My Favorite Apps

I've had my iPhone for a solid year now and out of my 106 (hangs head in shame) apps, these are my go-to apps.

1-4: Facebook, Instagram, WeatherChannel and Twitter After my email the first things I check in the morning.
5: Audible Audio books.  I have a $15 per month membership = one audiobook monthly, I do a lot of independant projects at work and this is a life saver.
6: Pandora Internet radio, also a life saver and great for dancing in the kitchen.
7: NPR We use this to stream the BBC every night as we're going to bed and in the car on long drives.
8: Tap Paradise Cove I'm totally addicted to this game, I think I'm on level 25
9: HomeRoutine This is a household chores check list with AM, PM, daily and weekly lists; it also gives you a focus zone every week for deep cleaning areas of the house.  It has been so helpful reminding me to switch the laundry and prep dinner.
10: BodyBot "Personalized" workout routines, I like check-off lists and it is cheaper and less embarrassing than a trainer.
11: GroceryGadget A checkoff shopping list.
12: GasCubby Keeps track of MPG's and how much you are paying for gas.  Great for new SUV owner!
13: Blogger Good for writing posts on the go, also helpful for uploading iPhone photos.
14: TV Guide Easier than the guide on our TV, also the search function works amazingly
15: PicStitch Quick and easy photo collages
16: Bank of America Do I have enough for this super cute thing from Target?

These keep me entertained and organized and if you don't have them you should!

Quick Storage

While our kitchen was torn apart (hint, hint) everything was out from under the sink and I wanted something to keep all our cleaning supplies in.  There were two metal crates that were in the house when we moved in and I decided that they would be great solution for storage.

First I brushed it down quickly with a wire brush.

Then sprayed on a coat of primer.

Then I used the chrome spray paint that I used on the bathroom light fixtures.  I also sprayed on a coat of clear to keep the chrome faux finish intact (something I wish I had done on the lights).

Here's how it looks finished and in use, I ended up not using it under the sink but in the breezeway to hold our supply of paper bags. Remember when you're spray painting do it in a well ventilated area and not near you're car!

A Break For Some Spring

I've been super busy with thesis stuff now that my "spring break" is over, getting ready to submit, defend and attend conferences. But the biggest news is . . . . drum roll please . . . The A4 is FIXED!!!!! I'm so happy to sleep until 8 with the shades down and to putz around making dinner in the late afternoon. It's so exciting to wonder around our yard to see what things are springing out of the ground . . .

I'm a little disappointed that this is the only bunch of crocuses in our yard

While wandering I always pause at the front door, a little hidden and needs to be repainted black, if the ladder is still up in the garage I might go look for the shudders that are supposed to be on the house.

Daffodils are by far my favorite part of spring, their resiliency blows my mind, they seem to say "I don't care what's in my way I am moving up." This particular bunch is on the inside of the front wall, probably the second most neglected area of our yard.

"Cute" little run-off stream the runs through our yard pretty much only our yard, our adjoining neighbors are either dry or flooded, I have this weird obsession with trying to get the leaves out of it to make it go faster, I'm sure the neighbors love that . . .

Last, the beginnings of the garden, tomatoes, peppers, summer squash, zucchini, herbs and flowers all getting ready to go outside, I started them last week and its so excited to watch them sprout!

In like a Lion out like a Lamb

During the dreary rain last week I picked up an Easter decoration, I love getting ready for spring!

Then my parents decided to take a Saturday drive to come see us, I asked them to bring a few odds and ends and some forsythia to force inside, they brought lots. 

Then we realized while wondering around the yard looking for bulbs that we have a ton of our own forsythia in the back yard.

Yesterday and today I did some spring clean up of the top tier of the front yard and its rock retaining wall.  Trying to pick up alittle slack for Bruce as his car is still not fixed yet. . . . its a long story. But I did manage to uncover some sprouting things!!!!

And today it is almost 60 degrees outside, that means FLIP FLOPS!!!! These are my trusty JCrew flip flops so excited that its finally getting nice out!

Busy little Bees

I've been spending max time at lab recently, which is actually max time Kenny Puppy can "hold it".  So I haven't done much by the way of projects. But while I'm not "holding it" I'm analyzing paint colors so I can match the paint in the half bath to the tile!

The bright white paint just doesn't do it for me with the tile, plus I think it makes the tile look dirty instead of "aged"

We had Bruce's family over for dinner Sunday night, while I have no good money savers for you (we had pizza) I made a lovely cheese plate on our new cheese slate. I have no idea if we are using this correctly, it was part of a house warming basket from our Real Estate agent.

I also got festive with a candy splurge for our "found" trinket tray.

Finally a photo of Kenny Puppy, under me with his head on my feet which are on the feet of my chair!

"Mooooom stop blogging and play with me!"

New Big Project

Saturday night I roasted a chicken, more on that and all that I did with it later.  As usual when I roast a chicken I immediately make stock with it, I use alot of stock and I can make about 7 Quarts from a chicken which at approximately 4 dollars for a box (organic, low sodium) saves me $28. I made all this stock then realized that our freezer is full, then, from the breeze way, the box of mason jars started calling my name. "Christine . . . use us to save your stock"  So out came the box, I proceeded to order lots of supplies and now I'm waiting. But look what I found in the box.

Things I Love About Our House

So there is a lot about our house that I want to change and fix and make ours. But there are also a lot of things about our house that we found in the house that I love.
The build in china cabinet, that currently houses all our glassware.

This beatiful milk glass piece that's currently full of leftover Christmas candy.

The puppy with the pink and black nose that follows me around.

And our bathrooms.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like . . .

Christmas!!! It's snowed twice in the past week and our candle lights

in the windows look beautiful with the snow, I was going to put garland up the driveway lightpost but I think I'll just do lights. And a small lighted wreath on the front door.

I found these huge ornaments at Target, ten dollars for the set! They are perfect for the picture window in the living room.

This vase was in the breezeway when we moved in, I brought it in and cleaned it up. It's pretty much flaw-less. Then got these artificial berries from Target (my favorite store) they should be a relavant decoration Thanksgiving through Valentine's day!

This little guy sits on the other side of the mantle from the berries in the vase. He's getting my Santa Hat for the season.

The snowmen are hanging out under the TV, one is a glass-blown piece from my mom a few years ago and the other is a wind-up from last year!

There's alot more to do on the decorating front! The pile of decorations has moved from the kitchen table to one of the couches in the living room. Hopefully we will get a tree and the wreath this weekend. I already have some ribbon for the wreath bow and I'm thinking of getting some more ribbon to drape over the trim in the dinning room to hang Christmas cards on. Most decorating is on hold until I'm done with finals though!