tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-203874102012-01-03T13:43:51.406-06:00kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comBlogger4411100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-5413510955582281912012-01-03T13:02:00.001-06:002012-01-03T13:31:11.699-06:00

In a few days this will be our view...

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-59357328245188417172012-01-03T12:52:00.000-06:002012-01-03T12:52:16.559-06:00

I love Teddy Bear! Who knew porcupines are so adorable.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-83091183839898113012011-11-15T22:52:00.001-06:002011-11-15T22:53:48.824-06:00

I recently came into some old family photos. Today I scanned and uploaded photos from my first trip to Disneyland. Here is the link... http://www.flickr.com/photos/doggie_home_ec/sets/72157628138077758/ There are lots more photos to organize and post. It should keep me busy this winter.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-71493790034304421082011-11-04T22:58:00.002-05:002011-11-04T23:28:42.336-05:00

a couple of weeks ago, I found this set of curtains for $12 at the local Salvation Army. They already had a curtain rod casing, and just needed about 4-inches taken off. Here are some pics... check out these hand embroidered kitchen towels. they are so beautiful that i hate to use them.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-27378510206519342152011-09-21T17:24:00.000-05:002011-09-21T17:24:14.787-05:00

This is the original kitchen that came with the house.  The cabinets were apparently recycled, and cobbled together by a previous owner.  The cabinet doors, drawers, and counter tops are all wonky. The doors could not be opened because of the light fixtures.  A lot of poor planning went into this. When we moved in, I decided to paint the kitchen white to clean it up. Unfortunately white

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-28223681537452300272011-08-12T15:16:00.000-05:002011-08-12T15:16:19.670-05:00

about a year and a half ago i wrote a blog post on car shopping (see here). anyway, i just updated it. we finally have a car. yay! more photos on flickr.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-88616064555827451462011-07-06T11:12:00.000-05:002011-07-06T11:12:11.271-05:00

Pre-show The circle, in the middle of the street, is where all of the action happened. Fire! The cops came shortly after. The show is over, until next year. It's not a party until someone gets wasted,  passes out and wets themselves. The end.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-14700490844681254642011-06-15T15:29:00.000-05:002011-06-15T15:29:08.541-05:00

* Jesús  posing in  front of the rose bush * * after pruning. there is a dying bush on the other side of the fence * 

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-48466653772947140272011-06-13T21:10:00.000-05:002011-06-13T21:10:27.972-05:00

Finally, I am about done with this 9 month(?) project. Just need to paint, then done. For now. I will get official "before" & "after" shots in the future.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-74174042881017806542011-06-07T18:32:00.000-05:002011-06-07T18:32:33.444-05:00

This is Zeus. He was named at the shelter, and it seems to work for him. We fostered him for a week, and decided we could not let him go. So we adopted him. Alice LOVES her little brother. Ivan is still training him. More photos of Zeus and Alice can be viewed HERE.  Ivan/Kitty photos HERE.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-75149150007072594892011-06-07T11:09:00.002-05:002011-06-07T11:16:34.667-05:00

LOVE this slat screen! This could work to disguise our ugly chain link fence. Way too tedious for the entire backyard, but perfect for a smaller area. Also great for a room divider. The DIY is here at The Brick House- a wonderful home design blog. ________________________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-43603369295119553542011-05-15T23:55:00.006-05:002011-05-16T01:12:40.999-05:00

Thinking about what to do with our backyard- love these spaces... Right now, I am currently finishing up the front porch: fresh coat of paint, cutting and installing spindles along the stairway. Next, we need to add plant life. Then (hopefully) a backyard makeover. the spindles will go here... the 3 flower boxes will be moving into the backyard. urns will go on each side of staircase. here

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-5475766325604773012011-03-24T21:34:00.005-05:002011-11-15T22:56:17.396-06:00

Hello Well we survived the winter! hurray! This winter was actually quite nice. I had tons of projects to work on, so winter sort of flew by this year. This year's entertainment was courtesy of our pets, the dvr and netflix. - viewed 40 episodes of Cesar (the dog whisperer).  - all day marathons of  Party Down 1 and 2, Weeds, Breaking Bad, The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret, and

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-59054403117464703742011-02-25T23:06:00.006-06:002011-02-27T15:01:27.859-06:00

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-40196249700511728092011-02-25T21:20:00.005-06:002011-05-15T18:35:22.399-05:00

sorry i'm  2 months late. We survived January and the huge blizzard of '11. woo hoo! This February has actually been the best evah!!! So many wonderful things have happened, in so many different categories of our lives, but I can't really discuss any details on the world wide web. I've spent the last 2 months catching up on the last 2-5 years, and have lots more to conquer. Here are things I

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-85459410785653702032011-01-02T15:23:00.006-06:002011-02-27T16:54:23.385-06:00

our television died on 12/30/10. yes, of course it did!  it's the cherry, on top of the icing.........rant, rant...

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-84718941937756304892010-12-26T15:23:00.000-06:002010-12-26T15:23:23.344-06:00

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-12018667878492083872010-10-01T09:25:00.002-05:002010-12-16T22:25:20.736-06:00

I just posted some front porch makeover photos on flickr. Still a work in progress, but I did get all of the pieces together and have started painting. I'm racing the weather on this project. Click the link below (you may have to copy and paste in search bar) to connect to photos, or you can click on the flickr badge on the right hand side of my blog. http://www.flickr.com/photos/

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-79445798323871724632010-09-28T20:54:00.000-05:002010-09-28T20:54:22.890-05:00

Just checking in. I had my blog in vacation mode, but will open it in case anyone wants to see. We are very busy with biz & house projects galore. I'll be back online when the cold weather/ winter hits.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-82447557024348089702010-06-10T10:10:00.001-05:002010-06-10T10:12:04.737-05:00

if it's not one thing it's another. if you can't get in touch with me via internet, that is why.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-23511975924725228122010-06-08T21:29:00.003-05:002010-06-09T10:00:13.373-05:00

it was raining cats and dogs earlier, and i was stuck in the rain for too long apparently. so no cell phone & texting for a few days. of course it's not time for an upgrade. errr, it makes me so mad.update: i was able to get my old cell phone working and am using that for now.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-48983807545596673672010-05-25T12:10:00.007-05:002010-05-26T10:47:15.116-05:00

Hello!A huge thank you to everyone who helped us identify plants or weeds in our yard, see here.Here are some better photos of some of the 'trees' we have not yet identified ...Update- we have identified most of the plant life now.Plant 1- box elder* the above leaves belong to the 'tree' below_______________________________________________________Plant 2- Cottonwood* the leaves above are from the

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-46199227658966385492010-05-24T20:15:00.003-05:002010-05-24T20:24:43.509-05:00

On Friday, we finally had our first floor stairway carpeted, as well as the second floor landing. For some reason the carpet installers unplugged our DSL. Unfortunately, it caused our computer to crash. Long story short- we lost 3 years of stuff... photos, music, documents, etc. It's been a huge weekend project getting it up and running again.Here is a snapshot of carpet...

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-35449579214443174462010-05-18T12:13:00.004-05:002010-05-26T10:43:00.162-05:00

We need to pull some weeds! However, we're not so sure which green leaves are plants or weeds. If you are familiar with outdoor plant life, please come take a peek & help identify the green plant life in our yard. Click Here to link to flickr photos.____________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-66160721932641300462010-04-29T12:08:00.003-05:002010-05-04T00:09:00.249-05:00

front yardScott's new trimmerScott with his new toy the plants along the driveway seemed to pop up overnightclose up of the brick exterior. i'm trying to decide on accent colors for the deck.we started growing catnip for Ivan...___________________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-69440385033186730552010-04-20T21:26:00.006-05:002010-04-26T21:30:47.709-05:00

i have so many projects in the works, but all i really want to do is sleep.instead of a nap, i'm posting some bedroom photos. we now have a place for visitors to sleep. nothing too luxurious- but it works.guest room- current state- painted white from floor to ceilinghere it is BEFOREsecond bedroom with our newly inherited furniture- current stateBEFORE we painted the 70's paneling white__________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-81286145371989407482010-04-18T10:50:00.008-05:002011-02-10T15:03:47.683-06:00

here is what's currently go on... * this week i stepped up my bicycle riding and am now doing 10 miles a day. i've really been taking advantage of Humboldt Park as well as the chicago bike trails. here are some amazing photos of the actual park. * still haven't figured out twitter. i just know how to 'retweet', but only if there is a retweet link. * out neighbors have a rooster in a pen in

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-23666856329375071512010-04-16T11:12:00.004-05:002010-04-25T20:00:49.404-05:00

here is a 'before' photo...

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-52519497802555970242010-04-08T13:28:00.003-05:002010-04-08T13:52:19.931-05:00

banister/ stairway update:- finished 3 coats of stain/ poly- need to finish priming the spindles(two more coats), then paint a high gloss white- as soon as we finish this, we can have the carpet installed (the carpeting has been purchased- big sale- saved$$)After this, we have a gagillion paint projects, and of course landscaping, deck/porch, gardening, lots of plans- crazy busy. :)

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-4838695271231471882010-04-02T17:37:00.006-05:002010-04-07T20:15:14.282-05:00

i'm posting these vintage greeting cards- featuring cute little bunnies- in honor of the Easter holiday. enjoy!(1969)(1972)(1969)(1961)

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-22370770708241305902010-03-16T10:48:00.003-05:002010-04-02T17:06:06.761-05:00

I love how food comes to us in Humboldt Park. This is in front of our driveway. This cart serves fruit, sno cones, and corn on the cob. With the nice weather, we should be seeing more carts in the neighborhood.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-6540249037072309052010-03-13T18:29:00.003-06:002010-03-13T18:39:15.738-06:00

I have some news... the doggy daycare that I've been working at over the past 8 years is closing. Technically we will be merging with another kennel at their facility. So we all will have jobs- which is a good thing. This will be going down the middle of April. Feeling a little sad, nervous, but change is good, and I'm looking forward to something new & different. Whatever happens happens.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-25804209106468486172010-03-09T09:39:00.004-06:002010-03-09T10:17:48.728-06:00

who/what/where: Party for Scott at our placewhen: Saturday, March 22nd- 7:30PM to ?Let us know if you can come!Contact us for more details.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-72150911094943415512010-02-28T00:00:00.006-06:002010-02-28T00:00:00.751-06:00

Recently, I came across a bunch of birthday and wedding cards from the '60s and '70s. I could never sell them but will share some favorites.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-68979247789086782842010-02-26T21:28:00.004-06:002010-02-26T21:41:02.568-06:00

LOTS of sanding & dust... primer, paint, stain, varnish, carpet- still to come.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-62047131846553748542010-02-24T19:20:00.001-06:002010-02-24T19:24:44.632-06:00

Dee & K taking a nap. What job? What house projects?* photo taken via cell phone by Scott

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-39310281766702796832010-02-18T20:33:00.000-06:002010-02-18T20:36:09.180-06:00

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-49181488395740072562010-02-10T11:36:00.003-06:002010-02-26T22:40:02.343-06:00

We're snowed it! Woo hoo!This is one big reason I'm not looking forward to a car. However it is fun hiking through fresh clean snow.Ooh, did you hear? Chicago had an earthquake this morning. Our cable isn't working well due to the snow on our satellite dish (err)... so haven't heard any details yet.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-37385906385014459782010-02-09T20:08:00.002-06:002010-02-09T22:30:46.858-06:00

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-85297956159282957982010-02-09T12:39:00.006-06:002011-08-12T14:59:28.898-05:00

Since we now have our very own parking lot, we are feeling the pressure to purchase a car. Being a city dweller for almost 2 decades, I've become accustomed to living without a car. I would much rather take a cab, bus, train, walk, ride bike, than drive in the city, especially on the expressway. Remember the episode from Sex and the City, when the girls hop in their rental car to venture out to

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-41290351607247521712010-02-06T17:18:00.001-06:002010-02-09T12:08:11.616-06:00

just couldn't resist posting this cute pic of Kitty.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-36571767300165129552010-02-02T19:32:00.005-06:002010-02-13T03:08:16.308-06:00

We had a wonderful, much needed vacation in Naples last week. I literally took four pictures. My photos are on Flickr. If I happen to come across more photos, I'll post them to Flickr as well.* (in my mind) vacation= tropical weather + ocean + beach ** vintage Florida souvenir postcard circa 1987

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-45185731408325162202010-02-02T15:58:00.003-06:002010-02-02T19:30:15.867-06:00

Still need to paint , install the shower door, add some fixtures, hardware, and all the little extras... anyhow, here are some snapshots of the bathroom renovation.* the bathtub has a handheld showerhead for bathing dogs. the shower is to the right.* shower and tub are lined with white subway tile. the floors are tiled with white hexagon tile.no mos potty throne...

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-90146356373314218192010-02-02T14:58:00.006-06:002010-02-02T20:14:50.563-06:00

fresh coat of paint, molding, baseboards, and a new ceiling fan...* the rug is for a different room. just using it for now.the new paint color was inspired by this...the previous dining room looked like this. unfortunately, i just couldn't get into that "tan/khaki" color. i really love the new color, and Scott could care less either way. Here are some dining room chair candidates (well really

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-22918553010368393742010-01-16T15:25:00.004-06:002010-01-16T15:54:17.818-06:00

remember our hot mess of a bathroom? the one with the potty throne? well it's gone and has been replaced.it took about 6 weeks of hardwork(not us), lots of noise, dirt, dust, money, sacrifices, but it was all work it. it's magnificent! (at least i'm thrilled with it).we still have to paint the walls & molding,install the shower door (waiting on the order), just lots of little things.we went with

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-9825055157780010962010-01-16T14:43:00.002-06:002010-01-16T15:13:59.066-06:00

Hello! Wow, it's been awhile since my last post. Hope everyone survived the holidays! I tryed to keep things calm this year...had to miss out on all of the holiday parties, but it really seemed to help pain wise by not over doing it. Otherwise I certainly would not have been able to physically handle working. It sucks having a seasonal job schedule, but it is what it is. I had this same type of

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-48968786714750071572009-12-14T21:55:00.004-06:002010-01-05T22:39:01.465-06:00

We purchased a Jack Lalanne Power Juicer in September and have been using it (almost) everyday since. Our favorite recipe is the Dr Oz green juice recipe. I posted it below. It looks pretty green, but is actually quite good. Sometimes we spike it with Jameson's or Stoli. (:Dr. Oz Green Drink Recipe - 2 apples, cored- 2 big handfuls of spinach- 1/2 cup of chopped parsley- 1 celery stick, chopped-

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-18063209756465697342009-12-12T11:20:00.006-06:002009-12-12T11:52:05.726-06:00

I'm finally getting around to posting photos of our new bathroom in the basement. It originally looked like this, but because we had to tear it apart to replace the plumbing, we decided to make it smaller and the living space larger. Our second floor bathroom has been gutted and is in the process of being rehabbed. It's a hot mess right now!Click here to see the original bathroom.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-59399648625719966152009-12-12T09:54:00.002-06:002009-12-12T10:10:31.917-06:00

My Facebook page has been reactivated. As much as I can't stand Facebook, it's really the easiest way to keep in touch with some family & friends, see their photo albums, etc. I don't plan on using it to post things or to pass the time. I already have my blog(s), Flickr, and etsy to do that. Plus any free time I have to play around on the computer seems to be spent on Perez Hilton or Gawker. :P

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-37819561549772291352009-12-12T09:49:00.004-06:002009-12-12T10:55:46.471-06:00

Scott took a couple more snapshots with his cell phone of these two. With the frigid cold weather, they have become cute little snuggle buddies. We've had Ivan for just about a month now, and we are so happy things have worked out. He's a really wonderful kitty cat.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-3312215379646267762009-12-01T08:25:00.002-06:002009-12-01T08:45:17.631-06:00

Hello! Wow, can't believe it's the holidays already. Unfortunately we won't be doing a lot of celebrating or decorations this year. Things are way to chaotic right now. Plus our Christmas budget went out the window due to renovation expenses and a huge increase in property taxes. Ouch! The joys of being a homeowner. We will be going on vacation in January(visiting family in Florida), so we do

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-31401547339943832032009-12-01T08:16:00.003-06:002010-02-18T07:26:02.684-06:00

Heidi and Ivan seem to be enjoying each other's company.The photo below is from a cell phone and is a little blurry.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-31683228048878911322009-11-22T15:47:00.011-06:002010-02-18T07:24:59.007-06:00

He came to us from a foster home in Michigan. more photos of Ivan are HERE.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-81031040725743934402009-10-25T18:47:00.004-05:002009-10-25T19:00:14.636-05:00

Hello!Thanks for all of the nice messages regarding Meena. We are all very sad. We're just trying to keep busy with house projects and mindless entertainment.We put down new flooring in the kitchen. A very low budget solution to hide the previous flooring. The tile is vinyl peel & stick. BEFORE...AFTER...More kitchen photos HERE.I'll try and post more photos soon of other projects. Right now I

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-8748943426576722062009-10-09T17:38:00.000-05:002009-10-09T17:39:50.187-05:00

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-74856457152038056222009-09-25T14:51:00.002-05:002009-09-25T14:59:35.331-05:00

the house next door is in the process of being torn down. it's been a little nerve racking. check out how close it is to us...

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-82647773179715043922009-09-25T08:02:00.005-05:002009-10-28T15:14:29.731-05:00

Our little neice has arrived... her name is Lily Grace and she is cute as a button. Mommy & baby are doing fine. We're over the moon!

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-11264761196101208492009-09-23T11:44:00.004-05:002009-09-25T15:00:34.098-05:00

I finally finished painting the kitchen cabinet interiors. It took 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint. They could probably use even a 3rd coat, but I'm sick to death of painting. You can see the before photos HERE. * 2 coats of primer...finished (with the cabinet painting)...As I'm typing, Scott's sister is having a baby. She was induced this morning. We are waiting anxiously to welcome our

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-66210493388681368072009-09-12T18:00:00.003-05:002009-09-15T08:32:31.188-05:00

trying to get the office organized...added bookshelves...hung some art pieces....organized craft supplies and set out some favorite pieces...coverd the old file cabinets with contact paper.also made a floor runner with some tile found in the basement. The chair rolls around easily from computer to desk. The tiles are heavy and seem to stay in place, so no glue needed.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-34081563902295630172009-09-12T11:04:00.007-05:002009-09-12T18:40:04.297-05:00

I went on a little shopping spree. It was all stuff we really needed, but now Scott has put me on a little spending freeze. lol. He said that we have "enough stuff" for the house, which is so not the case.Ok, I bought these curtains for the dining room. They work really well with the paint colors. I'll take photos later.Stocked up on a few of these bookcases. I would have rather gotten something

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-89821518270374617622009-09-12T10:13:00.006-05:002009-10-13T22:29:05.879-05:00

I have to share a photo of this adorable little besu wallet my friend gave me. So cute! The Renegade Craft Fair is this weekend.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-51125455428685351322009-09-05T00:20:00.008-05:002009-09-08T21:44:57.932-05:00

* one (of many) ice cream trucks that cruise the neighborhood. this one in particular plays "The Entertainer" over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over...* basement getting gutted. prepping for a "Man Cave". the original bathroom is gone. we are going to have a small bathroom with just a podium sink/toilet. this will give us more open space in the basement.* the

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-13547482964471194092009-08-31T10:17:00.006-05:002009-08-31T20:26:31.217-05:00

I swear this has been the summer of doctoring and freak accidents for me. This past weekend, I either sprained or tore a muscle in my calf. How? I simply took a backwards step off my step stool, heard a 'pop', calf gave out, and I was on the floor. Thankfully, treating injuries like this are my husband's specialty. So I'm forced to be on bedrest with ice packs. It's very hard to sit still. So I'm

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-37466465389985146242009-08-31T09:49:00.004-05:002009-08-31T10:14:13.124-05:00

I have some photos to share from our annual 'girls only' family reunion last weekend in Minnesota. The theme for this year's reunion was "Mamma Mia"(the movie). The event included lots of visiting, photo sharing, jewelry making, a boat ride, 70s costume party, dancing(to the Mamma Mia soundtrack), lots of wonderful food, and a late night bonfire with s'mores. Lots of fun was had by all! I'm still

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-7619689122413813922009-08-27T19:54:00.005-05:002009-08-31T21:32:24.607-05:00

We found our new favorite neighborhood restaurant... Cemitas Puebla. It's delicious and super affordable! The inside is sorta kitschy. The walls are full of photos of the owner posing with celebrities, and the ceiling is covered in movie posters.* you can check it out on the Food Network with Guy Fieri... just for fun... this is the cutest thing ever!one more good thing, I LOVE, love, love Peapod

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-89240297548692023542009-08-27T10:14:00.004-05:002009-08-27T10:40:35.320-05:00

some photos of the freshly painted living room and dining room...* grey walls with white trim.* walls are a flat china white, trim is a high gloss white. we are still debating the banister. * walls are sand, espresso accent, and white trim.** more house photos HERE.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-7550769817198160142009-08-20T14:31:00.004-05:002009-08-20T21:26:36.625-05:00

right now i am...- counting down the hours to Project Runway. - preparing to leave town for a girls-only family reunion.- getting high off the paint fumes from the living room and dining room painting project. things are starting to look better (sorry, no photos yet), but i am having major paint color anxiety.- avoiding yard work/ pulling weeds. i got stung in the eye by a yellow jacket just over

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-58608383296899212422009-08-13T23:15:00.001-05:002009-08-13T23:18:33.840-05:00

"Life is like IKEA furniture. Sometimes you have to take it apart so you can put it back together the right way" – Chris Blake* found via apartment therapy here

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-36538691100997816972009-08-07T20:29:00.011-05:002009-09-13T17:36:23.572-05:00

Hurray- we have a washer and dryer of our very own! Well, almost. The washer is here, sitting in the dining room. The dryer was damaged during shipment, so the store is replacing it next week. Now we have a few days to figure out how to get the appliances into the basement laundry area.Here is a photo of our set. So excited! No more searching for quarters.They will hopefully be up and running in

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-78637844875057073472009-08-04T21:03:00.004-05:002009-08-04T21:46:06.760-05:00

kitchen...office...the guest room is currently our walk-in closet, massage room, and sewing room...* Do you see the white crocheted afghan in the lower right hand corner? My Grandma made that for me. :) My Uncle & Aunt were in town on biz, and brought it with them. I need better photos.* You can see more house photos HERE.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-90065492006625730422009-08-04T19:34:00.004-05:002009-08-04T20:30:29.344-05:00

We survived the move. Thankfully we had Starving Artist Movers help us out. They were superfast and awesome!We're mostly unpacked. It's been a little bit like camping, but with a cabin. No gas the first week, which meant no cooking, and ice cold showers. We have a gagillion projects going on. Here are some snapshots from the new place.Scott's lawn project... * the lawn photos are from one week

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-75385883803754981622009-07-22T08:34:00.001-05:002009-07-22T08:35:28.935-05:00

Our internet will be down for a bit. Hopefully, not too long.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-62289149553557819122009-07-20T20:34:00.005-05:002009-07-20T21:26:54.339-05:00

Check out the final product (please ingnore any molding, paint, etc). Considering the floors are from 1903, I think they turned out well. If I can walk around barefoot, and not have to worry about possibly getting a tetanus shot, I'm thrilled. the first floor is oak... master bedroom is maple... the floors are now safely covered for moving day and cosmetic work... Any ideas for the

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-17342161251739175502009-07-16T23:09:00.002-05:002009-07-16T23:15:42.486-05:00

Click here for more info about the festival (i think it's sold out).

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-83194330243517266642009-07-16T21:38:00.002-05:002009-07-16T21:45:54.054-05:00

Click HERE for more recent photos of the home rehab project.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-24031444660522975942009-07-15T01:23:00.005-05:002009-07-16T22:57:22.007-05:00

So we finally have running water in the first floor bath, kitchen, laundry room, and outside hose. The other two baths are a work in progress. That means we can start refinishing the wood floors, and move in soon after.main floor... second floor...basement bath... Here is the plumbing aftermath. Our plumber did alot of intricate plumbing repairs and rerouting... need to put up plastic, insulate,

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-56343185462270445152009-07-09T21:55:00.008-05:002009-07-14T07:29:59.922-05:00

Sorry, the only thing on my mind right now is work, and the house. I feel so out of touch.So apparently, "smiley faced pipes" is a term plumbers use for pipes that have busted, from freezing during the cold winter months. This is what they look like. Our plumber told us to keep these as souvenirs. Expensive little suckers! Unfortunately, there are more where these came from.When the water was

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-41664593793113743992009-07-04T18:57:00.007-05:002009-07-09T23:13:51.416-05:00

Hope everyone had a great holiday weekend.Any free time we had, outside of work, was spent working on our floor project. We ripped out all of the old carpet, along with a gagillion little staples and nails. Check out the photos below. We will someday get to call these the "before" pictures.Our wonderful plumber/MacGuyver guy spent a lot of time repairing & replacing pipes. The plumbing situation

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-70105789783248311532009-07-01T22:09:00.004-05:002009-07-09T23:14:41.444-05:00

It's one week after closing on the house, and we finally have water. Hallelujah! The Licensed Chicago plumber got it done in 15 minutes for 175 bucks. There was a leak, so our 'MacGuyver' handman is coming to do any necessary repairs before everything is turned on inside the house. _____________________________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-83887518218620169512009-06-30T20:11:00.006-05:002009-07-09T23:15:11.486-05:00

I'm sure my family & friends in Minnesota are ecstatic that it is finally over!_________________________________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-56069295717931473932009-06-29T23:01:00.006-05:002009-06-30T12:15:58.501-05:00

Well, I spent the day at the Chicago water department to try and find out why we don't have running water in the house yet. We have called '311' several times, spoke on the phone to many different water department employees. Faxed them stuff. Emailed stuff. Still no answers. We keep getting the run around. Everyone has a different answer for the same question. It's really frustrating, as we

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-68548449296769717682009-06-27T17:26:00.003-05:002009-06-30T12:16:30.745-05:00

Go to Glidden.com for a free quart of paint. Hurry, its for a short time only!___________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-80959730338107951932009-06-26T23:45:00.012-05:002009-06-27T17:22:50.899-05:00

We closed on the house this week. It's officially ours! Yay!Right now we do not have running water. We had a plumber come out today for minor repairs and to de-winterize the home. We're waiting for news from the city to see what's going on. It only took them 12 hours to respond to our emergency 311 call (about midnight tonight). Last week when I spoke to a woman from the water department, she

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-78155362845568114852009-06-21T07:10:00.003-05:002009-06-23T21:31:02.375-05:00

Love you & miss you! xoxo* Since our photos are all packed, I'm using a photo I posted before. One of my favs! Circa early 1970s. PS I wonder if that plane would fly through thunder storms.___________________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-10240934598824507702009-06-19T23:15:00.003-05:002009-06-23T21:32:36.264-05:00

will explain later. just know this weekend didn't go according to plan, due to the weather. errrr... totally bummed._____________________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-91744771813379828362009-06-15T21:57:00.011-05:002009-06-23T21:35:03.928-05:00

little things i'm thinking about before the big move:* thinking about doing this... check out Living Without Cable on NPR. Update- not going to happen.* in between anxiety attacks, i'm enjoying looking at photos of cool backyard spaces. check out these at apartment therapy. LOVE this cheap-o patio makeover over at this This Young House. if you have any great links, please do share.* wondering

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-89905459116333892112009-06-10T19:54:00.007-05:002009-06-11T21:20:39.023-05:00

It sure seems like it! But I'm pretty sure it ended a week ago. It's just been one thing after another. I'm physically & mentally spent, and in pain. On Monday there was an incident involving me, a labrador, our teeth smacking into each other, me ending up with fractured teeth(only noticeable up close), sore face, jaw, head & neck pain. Went to the Doctor, and now need to go to the dentist for a

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-25447448172411748012009-05-30T09:39:00.002-05:002009-05-30T10:00:54.516-05:00

The 'Do Division' street fair is today and tomorrow! The vendors are setting up, as I type, right outside of our front door. We had a great time last year! I'm very excited to catch up with friends. Oh how I love Chicago in the summertime! * note to self: girl, don't you be going crazy buying from the vendors!!! remember you have a house to rehab!__________________________________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-4952254821091222342009-05-26T22:37:00.005-05:002009-05-30T10:43:30.635-05:00

Hope everyone had a lovely holiday weekend!We were lucky enough to be invited to a couple of bbqs. We ate insane amounts of outstanding food! Need to get biking to burn off some pounds. The weather was a little manic, but manageable & tolerable. Today was back to the real world. Back to business. I decided to get started on packing. We've been here for 4 years, so have accumulated a lot of stuff.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-86015277151679245312009-05-24T12:44:00.010-05:002009-05-30T10:44:15.516-05:00

i really really really want to paint the hardwood a highgloss white! we have had highgloss painted floors before, and loved them. so easy to clean! the only negative is that the paint took forever to dry. photo by living etc, found via Door Sixteen.love this all white kitchen...photo found at apartment therapy- click here to see more. here is our kitchen 'before' the makeover.our plan to 'make it

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-23792829948689218902009-05-23T13:11:00.004-05:002009-05-30T10:45:02.979-05:00

- i got a tip about this fantastic DIY home makeover blog called, This Young House. there are tons of how- to projects, and the before & after of their home is absolutely amazing.- i'm loving this blog- How about Orange. lots of cool tutorials and inspiring decorating ideas.- just found the adorable blog called doe-c-doe. love these gift tags, and the vintage embroidery patterns.- lots of cool

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-16086237591348057272009-05-22T21:34:00.008-05:002009-05-30T10:45:44.133-05:00

goodbye Wicker Park-Ukranian village.i'm so sad to leave, but it's time for us to move on and seek out new places to love. here are a bunch of places we will miss.- Letizias- good strong coffee and a sinfully delicious bakery. they use real butter- no margarine. love the giant cookies and cupcakes.-Thai Village- great potstickers.- Small Bar- excellent beer selection and great bar food. they have

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-56128788252465016942009-05-22T17:45:00.010-05:002009-05-30T11:06:38.902-05:00

first off, we still are waiting to close. so hopefully i'm not jinxing the deal while sharing...- the new house is bordering between Humboldt Park and Logan Square neighborhoods.some home improvements, that we need asap and make me a wee bit nervous, and will most likely not be DIY projects, include...- how to install a sump pump. ok, we will definitly need some help with this project. we already

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-76960561291846009522009-05-20T17:11:00.003-05:002009-05-30T10:47:52.834-05:00

House photos HERE!__________________________

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-21810219630495155362009-05-15T19:43:00.006-05:002009-05-30T10:48:42.516-05:00

Home improvement blogs (there are many more to the right, under links)...- Charles & Hudson- a DIY home improvement blog- Check out the DIY City Guide Chicago Edition- Making it Lovely- a home improvement blog about a Chicago bungalow- Retro RenovationDealing with bad tile:-tile decals at Mibo, Enna and Sign Chick 1.- painting tile- someone recommended this- painting over ceramic tile, here and

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-7108656798041289902009-05-11T22:34:00.004-05:002009-05-11T22:57:22.138-05:00

Free art here at Feed Your Soul: the free art project! The project was started by the writer behind Indie Fixx.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-63023724500437966772009-05-09T20:41:00.001-05:002009-05-09T20:43:27.359-05:00

Love you Mom! K xoxo

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-24018616111665572552009-05-04T22:37:00.008-05:002009-05-08T00:06:52.791-05:00

Still house hunting... it's like being in purgatory! I've been instructed by our realtor, and loan guy, to not make any big purchases, travel, to not spend any money, to not have any fun, etc.If anyone gets a crazy facebook message from me about viagra & cialis, I'm so sorry. Not sure what happened...something about "a friend's page getting hacked".Also, I haven't figured out the new facebook

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-86064339454400497252009-04-25T09:40:00.003-05:002009-04-25T10:06:23.770-05:00

I just found out. So sorry if this is a belated birthday wish. My barbie dolls are not yet 50, but they are looking pretty wrecked. Here are some funny 'Barbie turns 50' things sent to me from my Mom and a friend. Barbies were my life as a kid! I had 'Barbie's country camper' and the airplane. I think my Brother's GI Joe, Spiderman, and some Star War's action figures, hijacked and destroyed the

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20387410.post-58778455743805714952009-04-22T19:13:00.003-05:002009-04-22T19:59:21.177-05:00

William 'The Refrigerator' Perry is in the hospital with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy-CIDP. You can read more about it HERE and HERE. I read earlier that he had Guillian-Barre, but haven't heard any details yet.In any case, he's in our thoughts & prayers.

kristin, k, or mrs shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04944886015248837574noreply@blogger.com