My kitchen & recipe advice

BEFORE- Dull & a b!tch to keep clean

This is a huge topic of conversation for me lately. It's on Facebook, my baby board, and I've told just about anyone who will listen. It's like the most exciting thing that's happened in our house in years, and it proves that I am now officially a grown up. (As if the marriage, mortgage, minivan, and child weren't proof enough!) For the seventh anniversary of my 29th birthday (you do the math), Hubby got me new counter tops. I picked out the style and color scheme, and Hubby and father-in-law installed them over Labor Day weekend.

For the record, I labored, too - A LOT . I had to sand, prime and paint the walls because the back splashes on the other counter tops were slightly higher. I also had to listen to hubby swear, insert my opinion without being asked, and locate all of the "missing" tools that were right in front of his face.

I love the change. It feels like a brand new kitchen. And, seriously, I've been inspired to cook - like three nights in a row. I'm even getting a bit cocky and shared two recipes with a dear friend who is a professional stay at home mom & the epitome of "domestic Goddess", AND I posted my meatloaf recipe on my baby board.

I know, I know - crazy, isn't it?

Please do not report these unauthorized activities to the Women's Studies department at The University of Arizona.

AFTER - TADA!

I'm addicted to HGTV

Is there a support group for this? I need a 12-step program to kick this thing.

http://www.hgtv.com/

House Hunters
Hidden Potential
My House is Worth What
House Hunters International
Rate My Space
What's With That House
Devine Design
Designed to Sell
Curb Appeal

My HGTV habit is the butt of Hubby's jokes, but he's benefited from my obsessive "decorating cents" and ability to "design on a dime". (Pun intended.) For example, we now have a gorgeous neutral yet modern color scheme throughout the house, a master bedroom with billowy curtains hung at the ceiling line to maximize the size of our picturesque window overlooking the scenic parkway, and a home office that's super functional for two people - plus houseguests. And let's not forget mini-makeovers in all three bathrooms including modern fixtures, mirrors and solid surface counter tops, and the gorgeous, yet cost effective, new counter tops in the kitchen along with my pride & joy - the zero-edge sink. It was worth every penny. Not only does it look great, I actually get a little smile on my face every time I sweep crumbs directly into the sink without hitting that annoying sink line. Sometimes I spill stuff - small chunks of food, liquids, etc. - near the sink just so I can wipe it in.

Hubby says I'm a voyeur by nature, and, yes, HGTV is G-rated voyeurism at its finest. Come on now, who would turn down the chance to peek in your neighbors windows without getting caught? HGTV rolls out the red carpet and invites you right in the front door - no climbing over shrubbery required.

Um, I think I need a day job!

Critters

There are a lot of critters in our house. No, not the kind that require an exterminator - the kind that require expensive food and timely maintenance.

Shortly after Boo was born, we sadly had to put to sleep two of our three beloved cats within weeks of each other. We had lived with and loved these cats their entire lives, and sending them off to kitty heaven was pure hell on us.

But as the parents of a newborn, we soon adjusted to our one cat, one litterbox household, and we vowed not to adopt another animal until Boo was old enough to take care of it. That is, until the goldfish incident of 2007. Boo won ONE at a local carnival. She brought it home, so proud of this lousy, 10 cent feeder fish.

Here are the sequence of events as best I can recall...

• One crappy little feeder fish needed a friend, and that friend needed friends.


• Tiny fishbowl, upgrade to 2 gallon aquarium (feeder fish dies), upgrade to 5 gallon aquarium


• Hey, fish are fun!


• Purchase of 45 gallon corner tank from craigslist and 16+ tropical fish.


• Happy birthday, Hubby - I bought you an eel!


• Wow, wouldn't it be great to get another tank? A BIGGER tank???


• Purchase of 75 gallon tank from craigslist and, I dunno, 40+ tropical fish.


• Boo needs her own kitty. Let's get her one! Welcome home from the shelter, Fluffy. You just hit the kitty jackpot. Too bad the other cat hates your guts.


• Fish die, they are flushed, replacement fish are purchased not to mention heaters, filtration systems, rocks, fake plants, etc.


• Old cat still hates rambunctious new kitty. Let's get a kitten for new kitty.


• Welcome home, little kitten. You've just hit the kitten jackpot.


• New kitty + little kitten = LOVE. Old cat gets to live happily ever after.


• Um, let's get a bigger tank!!! Bye bye 75 gallons, hello, beautiful 110 gallon, big boy tank.


• Fish die, they are flushed, replacement fish are brought in. (Haven't we done this before?)


• Now we have a hamster. Her name is Tootie.

Let's see, that equals three cats, one hamster, one eel, and approximately 257 fish.

Laid Off = BLISS

I'm seriously getting paid to NOT deal with anything. It's good money, too. I'd like to thank my former boss of a whopping three months who decided that I was no longer worthy of employment. Thanks, former boss lady.

Of course, I am unemployed now. (Minor detail that may freak me out once the severance runs dry.) But it's nice that, being a woman, I can tell random people that I'm a STAY AT HOME MOM (SAHM) versus having to utter the "U" word out loud. I recently updated the forms at Boo's doctor, and next to "Mother's occupation" I proudly wrote SAHM. (Beats writing "I should still have a job but my ex-boss is clueless.")

I think I'm going on week eight without the stress of a daily grind and a place to be bright & early every morning. Money for NOTHING is awesome. Being a SAHM is a cool gig despite the fact that my kid is now in pre-K and not home during the day. Plus, Hubby works from home so I have to listen to him TALK LOUDLY all day long on the phone. (Damn open concept living.) It's odd... the more time I spend at home puttering around and playing on the computer, the more I wonder how I had enough time in the day to be a full-time employee. There's so much to do when you don't work. The possibilities are endless.

Oh, I've been looking for a new job and interviewing some, and I will hopefully find the right place to call my second home soon so I can once again live vicariously through the drama created by others around me.