missing in action

I am sorry I have been MIA lately.  This new year has started with a bang and silly me thought it would be a good time to re-design the blog.  Maybe you have noticed?  I did away with the linen and designed my own header.  I am terrible with computers and HTML so I decided to just re-design the header for now and keep it simple.  I downloaded a 30 day trial of Creative Suite 5 by Adobe and have spent every free moment learning how to use the darn program.  I finally made a header that made me smile so up it went and in the trash went my trial.  I'm done wasting my time.  Or so I thought.  Just when I finished the header, my Lightroom program arrived!  For Christmas my in-laws bought me Lightroom.  I am so so excited and I now have been spending every waking moment tinkering around on that.  I haven't played around with too many photos but here are a few I am having fun experimenting on - I have a little project in mind for these too.

What a flashback.  These were some of the photos my sister picked for our wedding slideshow a few years ago and I thought it would be fun to print several different ones and make a photo collage.  I will let you know if it turns out.  Can I also just mention that my lovely sister picked the most embarrassing photos of me and Brandon's family provided the most adorable pictures of him.  I think before I print these I may have to supplement some of my baby pictures.

So sorry I haven't been posting - too many toys to play with.  I'll get back in action now.  Thanks for being patient.

a meal to end all meals

While most people were starting 2011 with fresh diets and great workouts we started ours with our own sort of marathon - a food marathon.  Way back when the kitchen was nothing but a large garbage pile,

my girlfriend Kara and I began planning its inaugural meal.  Actually my girlfriend Kara planned the inaugural meal.  I just nodded my head in agreement.  Kara is as I call her a "foodie".  She is a great cook and hostess so I just lent her my kitchen.  She literally hosted us in our home - it was GREAT.

The kitchen was finalized the day before Christmas so the inaugural meal was set for New Years Day.  The perfect way to ring in a brand new year celebrating with great food and even better friends.

Did I mention this was a marathon meal?  Cause it was.  Kara and I were in the kitchen for 12 hrs. doing a little of this and that

and just generally making a mess as any gourmet chefs would.

To check out our menu and the recipes head over to Kara's post - she is a food photographer and cook extraordinaire.  It puts this baby to shame, and rightfully so.

I know your thinking 12 hrs?  For dinner?  I think I have some explaining to do.  While we truly were in the kitchen and celebrating for 12 hours we were also doing a lot of this....

and this

Master Chef Kara on the right with me, her sous chef, in our aprons gifted to us by our sisters for Christmas.  Completely coincidental.

Kara's apron is actually useful.  Have a measurement question?  Just lift her apron and take a peak *wink*.

When we weren't taking or posing for pictures (thank you Husbands) we were doing this....

drinking AND posing for pictures by the fire.

And the boys?  Well when we weren't sending them out the door on errands (just so we could do the above by the fire) they were doing a little of this.

oh and some of this too

and Hudson he stood diligent at his post

This we all did between courses because the only way to tackle such a massive menu like this, is to consume it very slowly in courses separated by lots of digestion (and drinking and gaming and knitting).

As if planning a massive meal and doing all/most of the cooking wasn't enough, the girl decided she wanted to learn how to knit.  And guess what, she caught on right away and was amazing - of course!

She can't be good at it all, right?

Well after a nice little break it was time to start dessert, FINALLY!  This is what I have been waiting for.  Kara promised to make us warm, gooey, rich molten lava cakes.  

She was going on and on about how easy they are and I kept going on and on about what a little liar she was.

But guess what - they are SO SUPER EASY!  

And they taste even better, especially the batter.

Kara drizzled this over the warm cakes before topping it with fresh whip cream.  

Ahhhh....I die (Rachel Zoe anyone?)

I have to say, this picture does not do it justice.  Honestly, we weren't too concerned with taking pictures at this point but I see now that we at least needed to top it with a little garnish.  Ehhh...really what do I care.

So there you have it.  A MASSIVE post about our MASSIVE meal that turned us into MASSIVE people.  Now to get to that little new year's resolution - working out and eating healthy.

Thanks for stopping by!

it's FINALLY here - the big kitchen reveal

I can't believe after 3 months the kitchen is finally complete (minus a few minor items) and how appropriate that this is also my 100th post!  What a great way to start the new year blogging.  I hope this post can live up.

Well enough waiting, let's get straight to the before and after pics.  I know that is what you all came here to see.  Enjoy!

BEFORE

AND AFTER

We expanded the hallway by about a foot and installed new floors, trim and doors.

When we were planning the kitchen remodel we decided to use white appliances since we recently replaced the dishwasher and fridge.  However, while appliance shopping we learned it would cost next to nothing for a stainless panel to cover our existing dishwasher thus making it stainless.  It hasn't arrived yet but it gave us the freedom to upgrade to stainless appliances with the plan to replace the fridge in a year or two.  I L-O-V-E my stovetop and oven.  

 The best part about the unit is that it doesn't have the large back of controls so the stovetop fit seamlessly over the granite.  I also love that the controls are on the front so that the top can be all stove grates.  I really could not ask for a better unit.  And it really did not cost much more than our planned all-white appliances.

We are keeping the butcher block in the corner.  I bought old corbels to spice it up and hide the real heavy-duty supports but we haven't gotten around to installing those yet.  We are also replacing the old shelf with open shelves that we also haven't hung yet.  I will post an update as soon as that is complete.  You can check out the corbels here.  We are painting the corbels and the shelves grey.

  

Now for some side by side comparisons:

A lot has happened in the past three months to turn the kitchen on the left into the kitchen on the right.  To see the journey check out these posts:

Kitchen Remodel

Kitchen Update 

Change In Plans

Surprise Demolition

We Be Tearin' Down Some Walls

What Do You Think?

Just A Peek

Granite City

The Cabinets Are Up

Not Quite Cooking Yet

We Have A Working Kitchen

Source list:

Cabinets: Ikea; Akurum Adel.  Handles: Ikea; Lansa.  Granite: International Stone Gallery; Persian Pearl.  Appliances: Young's; KitchenAid 30" Freestanding Slide-In Gas and Range/KitchenAid Microwave.  Flooring: Century Tile; Imola Dark Grey 12"x 24" porcelain.  Backsplash: Home Depot; basic white subway tile.  Paint:  Behr; my own custom combination of several colors in Martha Stewart's color line.  Sink:  Elkay; 30" undermount.  Faucet: Moen; Lindley single-handle, pull-down sprayer.  Butcher Block: Ikea; numerar.

I shared this post with:

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Friends!

Is it just me or did 2010 fly by?  It actually kind of makes me sad.  I am not one afraid to move forward but I fear that I am getting caught up in the busyness of life, filling my days chock full, worrying about how clean my home is, what the yard looks like, and what is expected of me that day.  While it is not bad to be concerned with these things, I fear that I am focusing on them so much that I am putting all my energy into maintenance.  And to be honest, probably for the wrong reasons sometimes.

That is why this year, I am making it my "resolution" to focus on people.  On my relationships.  I am a very independent person and it is easy for me to neglect my family and friends.  I want to make a point this year to focus on sharing my life with those I care about.  I want to make memories.  Lots and lots of fun, crazy, goofy, sweet, and meaningful memories.  I want 2011 to mean something.

And like so many out there, with their new resolutions fresh in their mind, I am starting out on the right foot.  Tonight, our friends Kara and Nick are coming over to celebrate the new year (and our new kitchen).  Kara and I have prepared a ridiculously large menu so we can test how well this kitchen really works.  While we cook the men will play video games, watch the bowl games, or probably stand around the kitchen sticking their fingers in all the different pots and pans cooking up the day's meal.  And the best part is we are taking this meal very slowly.  Enjoying one course at a time while most of all, enjoying each other's company.  It should be a very special evening.  I will post about it soon.  But I bet you will want to read Kara's post about it more - she is the one who created the menu.  She is amazing and not only is she a great cook, she takes spectacular photos of food.  She is amazing.  I'll link up to her post too.

Hopefully, with this meal as a reminder, I can enter 2011 intentional about the people in my life and the relationships that are so important to me.  Including you!  My readers.  I have never said it before but thank you for stopping by and checking out what I have to say.  Thanks for your support, comments and encouragement!  They have meant a lot to me this year and I want to make sure I invest in you they way you have invested in me and this blog.  What a special community the blogging world is!

THANK YOU AGAIN AND I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A VERY BLESSED 2011!  


Oh and because I can't write a post without a picture - what fun is that?  Here is a random one of Lola I took this week.  It is always good to start the new year with some laughing........

And I wonder why Hudson has anxiety.........

Lola will probably be following soon behind.