber and these are not only useful but add a "pop" of color to this corner).

I love how these blinds carry over the pattern established by the bead board.

Well, that's the tour! Hope you enjoyed this first "reveal". More to come (hopefully soon)!

Can you tell I watch a lot of HGTV?

Random Observations

I'm happy to report that I had my review today at work and it was a good one. That's always a relief - now I'm good for another 6 months! Then, I answered a question in a training class and won chocolate. That's really all I ask out of my work day - positive feedback and chocolate. So........Check and Check!

I went for my second beach trip last weekend and had a great time. Big Red Ice Cream shop - YOU ROCK!!! The beach was windy but fabulous. My sister and I did the "mind meld" thing and beat the pants off everyone at Taboo. Guess they won't let us play together again until the memory of their humiliating defeat fades a bit. Oh well, it was TOTALLY worth it.

My sister gave me yarn and needles and I'm going to try knitting a sock. I wonder if I will also get hooked. I wonder if it will even turn out looking like a sock. Guess we will have to wait and see.

This coming labor day weekend will be spent painting the dining room and living room. I'll try to do some before and after pix to post. Also, it is Chicago Jazz Festival - YAY!!! If you go on Sunday, you just might see me.

So how may mosquito bites do YOU have?

Holy cow - are the mosquitoes bad this year or what? I spent all day Friday, Saturday, and Sunday moving so the doors were open a lot and now I have about 2,096 mosquitoes living INSIDE the house. I'm already about a quart low due to all the vampires...I mean doctors in my life and these buggers are taking the rest. I'm kind of a freak about chemicals now that the big "C" has entered my life so bug foggers are out. Guess I'm going to have to hunt every one of the little suckers down myself and smoosh them. All I have on my plate right now is working full time, packing, unpacking, interior decorating, painting, lawn and garden care, shopping, laundry & ironing, and cleaning. So hey, what's another little project or two? (Yes, that was sarcasm you were hearing).

The moving is going pretty well so far but OMG is it a lot of work!!! The Comedian has been working very hard though - I have to give him big credit. We accomplished a lot this weekend. I just had one minor freak out episode when I was at his place and saw all the piles of junk that he has to go through. After I breathed into a paper bad for a couple of minutes, the little silvery stars went away and I was OK again. "Clean Sweep", where are you when I need you?

Summer Fun

Holy cow - does work cut into one's blogging time, or what? Actually, my cookies became disabled somehow and I forgot my password for a while. I'm choosing to blame chemo brain but the root cause is probably technological retardation.

So, we're deep into summer now and I've already had my first beach weekend in Michigan. It was so great - I learned what the latest lipstick and nail colors are and how to correct self tanning mistakes (Glamour and Allure magazines) and read "Men are like Mocha Lattes" by Lisa Summers and listened to the audio book "Fearless Fourteen" by Janet Evanovich with my Mom. Not a shred of mind-improving material was perused! Also, besides my Mom, I got to spend some quality time with Bammer, The Chief, and Numbers 3, 4, and 5. I went to my favorite breakfast place twice and got a little T-rashed at a local brewery one evening. All in all, a very satisfying weekend.

Now I'm about to embark on the next adventure: moving. This will be especially delightful because I had surgery on my leg in January and it still hurts quite a bit. I'm talking, I can barely haul my ass up the stairs! Now, I think I'm going to haul my ass AND all my worldly goods too! Dare to dream. Also, I'm moving in with someone who is a bit of a pack rat - we'll call him "The Comedian" henceforth. I, on the other hand, am something of an obsessive neat freak. This should make for some entertaining blog entries in the future so stay tuned!

Have a great 4th of July everyone!

Scenes From The Hood

The following are scenes from a sunny Saturday walk in May.

Lilacs alway make me remember.... (joke that probably only my Mother will get)

I loved this chartreuse tree. Spring colors are awesome!

Can you spot the tiny person gardening in this picture?

The gorgeous colors of nature.

This tree could not look more beautiful even in the fall.

Wouldn't it be fun to stand under this tree while white petals showered down on you?

Nothing like the vivid color of iris in the bright sunshine!

I like that cops live in this neighborhood.

This homeowner is really into landscaping - there's even a water feature!

This is Cubs country, baby!

Spring's harbinger.

I wonder if they'd let me sit and swing for a while.

I love tulips. Some of my peeps don't understand it.

OK, it's May 17th dude - no one wants to look at your snow plow! WTF!

I love purple flowers.

Yeah! More tulips!!!!

The tulips that belong to the neighbor guy who fixed up his garage like another room in the house and hangs out in it three seasons of the year.

Bed of purple flowers in 2 shades.

Pretty birch with plantings beneath.

This was a great walk and a great day to be alive!

The Mouse Pen is Mightier Than the Sword

Check out the picture I drew today with my new Genius MousePen! Admittedly, these are humble beginnings, and you would not believe how long it took me to do it, but hey, who knows where this will lead?

It's pretty fun too.

Ready to Hit the Beach!

Thought I'd show off my new tankini by doing mix & match outfits a la Glamour magazine.

Here's the much wished for, long awaited tankini that I will be rockin' on the Michigan beaches this summer. Note the coordinating accessories (no surprise to those who know me).


Here is the tankini with capris for when I want a little more coverage.

And here's the outfit with a jacket thrown over for when it gets a little chilly.

Will I be a fierce, fabulous, fashionista this summer, or what? Now all I need to do is pick out this year's beach read and I'm good to go!