#83 - EXTREME Home Makeover

Here is my old "one butt kitchen" (as my aunt calls it).
Before I closed escrow, the water heater was enclosed in drywall so my realtor told me they'd cut a hole in it and I could install a vent - needless to say I was shocked to walk into my kitchen and find this!

Here is my kitchen today - still needs some work (I have to paint the ceiling, put on outlet covers and pick up my stainless steel range and figure out if I need to install a vent over the stove top; not sure what the codes are but I'll find out!). Bonus of working for a home builder is we get furniture and appliances cheap if they aren't purchased by the homeowner who buys our model homes - that's where I'm getting my range but it's currently out in Palm Desert...I'll get it soon!

Here's the corner where the open water heater use to be. The water heater was moved to the left and a cabinet was built around it with a vent on top and on bottom. This odd area was left where a cabinet couldn't be built (the door wouldn't have anywhere to swing) so I made the most of it after a trip to IKEA with some innovative storage options.

#82 - Threading vs. Waxing vs. Laser

It's the plight of every person who has unwanted hair - how do I get rid of it? I've been getting my eyebrows waxed for year but all that tugging on the skin can't be good...and if they have to re-do an area it seems to take some skin off leaving a red, tender spot. I've looked into laser hair removal but when done on the face it can cause hair to grow in patches on other areas of the face...no thanks! So I've been threading:
Here is an actual picture of someone having it done. It does hurt more than waxing (which is quick) but it seems to last longer and is cheaper (eyebrows and upper lip = $10). Most of all it amazes me how accurate they can get with just a piece of string! Best part is when it's over you get cool aloe applied and a temple/scalp massage.

#81 - Bingo!

Last night I joined Heather P. for a fun night playing bingo! She won $300 on a side game (called Shamrock - the side games are endless but quick and PAY $$$). Her friend, Dave, was along and would have won a game of bingo (a $250 pay out) but didn't see that he had the bingo until it was too late; someone else had already one and you can only win when the last ball played is the one that makes you the winner (learned that last night!). I...didn't win but came really close and had fun! Plus, they had a roach coach outside for most of the night which provided me the best bean burrito possibly ever.

#80 - Picnik.com

Here's a fun photo edit I did this morning on Picnik.com (recommended by our corporate IT department)! It only took a couple of minutes and it was fun. All of the edits I did were free but if you want to be a member it's only $2.08/mo. and the options are really endless.
Here's the before photo -

#79 - It's a dog's life.

Here are Tobey and Lola in the front seat of my car on the way to Petco yesterday for a toenail trim (look at those long nails!). They were so cute, just hopped in the car and laid down, up for any road trip I was going to take them on. Both love Petco because of all the great things to smell (other dogs!) but don't like being around other dogs which is sometimes embarassing... Relaxing afternoon running errands with my two co-pilots. :)

#78 - Santa Barbara

Suzanne Rogers returned to the west coast (from DC) and is living in Santa Barbara = ROAD TRIP!! Went up to see her last weekend and enjoy the 65 degree cool, coastal weather. Here is Suzanne, me and Marissa (her and Tony came up, too!) in Solvang - Scandanavian town about a 40 min. drive from SB.
We stayed at Suzanne's 2 bedroom, 2 bath beautiful apartment. Lots of college (grad and undergrad) students live there; reminded us of how we use to par-tay til all hours of the night and day AND how we can't hang like that anymore - which we all agreed was a good thing.

#77 - In da club

I have a love/hate relationship with the gym - mostly hate but last week it was love. On Thursday after work I was walking up to the front door of my Bally's and the music coming from inside was loud but the bass made it even louder. Inside, there were two DJs spinning dance music and I liked it! Most of the time I just listen to the music they provide (which is anything from top 40 to adult contemporary) so it was nice to have some really upbeat, loud music - I stayed on the ellipical for 60 min!!

On a side note, my hate for the gym was recently fueled by a physical trainer. They occassionally come around and try to get people to sign up for private sessions (I took them up on my free one but it kicked my butt so bad - I'm happy just to get there a couple times a week for some cardio). So one day, I was proud I got myself there and was on the elliptical after a looong day of work when a physical trainer tried to talk me into getting off the machine that very second and join him in some mat exercises because I could "burn so many more calories." I politely refused then he persisted telling me that I had "too much fat on (my) stomach." OH NO HE DIDN'T! I said, "Excuse me? I have too much fat on my stomach?" Then I ignored him and sent an email the next day to Bally's which resulted in an automated, canned response.