tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20802893990905989362012-02-01T19:01:33.069-05:00version 2.0jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.comBlogger8821100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-86398119891099038032012-02-01T15:00:00.000-05:002012-02-01T15:04:14.309-05:00

  Here's how to play [from fat mum slim's blog]: 1. Use the list above as inspiration and take a photo everyday. For example for number one on the list, 'your view today' you'd take a shot of whatever it is that you can see today. This would be a wider shot of your office space, where you went for a walk, or whatever it is that you can see! 2. Share on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-49053278119893035242012-02-01T11:31:00.003-05:002012-02-01T11:31:54.109-05:00

Taking this bit from my sister - ask me anything. Anything at all and I will answer honestly. Silly questions, serious questions, what do you want to know? Also, I've enabled anonymous commenting so be brave all you lurkers. I know you're out there. To start off, I'm answering the questions my sister was asked: What were your favorite TV shows as a kid? - the two shows I remember never missing

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-49298889593326737752012-01-31T07:00:00.000-05:002012-01-31T19:14:02.981-05:00

At the concert Saturday night, I glanced up (because the guy is like 6'7") and noticed I was standing right next to Tyler Ramsey. Tyler is a member of Band of Horses and also a solo artist that lives in the Asheville area. I love his music and find it extremely calming. So much so that I listen to it on my iPod when I go to bed every night. I whispered to Jon that it was a bit strange to be

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-69023389011453514162012-01-27T10:15:00.000-05:002012-01-27T10:15:00.494-05:00

Reading: all about Dooce separating from her husband. I don't even really read Dooce anymore but it's been reported by so many blogs and news sites that I do read, I had to investigate. It's sad when a marriage ends, especially when there are kids involved. It seems like a lot of people I personally know are splitting up these days and I'm now at the age where peers have been married long enough

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-6097019751277420572012-01-24T14:44:00.004-05:002012-01-24T14:44:53.926-05:00

Stressed out? Here are some of my sure-fire methods to break from that teeth-grinding, nail-biting anxiety. Exercise: The endorphins released from exercise are the same released from sex. That's good enough for me. So the next time you're stressed: go for a brisk walk, a run, do your favorite workout DVD. Though I suppose you could just have sex and get the same benefits. :) Loud Music: make a

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-80321999833606760932012-01-23T08:00:00.000-05:002012-01-23T10:28:11.210-05:00

Friday afternoon we found out that underwriting would not adjust our appraised value even with all the new information (apparently even though the appraiser didn't use the best comps or best information, he was technically within guidelines. i know. i don't get it either). So, we didn't get the value we wanted but we'll be able to reimburse most of our renovation costs and we'll just have to pay

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-44273356750056814612012-01-21T12:30:00.002-05:002012-01-21T12:31:51.763-05:00

January 10K...done in the pouring rain.

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-90603807919399288372012-01-20T11:39:00.004-05:002012-01-20T11:39:57.940-05:00

Waiting: on the response from our appraisal. STILL. (full disclosure, we got a value back on tuesday but it was much lower than we were hoping for. luckily, i literally read a handful of appraisals for work every week so i was able to go through ours very carefully. i found more than 30 mistakes - several big enough to affect overall value. i submitted the list of mistakes with the correct

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-15633948897464694572012-01-17T11:38:00.001-05:002012-01-17T11:38:29.972-05:00

This concept is a few years old, but I was reminded of it reading Janet's post today. How do you sum up your life in six words? Here are a few I came up with: happily settled in a money pit. gave up cheese and butter. shocking. met true love at a wedding. running organizes my often scattered thoughts. scared to take the baby plunge. never have enough time and money. What about you? Have you

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-79254904445631915772012-01-16T07:00:00.000-05:002012-01-16T10:18:24.784-05:00

i hope most of you have today off. i do not. my next company paid holiday is memorial day. depressing, right? i get 4 days off in 2 months and then not a one for 5 more. my complaining is unwarranted though, working from home makes me feel like i have a lot more days off than i really do. so because it's a bank holiday, this means we don't find out the value of our appraisal until tuesday or

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-25882887738194360552012-01-13T07:00:00.000-05:002012-01-13T07:00:05.391-05:00

Watching: Downton Abbey, season 2! We don't have television channels, so I'm watching these new episodes every week during my Monday lunch break. Anyone else a fan? If you haven't heard of the show, you can watch the entire Season 1 on Netflix Streaming or on PBS.org. I can't get enough of them! Listening: The Civil Wars, Barton Hallow. I downloaded this album ages ago, but sort of forgot about

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-81663180423633464382012-01-10T12:02:00.000-05:002012-01-10T12:02:39.550-05:00

So our appraisal was this morning. The appraiser was a regular Chatty Cathy. I know his family history, all about his new house, his email issues with Outlook, etc. One thing I definitely know is that 7 months after my last appraisal anxieties, my financial future (short term future anyway) is determined by what this guy thought of my house. I should become an appraiser. Think of all the power I

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-10718860092448443102012-01-06T07:00:00.000-05:002012-01-06T07:00:10.276-05:00

Playing: "Words With Friends". I suck at scrabble. I think the only game I have a chance of winning is the one I'm playing against my 13 yr. old niece. And even that is questionable. Find me if you want an ego boost! My username is "from_the_block". Reading: Born to Run by Christopher McDougall. Does this make me a real runner? I'm so committed I'm going to read 300 pages about the sport! My

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-22916247398184151032012-01-04T10:51:00.004-05:002012-01-04T10:51:43.872-05:00

New appraisal (needed in order to refi) is next week, so Jon is finishing up small details and other not-so-small details (stair treads). This doesn't mean that next week we're done with renovations. Far from it actually. It just means that we'll be able to pull out money to cover the costs of the renovations so far and that major construction projects are done. From here, we'll still need to

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-42168031817322352472012-01-03T09:26:00.000-05:002012-01-03T09:26:50.779-05:00

How did you spend your new year's eve? perhaps you spent it like me? curled up on the couch under blankets, coughing until your throat is raw and then blowing your nose when the clock struck midnight? No? You partied? Oh, well, that sounds fun, too. Last night it snowed and dropped down to 18 degrees. Combine that with my sicks lungs and you better believe I won't be running today. The dusting

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-15591560363016688222012-01-02T07:00:00.000-05:002012-01-02T10:41:44.203-05:00

Read all the books I've purchased over the years (and still have yet to read) before buying any new ones. - I have at least a dozen books that I've bought with the intention of reading and then just never gotten around to it. With only one bookshelf in the house now, space is at a premium! Run in 8 races - this should be a gimme since I've already registered for them. :) Build up a 6-month

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-15201950667550085622011-12-29T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-29T10:57:44.968-05:00

What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before? two things: first, moved to Asheville. i never really thought we'd get here. second, ran a half-marathon (!) and really started to actually enjoy running. i've been doing it for years, but i think i've been doing it wrong (treadmill vs. outside) because i never liked it until this year. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-44655710381927978122011-12-23T09:46:00.002-05:002011-12-23T09:46:38.712-05:00

Reading: This article in the Washington Post about the "new domesticity". What are your thoughts? Watching: Midnight in Paris - such a charming little movie! I loved seeing all the familiar places in Paris and the subtle humor of a Woody Allen movie. Eating: trying to find a vegan recipe to bring to our Christmas family dinner. It will serve as my main dish and needs to be able to travel 2 hours

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-78747157096738196772011-12-21T11:19:00.001-05:002011-12-21T11:19:18.898-05:00

With Jon working loooooong days, seven days a week - things seem to be moving pretty quickly around here. The reason for so much butt-busting is that in order to refinance and consolidate our renovation costs, the house has to be at a certain point before it can be appraised. So it's a deadline that can certainly be moved back, but not too much if we want to keep buying groceries. ha ha. I really

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-22082461330284982862011-12-20T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-20T07:00:01.030-05:00

Cards: ordered (interesting fact: I have 8 emily's on my list) and addresses input to database. Gifts: purchased! i decided to get all our nieces and nephews a small something this year - no small feat considering we have 15. my nieces in UT got pajamas, nieces here will get a glove set, chapstick and fruity body spray. most nephews are getting nerf dart guns, one nephew is getting a book,

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-2006767487826280462011-12-19T15:45:00.003-05:002011-12-19T20:49:06.348-05:00

Woke up late. Though, not terribly late. But late enough that I didn't make it to my bootcamp class. Poured boiling water on my cereal instead of in the glass of hot chocolate mix next to it. Swearing ensued. PMS (that by itself could be the subject of an entire post) Trip to Target: crowded, bare shelves, employees and shoppers in generally agitated and surly moods (myself included). when

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-65772515235137388112011-12-16T08:00:00.000-05:002011-12-16T11:52:06.848-05:00

Reading: Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. I've heard it compared to Upton Sinclair's The Jungle, so we'll see if it helps me in my quest to become 90% vegan. :) Watching: The Vampire Diaries on Netflix streaming. It's such a guilty pleasure and since I haven't been into any of those other vampire shows/books/movies (since my Buffy days, anyway), I figure I'm allowed one. Eating:

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-38474941496433193692011-12-15T08:00:00.000-05:002011-12-15T10:15:30.796-05:00

Two updates in two days? Lucky you! After many months of having a tarp barrier cutting off access to the new mudroom & basement stairs, we finally took it down yesterday to install trim and cement board. Trim is being finished up today (baseboards, etc) and then tile will go down. I'm so excited to start using the mudroom! For your viewing pleasure - new views front to back:  view from

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-2414319829031452252011-12-14T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-14T10:55:15.102-05:00

I have been scolded for not doing more renovation updates...but do you guys really want updates like "drywall sanded", "drywall primed", "drywall painted"? I don't want to write something so boring, I can hardly imagine people would want to read about it. Things are moving quickly around here these days. I love this stage as rooms start to come together and finishing touches take place. So before

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-24895526294807005062011-12-13T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-13T07:00:00.777-05:00

I was all set to get a real Christmas tree this year until I learned they were like $70 (for the ones you cut down yourself). The cost coupled with no real room for a tree with all the renovations going on, made me really scale back my decorating plans. I broke out our trusty 3 ft tree and strung it up with lights to brighten up the living and dining room areas. My vintage Christmas village, some

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-57888980634024206732011-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-12T07:00:08.699-05:00

I managed to pry Jon away from working on the house long enough to visit the National Gingerbread Contest at the Grove Park Inn. It was so cool to walk through the historic landmark, take in the gorgeous views of downtown and stare in awe at the elaborate gingerbread houses. I'm not sure how "national" this contest was - I didn't really see any entries beyond the southeast but I still loved most

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-12031338635295521972011-12-11T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-11T07:00:07.748-05:00

A vegan recipe that also offers complete proteins in the form of quinoa and black beans! Super easy to make, light flavors and great colors. I served it with a side of wilted kale sauteed in a bit of olive oil and sprinkled with sea salt. MEXICAN QUINOA w. BLACK BEANS adapted slightly from Daily Garnish 1 c dry quinoa, rinsed2 T coconut oil, divided1/2 red onion, chopped 1 red bell pepper,

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-11802291650883020432011-12-09T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-09T09:37:53.482-05:00

I completely forgot to give thanks yesterday. This week, I am thankful for the plethora of vegan blogs and cookbooks I have found that don't rely on meat substitutes (tofurkey, anyone? not me.).  I'm thankful for our new heating system that keeps us toasty warm on freezing December nights. I am thankful for Jon - who in 4 short months has transformed our house (pictures coming soon, I promise).

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-78687042151343503862011-12-08T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-08T07:00:10.634-05:00

I'm making my parents a calendar for Christmas. Mom, Dad, forget you read that. I made them calendars last year full of family photos and they were a big hit. Personally, I love calendars. I usually have 3 or 4 in my house each year and I love giving gifts that I know the recipients will be using all year long. My favorite calendars for 2012 below: Good Frau 2012 desk calendar   Paper

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-30830815307427435872011-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-07T07:00:14.333-05:00

Another recipe from Super Natural Cooking and this is by far my favorite one. I've never had purple potatoes (my old grocery store didn't carry them) and they are awesome! I just love the colors of this dish and the taste was fantastic. Extremely easy prep and great flavors. I paired it with an easy spinach salad and was pleased that the meal was filling but didn't leave me with that heavy

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-4076092265837376712011-12-06T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-06T07:00:15.735-05:00

Jon and I went to a book signing this weekend for Kathleen Flinn and afterwards we were talking to her about a documentary she watched a few months prior called Forks Over Knives. It presents clinical and real life research on the effects of animal protein on health and occurrences of cancer. The two main doctors that conducted the study over decades were not vegetarian/vegan initially but

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-64204085396604353532011-12-05T08:35:00.001-05:002011-12-05T09:07:31.591-05:00

A lot of you have sent me emails wondering what kinds of activities I scheduled for the advent calendar. Most of these are particular to my city - free events or celebrations, local community theater. The rest I filled in with crafts, shopping, watching our favorite movies, baking. December 1st - make a wreath. So we set off to buy wreath making supplies...but after 3 separate stores and no

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-60863623532799361022011-12-03T22:42:00.001-05:002011-12-03T22:45:04.821-05:00

me with author, Kathleen Flinn, at her book signing at Malaprops

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-69677189167114006702011-12-01T15:30:00.001-05:002011-12-01T15:30:00.939-05:00

In my attempt to rid my pantry of white flour, I decided to try a new cookie recipe from Super Natural Cooking. (Yeah, I know all my recipes are from there this week. I figured that since buying it a few months ago, I should really start making some of the recipes.) I wouldn't exactly call them healthy though since they still include lots of butter and sugar. So when making a dessert, does

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-41064519392180286412011-12-01T07:00:00.000-05:002011-12-01T07:00:02.776-05:00

I bet you thought Thankful Thursdays were done once Thanksgiving was over. Wrong! I decided to keep them up because I need to be more mindful and grateful for all the wonderful things in my life. This week, I am thankful for: the bulk bins section of my grocery store - they carry everything I can think of, organically grown and at a cheaper price than buying it packaged. I can even get local

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-35026925951980153962011-11-30T21:00:00.000-05:002011-11-30T21:19:03.678-05:00

Another recipe from Super Natural Cooking, another hearty soup for a cold winter evening. I have never really made anything with a coconut milk base or curry, so the flavors were definitely new to our house, but really delicious. I can't wait to eat it tomorrow for lunch! CREAMY WILD RICE SOUP w. Sweet Potato Croutons 2 T coconut oil 1.5 tsp red curry paste 1 large clove garlic, finely

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-47857148418641781452011-11-30T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-30T07:00:05.491-05:00

Force myself to be a morning person. Up by 7:30 everyday, even on weekends. I was going to shoot for 6 am, but let's be realistic, I'm not getting up at 6 am unless I'm going on vacation or running in a race. Register for a race in 2012. Walk the dogs everyday. Even if it's just around the block.  Try at least one new recipe each week Drink 2 L of water every day.  I figure this is a good

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-64022204042656843152011-11-29T13:39:00.001-05:002011-11-29T13:56:30.452-05:00

We're supposed to get some snow today - not a lot and we'll see if we get any at all - but the chill in the air and the overcast skies made me crave something body-warming for lunch. This recipe for Roasted Tomato and Paprika Soup is taken from Heidi Swanson's book, Super Natural Cooking. It was so easy to make and the flavors were amazing. Jon and Andy both slurped down two bowls and Jon has

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-32915054574166536302011-11-29T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-29T07:00:03.707-05:00

My first month making goals and I think I did pretty well! I didn't bake much this month, so avoiding the white sugar & flour was pretty easy. I made banana bread with half wheat pastry flour, half white flour and couldn't tell a difference. Next time I will make the whole thing with whole wheat. I made a couple of pies for Thanksgiving dinner and didn't bother trying to substitute...I didn't

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-45757915395528240792011-11-28T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-28T16:36:12.733-05:00

 I talked my sister-in-law, Erin, into making me an advent calendar one year and this year I finally decided to plan ahead a bit and actually use it. The pockets are tiny, so I figured they were better suited for strips of paper with holiday activities than trying to stuff a piece of candy in each. I'm making a goal to watch less TV and get out more after work, so these holiday activities are

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-74093443968542983112011-11-27T21:07:00.001-05:002011-11-27T22:13:40.472-05:00

I made Sauvignon Blanc Beef w. Beets for dinner tonight and when it finished, I decided it wasn't quite an all-in-one meal. So I decided to make Vegetable Tian after seeing it on Pinterest a couple weeks ago. I had everything on hand to make it and it only took a few minutes of prep. The resulting dish was so lovely! Great colors and an even better taste. Someone invite me to a potluck, please

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-34276147289359339102011-11-26T21:19:00.001-05:002011-11-26T21:23:02.566-05:00

French Broad River Greenway

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-76641997246704706422011-11-25T09:05:00.001-05:002011-11-25T09:23:54.009-05:00

We had a lovely Thanksgiving dinner last night with close friends. It was definitely a change from our normally family-filled, loud and chaotic dinners. It was nice and something I look forward to again next year. Now that Thanksgiving is officially over, it's Christmas season! I plan to bring my holiday boxes down and start decorating; I have my holidays iTunes playlist ready to go and a stack

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-83304045183511493552011-11-24T11:52:00.001-05:002011-11-24T12:16:32.584-05:00

I am thankful for the beautiful weather today (61 degrees and sunny!) that made my morning run (6 miles) far more enjoyable. I am thankful for friends near & far (and virtual!) that add so much to our lives. I am thankful for family - especially for being able to see everyone this year and for how close we have remained even though we are spread out around the country. I am thankful for our

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-7879389571669718852011-11-21T09:45:00.001-05:002011-11-21T10:13:22.805-05:00

I like to make a big deal out of my birthday. Jon is just the opposite. So this year when I asked him what he wanted to do for his birthday, he said "just a quiet dinner downtown and maybe go see a movie, then cake with friends." Easy! I told him to pick the restaurant and I'd make reservations so we didn't have to wait. Friday afternoon while he was cutting down some trees in the front yard (

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-71487085807648932272011-11-19T17:00:00.000-05:002011-11-21T09:44:56.273-05:00

  Old friends in a new city

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-41663669480590375692011-11-18T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-18T07:00:12.253-05:00

I managed to finish my 2nd book this month right on time - Sunday night around 11:30 pm. I read The Man in the Rockefeller Suit, about a con artist that made it to the upper echelons of blue blood society. It's amazing how much people will put up with because of a famous last name. It was a pretty interesting read, I would definitely recommend it. I moved right on to my next book, The Night

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-9162404073344730082011-11-17T08:58:00.001-05:002011-11-17T09:16:09.607-05:00

This week I am thankful that I no longer have to make Thanksgiving dinner! Our plans went from possibly hosting 12 people to not hosting at all, so the day will now be spent at our leisure and then dinner & pie with friends. I am thankful that the newly released theatrical trailer for The Hunger Games doesn't suck. I was so worried that they wouldn't get the feel right...but from the looks of it

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-25868700679825185062011-11-14T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-14T07:00:12.762-05:00

Happy 21st to my baby sister, Cheri! An official welcome to adulthood- You're going to do swell. I am so lucky to have seen you twice this year. I love chatting with you on the phone  and being the little devil on your shoulder (we all know Becky is the angel on the other shoulder) I relish the role of being your big sister. I hope you have a truly lovely birthday! XOXO

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-51741538506990917182011-11-13T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-13T07:00:03.966-05:00

As much as I try to adhere to "buy local" rules for eating, I cannot give up bananas. I love them too much. So I try to do my part by never throwing them away. They've traveled thousands of miles to be sliced up on my breakfast cereal, the least I can do is turn the overly ripe ones into something magnificent. This recipe is as easy as can be. No need to even dirty the hand mixer! BANANA

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-30117598407517933222011-11-12T15:30:00.000-05:002011-11-12T19:02:49.737-05:00

Quiet Saturday. Too much TV. No makeup. Warm flannel. Missing my husband.

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-35780002994891378882011-11-11T08:03:00.001-05:002011-11-28T16:35:51.383-05:00

Happy Veteran's Day! I hope most of you are enjoying a day off today. My company has never given us this day off and it always annoyed me. Until this year...because really working from home isn't much different from having the day off. No commute, no need to get dressed. :) A girl in my bootcamp class just made the roller derby team here. She said this time last year, she couldn't even skate (

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-63102388510228801842011-11-10T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-17T09:16:41.963-05:00

I am thankful for my brother, Jake, who turns 33 today. Jake had a hand in introducing me to my best friend (his high school girlfriend) and my husband (his college roommate) and for that, I will always be grateful! Happy Birthday Jake! I am thankful for the power of community! I've always wanted to live in an area where I know my neighbors and where people take an active role in shaping the

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-90281313939415258142011-11-09T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-09T07:00:09.623-05:00

Ever feel like hipsters are taking over the world? I think when they start showing up in Bank of America commercials, they've officially gone mainstream. You know the look - the guys are fans of cardigans and skinny jeans, ironic tee-shirts, obscure bands. All the girls look like Zooey Deschanel with their quirky glasses and bangs and belted dresses. All their house tours on Apartment Therapy or

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-50042622426947359332011-11-08T07:00:00.000-05:002011-11-08T07:00:21.244-05:00

I've been doing really well with my November goals. Cleaning the kitchen and keeping the floors vacuumed have proven to be the hardest ones for me to keep up with, but so far so good! I bought some winter/holiday-themed napkins on sale at Target to turn into some pillow covers. I have plans to visit the fabric store around the corner from my house...maybe at lunch today? Hopefully I can get some

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-74287960805488441242011-11-07T10:35:00.001-05:002011-11-07T10:35:08.138-05:00

So, here we are...running. See the lady being held up right behind us? She nearly passed out on me and I grabbed her arm to keep her face from smashing into the guard rails. The course itself was pretty boring - they bypassed a lot of the historic downtown areas because the roads are narrow. But that just meant that a large chunk of the race was running through the ghettos and industrial areas

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-66611383786133521972011-11-06T07:04:00.000-05:002011-11-06T07:04:00.555-05:00

  I was trying to recreate a meal I had the first night we were in Budapest last year. To be honest, I can't quite recall what that goulash tasted like but this was a great meal in any case. I love the thick chunks of vegetables and tender pieces of stew beef.  I really like finding recipes that require a little prep work and then being able to walk away while things simmer. It's a great time

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-10350785861074966152011-11-05T12:30:00.000-04:002012-01-21T12:31:41.678-05:00

13.1!

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-61481512346162936122011-11-04T07:05:00.000-04:002011-11-04T07:05:01.435-04:00

November marks the beginning of a very busy month - I have a weekend away, ten birthdays to acknowledge and celebrate, Thanksgiving to host, Christmas to plan (but you know, only after Thanksgiving is over). I have a feeling I'll be relying heavily on my calendar to fit everything in. My life continues to imitate Claire's on Modern Family. After working with the city to put in speed bumps (

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-77038765215287771442011-11-03T06:57:00.000-04:002011-11-17T09:16:41.967-05:00

I love Thanksgiving. I think I love it most because it so often gets overshadowed by Christmas. I think because Thanksgiving is about family time and not about commercialism, retailers have gotten together and decided to just ignore it completely. How else could they make the Christmas buying season last a full two months? Anyway, I digress. What I'm trying to say is that in my tiny corner of the

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-37504242998084422562011-11-02T07:05:00.000-04:002011-11-02T07:05:00.551-04:00

Can you believe it's already November? I thought time would slow down once we moved and I was working from home. That certainly has not been the case. We only have 3 weeks until Thanksgiving! My virtual friend, Erin over at Olive House, makes monthly goals and actually does something about them. :) Every month I comment on her blog that I'm going to join her one of these days. Seeing as how

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-44032024349647885622011-11-01T06:00:00.000-04:002011-11-01T06:00:01.077-04:00

It's getting colder here as fall fades away and winter creeps in. I think we still have a couple weeks before we're fully ensconced in the winter and holidays (can you believe Thanksgiving is only a few weeks away?). The best parts about the changing seasons for me are all the soups and stews, the warm breads fresh from the oven, the mugs of hot chocolate. I've been reading Girl in an Apron

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-70139422864685398202011-10-31T09:32:00.000-04:002011-10-31T09:32:07.427-04:00

Halloween really came up fast this year. Being gone for two weeks in the middle of the month, living in a construction zone, training for a big race next weekend...I haven't given a thought to decorating or costumes or candy. Last year we had a really fun Halloweenie Roast and I think that's going to have to tide me over until next year. We're training the dogs on a long leash this week and I

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-79960877239797550592011-10-30T06:00:00.000-04:002011-10-30T06:00:07.770-04:00

My youngest sister broke up with her boyfriend a couple months ago and hasn't really dated/kissed anyone since. We were chatting on the phone last week and her side of the conversation was all about classes and mid-terms and roommates. I felt the need to interject and tell her she needed a rebound make-out so we had something interesting to discuss. I mean, doesn't she know that I relive my

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-23031733103472377502011-10-29T12:35:00.001-04:002011-10-29T12:35:22.539-04:00

It's getting cold here but I don't mind. Now I get to wear all my pretty winter scarves! Happy Saturday.

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-86714169747558219932011-10-28T11:36:00.003-04:002011-10-28T11:38:08.160-04:00

I am scared of spiders. Spiders know this, I think, and come up with terrible places to hide. In the last few weeks I have found them under my covers, in my suitcase, on my washcloth in the shower, on my towel, on the shower curtain. It's like they know when I'm going to be naked/most vulnerable. In each and every one of those situations, I made Jon kill the spider for me. What a good husband.

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-75042529933390427132011-10-26T11:31:00.001-04:002011-10-31T09:47:47.369-04:00

I've had two blogs for a couple of years - this one and a blog where I posted recipes and notes. Originally I planned to be more gung-ho about the new recipe thing and figured that I didn't want it to muddle up my regular blog. But now that I only post something once a week (if I'm motivated), I decided to consolidate my blogs into one. Mostly because I'm lazy and I don't want to manage two

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-69870668370369423572011-10-25T07:00:00.000-04:002011-10-25T07:00:05.419-04:00

I totally lied when I said I would blog regularly while in Utah, didn't I? I didn't take a single vacation day, so I was working the entire time (and not from home - from our various SLC offices) and then each evening we had plans. It was kind of exhausting - especially because I don't sleep well when I'm not sleeping with Jon. In any case, it was a blast. I got to see so many family members and

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-79233109470070895352011-10-24T11:43:00.000-04:002011-10-24T15:16:31.316-04:00

I got back from my UT trip last night and was amazed at everything that had been done since I was gone. Stairs, framing, new windows, heat! I should have taken photos last night when everything was cleaned up and not in work-zone mode, but it was too dark. Lots of photos to show you our progress! (edited to add a reminder of what we started with):  original stairs going down to the basement

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-5507158651201662632011-10-22T10:59:00.000-04:002011-10-24T11:05:48.022-04:00

  A desert bloom City Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-4150219659621560672011-10-21T09:34:00.000-04:002011-10-21T09:34:01.203-04:00

On a walk to the UT state Capitol building... If i were home, this is where I would put an embarrassing picture from high school Today is my best friend Sarah's birthday (and the main reason I came out to Utah). In celebration of her and our friendship, I thought I would dedicate today's Five Things Friday to five random memories I have of the last 15 years being best friends. Spring 1997 -

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-15065161199549435672011-10-18T01:37:00.000-04:002011-10-18T01:37:47.148-04:00

On Saturday night, we hosted a big family dinner in Salt Lake. It's the easiest way to see everyone without someone having to prepare a very large meal. We ate like kings that night! Lasagna, minestrone, salad, pasta salad, 10 layer jello, garlic bread, fall breads, cinnamon rolls. Yum! It was great seeing everyone and meeting some of the new additions to the family. I wish UT and NC were closer

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-9987288802397290402011-10-17T01:25:00.000-04:002011-10-18T01:25:29.210-04:00

I know I have been a complete slacker when it comes to blogging the last few days, but I didn't pack my laptop since I also had to bring my work computer and I've just been lazy about uploading pictures. Finally though since I cannot sleep, I figured I should write a few posts about what I've been up to on my (working) vacation to UT! Be prepared for loads of photos!  Millie, age 2 - a

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-54520259060158008282011-10-15T17:00:00.000-04:002011-10-18T01:25:41.535-04:00

Fall at Maple Lake, Unitas Mountains, Utah

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-91548449915064192672011-10-12T06:46:00.000-04:002011-10-12T06:46:00.189-04:00

Remember how I planned to petition for speed bumps on our street? Well the city said the first step was putting out a counter to track speed, number of cars and times of day. I saw this on our walk last night and was so excited: Yes, it's just a counter but I made it happen! You know, if I ever get actual speed bumps, I'm going to do a ribbon cutting ceremony complete with big scissors.

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-28257212308097425952011-10-11T10:50:00.002-04:002011-10-11T10:50:41.918-04:00

The doorway on the left will be the glass door to the deck/our back door. There will be a long bench (about 5 ft long) with hooks above it for coats, scarves, etc in the top left section of the photo. The bench will open on top so we can store things inside to keep the mudroom area tidy - a section for dog stuff, a big section for shoes/boots. That brown opening on the right by the green ladder

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-11883156098020196362011-10-08T18:03:00.000-04:002011-10-11T16:47:52.149-04:00

On a nice long walk with our dogs, couldn't resist the opportunity for a family portrait.

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-71704730168925131042011-10-07T10:11:00.001-04:002011-10-07T10:11:09.967-04:00

Well, all you large-lot-lovers will be happy to know that we can't build in our backyard after all. New city restrictions require even flagship lots to have road frontage if they are to be sold. We can build a house back there and rent it, but who wants to do that? Not me. So I guess I'll have to find another way to pay off my house more quickly. :) Our mudroom addition is looking AWESOME. It

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-74508369148911283412011-10-06T12:03:00.002-04:002011-10-06T12:03:57.776-04:00

I was reading an article online the other day that said people with desk jobs need to get up and move around for 5 minutes every 20 minutes. That amounts to a 15 minute break every hour and that totals to 2 hours of breaks for every 8 hour work day. Does that seem excessive to anyone? I suppose it could mean going to the bathroom, going to the printer, chatting with a co-worker. For people that

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-13585699171025520172011-10-05T12:13:00.004-04:002011-10-05T12:13:52.964-04:00

At our last home, we had one neighbor. We introduced ourselves when they moved in, but they kept to themselves and after we called Animal Control on them (their dog was always left out and after one night of the dog barking for hours in the freezing rain, we couldn't take it anymore), they didn't really go out of their way to be friendly (in fact, in the four years that we lived there - I never

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-5952086017121526582011-10-04T09:47:00.000-04:002011-10-04T09:47:12.648-04:00

Tonight we're going to see Fleet Foxes play downtown. I have loved this band for years but have never seen them play live. I'm excited about the show but also so glad that we can walk there in 10 minutes instead of having to drive 2.5 hours (one way) like last year! If they have a cool poster, I will probably snag one. I have these grand plans to frame & display the concert posters I've been

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-13072201365918357272011-10-01T12:01:00.002-04:002011-10-01T12:01:53.651-04:00

What's the surprise? Well, you may not be that excited about it - but the surprise is that it's Saturday and I'm writing a blog post. :) Jon is working ALL day today (that man is a machine, I tell ya!) so I'm left to my own devices. I got up at 7:30, make my husband breakfast in bed (I'm a good wife, right?), then ran 7.6 miles with my friend, Randi. We're a month away from running the half

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-67253033127253608312011-09-30T13:48:00.001-04:002011-09-30T13:48:32.329-04:00

I've been a slacker blogger the last couple of weeks. I blame the fact that Felicity is now available on Netflix streaming and it's taking up all my free time! Things have been going on with renovations (of course!) but they are the kind that aren't that fun to photograph. Since my last update, the basement has been completely dug out and the new slab is poured. The stairs & laundry room

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-75333917329464894232011-09-27T22:40:00.003-04:002011-10-31T10:49:58.580-04:00

I spent the majority of the day today thinking it was Monday. I suppose that means my long weekend had the desired effect in that I was still a day behind! As I mentioned on Thursday, my best friend and her boyfriend came to visit from SLC for the weekend. It was so much fun being a tourist in my own city. And maybe this is how most of you feel (but how I never ever felt in our last city) - but I

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-16022404014903001752011-09-22T09:30:00.001-04:002011-10-31T10:49:58.520-04:00

There is really no better motivation to clean and organize your house than having guests over. I've been in an organizing frenzy all week and things are really starting to look pretty good considering we're still very much living in a construction zone. Today my best friend of 15 years flies in with her boyfriend for a long weekend. I am so beyond excited since it's been nearly 2 years since we

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-13540747275313708222011-09-20T10:17:00.000-04:002011-09-20T10:17:47.772-04:00

We don't pay for any kind of television service to our home, so we rely on Hulu+ and Netflix streaming for entertainment. The summer has been kind of slim pickings, so I'm glad that most of my favorite shows return in the next week or two. Favorites: Parenthood, Parks & Rec, 30 Rock, Modern Family, Happy Endings, Bones, Fringe... (wow, I watch a lot of TV) I also love watching the new series to

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-35071101637247228282011-09-16T11:55:00.000-04:002011-09-16T11:55:36.905-04:00

Summer disappeared awfully quickly up here. As I type this, it's overcast and 56 degrees. My fall clothes are still packed and stored in the attic but I have a feeling I'm going to be pulling them down soon. I'm currently at my desk wearing jeans, socks, slippers, a t-shirt, a long-sleeved cardigan and wrapped in a fleece blanket. I suppose I would still take this over the week we moved in and it

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-49069922923516521522011-09-14T13:00:00.000-04:002011-09-14T13:00:05.914-04:00

What better way to extend out my 30th birthday than to order something that requires international shipping? I have been looking for some delicate and simple jewelry that featured my birthstone, peridot, for quite some time. I finally stumbled on a lovely etsy shop, Annali's Jewelry, and found exactly what I wanted. And despite pouring all our money into the entire house renovation we have going

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-16242721975045390102011-09-14T06:00:00.000-04:002011-11-20T16:54:41.300-05:00

I originally got this recipe from my friend, Linnea. Then gave the recipe to my sister-in-law, Erin and promptly forgot about it. Then Erin made it and blogged about it last week and I was reminded again of what a fantastic recipe it is! The great thing is you can basically substitute any vegetable for what is called for and really make it your own. I prefer the crustless version of quiche so

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-19355311513028034512011-09-13T15:20:00.000-04:002011-11-20T16:54:49.922-05:00

I'm back in business! With the exception of some minor finishing touches, my new kitchen is up and running. The first thing I baked in my new oven? Blueberry muffins for breakfast! I wanted to take advantage of the fresh blueberries available at the market and I wanted to put them in something delicious that we could gobble up. Muffins fit all those requirements. I had actually never made

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-9187891762361190292011-09-13T12:14:00.000-04:002011-09-13T12:14:19.583-04:00

The counters went in yesterday morning. Even though they were our second choice due to price, I really like the way they look. They are really neutral and it's hard to tell if they are dirty. Both good things. :) We also installed the dishwasher. No more dishpan hands! Other side of the kitchen with microwave installed. So nice to have counters again! I have been making dinner every night and

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-53795210511414258432011-09-12T06:51:00.001-04:002011-09-12T06:51:00.313-04:00

So after selling our sofa on a whim last week, we sprung for a new Karlstad sofa from IKEA. We got the loveseat + chaise option to fit the room best. With the funds from selling a few more pieces of extra furniture, we were able to afford the dark gray slipcover instead of the basic white. The cover almost looks like a dark denim in some ways, but I feel like once we have the rest of the room

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-52361986151172423182011-09-11T12:44:00.002-04:002011-09-11T16:18:16.401-04:00

Today, on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, I think all of us are thinking back to where we were and what we were doing. I was a junior at BYU studying International Law & Diplomacy. I had an 8 am class - National Security Affairs (kind of ironic, right?). I had decided to get up to campus a little early so I could pick up my copy of the New York Times and read up before class. I remember

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-86805447750323164332011-09-08T12:43:00.000-04:002011-09-08T12:43:05.871-04:00

Hey! There's a hole in the side of my house! I feel like I've seen this somewhere before...oh, RIGHT. Now the basement is just a bunch of extremely hard-packed red clay. Jon and Andy are jack hammering holes for temporary piers. Then they will remove the current supports and hope that our house doesn't fall down (kidding! Jon's done this lots before.). Then they drive a bobcat in there and dig

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-12016679966989188722011-09-07T06:00:00.001-04:002011-09-07T06:00:07.908-04:00

Yesterday morning we were having a little team meeting about what project to start next. Do we start excavating the basement? Do we rip out the floors in the attic and insulate? If you read yesterday's post, you'll see that excavating the basement won, but only because I had to take care of some things in the attic first... When we first viewed the home, I had grand dreams of turning the attic

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-85816828070903169272011-09-06T15:47:00.000-04:002011-09-06T15:47:22.576-04:00

Two of four appliances delivered and installed. I love having a stove again! The floors were black and after some sanding, this is what we're left with. We love that they aren't perfect, just like 90 year old floors should look.  Added the hardware to all the cabinets. We ordered two sets - one in brushed nickel from Amazon and one in oil-rubbed bronze from Pottery Barn. There was no debate when

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-61813737264779446872011-09-03T23:50:00.000-04:002011-09-03T23:50:50.462-04:00

Listening to Pandora - George Michael's "Careless Whisper" song came on. We paused our game of Spades to watch this video. Nearly cried from laughing so hard.  And now you will have that tune in your head for days. You're welcome! (PS - anyone else think brother-in-law Andy should be the sexy sax man for Halloween??)

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-76739107096518475222011-09-02T09:40:00.000-04:002011-09-02T09:40:45.736-04:00

Showering: For the first time in 42 days, I get to shower inside my own house. It's awesome. Baking: Now that we have gas, I have my new gas range hooked up and ready to go. I made blueberry muffins this morning and they were divine. Recipe from Smitten Kitchen. Reading: State of Wonder by Ann Patchett. I am thoroughly enjoying this book. It's interesting, I'm not sure what will happen, I love

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-59429093059397307552011-09-01T06:55:00.000-04:002011-09-01T06:55:00.127-04:00

Welcome to September! I cannot believe that summer is basically over (I hope the weather will get the news soon) and we're entering our first fall living in Asheville. Fall has long been my favorite season because it transitions from the long, hot & humid summers of the South. It doesn't hurt that all the trees turn vibrant shades of red, orange, yellow and I can start wearing jeans and scarves

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2080289399090598936.post-67158934412041251552011-08-31T10:17:00.001-04:002011-08-31T15:09:40.323-04:00

So the gas company is here right now running the lines from what they did last week to the appliances (water heater, gas range) in the house. Then another inspection from the city, then another crew from the gas company to set up the meter. I swear this is like the process that never ends. But, fingers crossed, hot water in the house by the weekend. I know our Labor Day guests were hoping to use

jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13585774854581037963noreply@blogger.com4