TOL - Just Some Things

Today I'm linking up with Amanda at Running with Spoons to share some random thoughts.

1. More kitchen stuff! Our kitchen island came! I spent over four hours putting it together all by myself. It was a pain because the instructions weren't clear about which way certain boards had to face, so I ended up taking it apart and starting over twice.

I insisted on building this all alone and it SUCKED but now I feel like I can do anything!

But it's gorgeous! I built the doors and drawer and lifted the granite top (which is real granite and so freaking heavy) and everything! I was pretty proud.

It was really hard to get a good angle in these photos but you get the idea!

I've already used it to prep breakfast and dinner and I'm so glad I finally decided to just jump in and buy one - Matt and I had debated getting an island for months but it was definitely the right choice. 

2. Self-love. This week I realized how far I've come in the "body acceptance" area of my life. Like, I've finally gone from "acceptance" to full on embracing my body.

Instagram always brings up a lot of fitness accounts when I'm scrolling through searching for new people to follow, and often that means "fitspo"-type posts come up. Looking at some of those photos this week, I found that I wasn't comparing myself to IG accounts of perfectly fit or impossibly thin women.

I've spoken only briefly of it in the past, but I've dealt with disordered eating and I was surprised and proud to see that my mindset has finally naturally shifted away from wanting a waif-like body. (Some people are naturally waif-like, and that's fine, but that's not me.) I've never been happier with where my body is and what it's capable of, and it felt really good to avoid that comparison trap completely without having to consciously readjust my mindset.

3. RUNNING! Getting four runs in last week, even if our "long run" was shorter than planned, felt so good. I told Elizabeth after one of my two runs in late December that my body and mind felt good after running even if my legs didn't - I forget how important running is to my over-all wellbeing. I am so, so happy to be running again.

It feels great to be back!

Elizabeth raised a good point when so many people teased us for wearing long sleeves on our run Sunday...It literally goes from 80+ degrees to 50s overnight in Florida. We never acclimate to winter properly because the temperature drops 30 degrees without warning! That makes me feel better about how cold I felt!

4. Conversations on the run. While running one afternoon, Elizabeth and I received a few more honks than usual. (One of them was very encouraging and called out, "Keep it up, girls!" but the rest were just obnoxious as usual.)

We'd been having a normal running conversation, but eventually I couldn't ignore how strange it was that we'd received more honks during this one run than on the last dozen combined.

Me: "I wonder if we look really good right now, or if we look like we're dying and need to be woken up. Or if they think this is our New Year's resolution and they're trying to encourage us?"

E: "I wonder if they'd honk at us if they knew we were talking about poop."

I died laughing. Seriously! I imagine the people who honk and catcall would be pretty surprised if we turned around and told them we'd been talking about how running wreaks havoc on your intestinal tract.

We joked a little bit about maybe getting shirts that say WE'RE TALKING ABOUT POOP on the back so drivers have fair warning. It might make a good deterrent!

5. Candids. And, just because, here's an outtake from our workout picture from Monday. An old student had stopped by as we finished up, so he took the photo, and we were joking around about how we should pose.

Me: Let's look really sad that our arms hurt now. E: You are a dork.

What are some random things going on in your life this week?
Have you ever built furniture? (IKEA counts!)

ABK

Kitchen Updates!

Well, it's been over a year since we got started on this project, but the kitchen is finally...done? I mean, we still have hardware to install on the cabinets and I'd still like a new fan...and the breakfast nook is still being used for storage...but the kitchen itself - backsplash, kickboards, and trim - are finished!

My goal is to have it all done by Passover this year, and we are slowly but surely coming to the end of this project. Good thing we've started another to fill up all that free time we'll have now! (More on that in another post.)

Here is what we started with when we moved in, June 2014:

The numbers are things we wanted to fix. See below.

1: eliminate space above the cabinets
2: take out the wall behind the sink that separates the kitchen from the living room
3: move the appliances (this corner construction was idiotic) and get new ones
4: new cabinets that don't all open in the same direction and aren't from the 1970s
5: new countertops

Here's what the kitchen looked like when we got started on the backsplash:

Cabinets, appliances, layout, counter, and wall are all taken care of!

The backsplash took about three days start-to-finish. First, we met Dave and Tammy at Floor & Decor to pick up our supplies. We finally found a backsplash Matt and I could agree on - he finally agreed to white after we brought home some samples and decided it fit our kitchen best.

We wanted subway tile originally, but both agreed the quartz/marble white/gray looked best and was best for resale.

We also picked up thin set, grout (we had to pick a color for that too! Who knew?), and sealant.

Then, as we got started, we realized we'd need a real wet saw to cut the tiles accurately, so Dave and Matt went off to rent one while Tammy and I did what we could with the full sheets, individual tiles, and a tile-clipper tool.

Before: bare walls.

We worked into the evening. Once I learned how to properly go through all the steps, it was fairly easy. Tammy and I did the majority of the actual tile-laying while Matt and Dave cut tiles to our specifications so they'd fit perfectly. When the backsplash was done, I sealed it for the first time.

Matt and Dave measure the first set of cuts for the pass-through wall. 

Fitting everything around the sockets was the hardest part, but Tammy and I are pros now!

Matt using the wet saw after sunset with Tammy's help as the lantern-holder.

The next day (Day 2: New Year's Eve) Matt and I grouted the kitchen. My shoulders were so tired and weak from the previous day! We managed to get it all done, let it set, and wipe it down...by the time we were done, it was past midnight and officially 2017. I sealed it a second time and we called it a night.

The grout was the hardest part...not grouting itself, but scrubbing it off afterward!

Some close-ups!

The next day I mixed up one last batch of grout to fill in any little crannies that needed patching. And then...IT WAS DONE! Kind of. Here's the "finished" product:

We changed our outlet covers to stainless steel to match the rest of the appliances.

On the Monday following New Years, Elizabeth and Roniel came over so Roniel could work on our next project and help us get started on that, but he also installed our kickboards and finishing "trim" under the high cabinets.

This was a job I thought would take a few hours; when I told Tammy that, she laughed at me - with good reason! I'm amazed at how much work it took! But I felt really accomplished when we had finished, and I love how it looks! And I especially love that we did it all ourselves! The mini wall behind the sink was completely my work (other than the cutting), so I can look at that perfect little space and know I did that.

I am ecstatic that this project is nearly finished! The kitchen itself is done; we're down to the finishing touches. It's been fun, but I'm going to be so glad when we can stop thinking about "what's next" for this room in the house.

Do you enjoy DIY projects?
Have you ever tiled anything in your house?
Do you prefer DIY or hiring experts?

ABK

I Built a Bed!

Matt's dad and Tammy bought themselves a new furniture set and offered to give us their old one. I was really excited because we don't have any matching bedroom furniture. (I should have taken a "before" photo of our bedroom but forgot. Bad blogger move!)

The only problem was that the bed frame was built for a boxspring to sit in, and with our new foam mattress, we didn't want a boxspring. We wanted a platform.

So, we made one. (We actually made a slat platform because it allows for more airflow, which is better for the mattress and for keeping cool at night.)

Matt says he doesn't like Snapchat, but he seems pretty into it here. Also, this is the most I've ever smiled while at Lowe's.

First, we assembled the frame and measured the length and width; we did some math to figure out how many slats we'd need and how long they had to be, then headed to Lowe's to pick them up. We chose yellow pine wood, which I read was sturdy and perfect for platform beds, and had them cut to size.

While Matt worked on changing out the light switch which would be hidden by the headboard (we made it a smart-switch so we don't have to reach it anymore), I laid the slats down and measured them to 3.5 inches apart. Tuft & Needle recommends 3-4 inches of space between planks, so that's what we went with.

After laying all the planks, it was time to drill! Matt made the drill holes and then I drilled in the screws.

I didn't know how to use the drill but now I'm a pro. I'm learning life skills over here!

I felt pretty dang proud once we were done! 

We lifted the mattress back on and made up the bed. All told, including dismantling the old bed frame and moving it, the trip to Lowe's etc, we spent about six hours working on it!

None of our pillowcases match. Don't judge us.

The bed is lower to the ground now, which I like, and it's super sturdy. No more sliding around on a wheeled frame! The best part is that now that our squeaky boxspring is a thing of the past, the bed is totally silent. It's a million times nicer to sleep in now!

We moved the old boxspring and frame into the guest room, so we officially have real beds in both guest rooms - no more inflatables! I feel like we're real adults!

This really wasn't a bad way to spend a Sunday. I felt accomplished and exhausted afterward...which was perfect, because I had a brand new bed to sleep in!

PS: You guys are so awesome for all your advice on getting used to my Garmin! I'm combing through the comments and trying out some new things!

Have you done any DIY projects lately?
What does your bedroom set look like?
When was the last time you got new furniture?

ABK

Kitchen News

As Megan and Kristina can attest, my kitchen was little more than a hole in the wall in December. This month, we've made huge progress, and within the next few weeks, the kitchen will be fully functional!

Here's the before picture of our lovely 70s kitchen:

Obviously this is the "we just moved in" photo. Notice the closed wall, ugly color, and wasted space near the ceiling.

We cut out the wall separating it from the living room and tore out the cabinets:

Let there be light!

Finally, the cabinets have been installed!

I came home from work to this lovely surprise!

The bottom cabinets went in the next week. We moved the sink, dishwasher, and stove to maximize counter-space and make the kitchen more intuitive.

I love that we have drawers with special slide-outs for silverware. The big bottom cabinets also have pull-out shelves for easy access!

Then, we got "new" (gently-used) stainless steel appliances from Kristin and Stephen. Our friends James and Rhonda helped Matt move them in and helped remove the old stuff...which Matt put on our lawn as freebies and which were gone within hours!

We still need to install the microwave/Advantium oven. It's all coming together!

I'm in love with the appliances. They make the entire kitchen seem like...an actual kitchen. Matt even commented that the fridge - sans pictures and postcards - looks pretty sophisticated. I think we're both just glad to have things shaping up and looking good!

Our granite countertop was measured this week, so it will be installed in the next 10 days or so; I've been looking at backsplashes because we'll be installing that as soon as the countertop is done. And once the counters are in, we can get the water all hooked up and I'll be able to really cook again! We need to choose hardware for the cabinets and finish some detail work along the ceiling and floor. We'll probably change out the lights and the fan...but all that is cosmetic!

This is the kind of granite we're getting...

...and this is one of the backsplashes I'm thinking of. I like the look of frosted glass. We may go with something with a blue undertone.

The bottom line is that our kitchen will be fully functional in the next couple weeks! It's been out of commission since September!

It's been a long, long overhaul, but it's going to be so worth it. Most importantly, it will be done in time for Passover, so I'll be able to host as usual. Even though Passover is in late April, I've already sent out invitations because I'm so excited!

Have you ever done a big home-improvement project?
What does your dream kitchen look like?

ABK

Getting Crafty

What does a 20-something teacher a week away from winter break do on her Friday night? Crafts, of course!

Admittedly I'm not a very organized person, but I really wanted a way to put all the photos and memorabilia from the marathon into one place. I had so many photos, etc, to keep that it seemed like overkill to frame and display them all; a scrapbook seemed like the way to go.

After work I stopped by Target to pick up supplies (and let me just say, the snowbirds were out in full force and I spent a good ten minutes in the parking lot laughing myself into tears at some of the "driving" I witnessed), then spent the rest of the night diligently piecing together my memories.

Photos and supplies are ready to go!

I took a break for dinner and observed the mess I had made of the living room. Being crafty isn't tidy, that's for sure.

A work in progress.

Matt and I watched Edge of Tomorrow while I finished my project. I was pleasantly surprised. I may think Tom Cruise is a few sandwiches short of a picnic, but he's still one of my favorite actors.

I'm really happy with how the scrapbook turned out. I fit in the photos I liked most, my D-tag, notes of encouragement, and pages from the welcome packet. Plus, the blog came in handy; I printed out my recap and added it to the end.

Bart Yasso and the Sub 30 Club got their own pages.

A few pages from the finished book.

Now I can annoy guests by insisting they look through the scrapbook. Isn't that the main purpose of photo albums and the like? The bad news is that I may have found another hobby I want to take up...putting the book together was really fun and relaxing!

How do you save and store your race day memories?

How do you typically spend a Friday night?

Are you a Tom Cruise fan?

ABK