Things That You Don't Talk About at the Dinner Table

Tonight we installed the new toilet. It was fantastic. Maybe not the actual installation part of the toilet was so fantastic (but Alan did an amazing job, though!), but the toilet itself is amazing. On a vacation adventure in Spain a couple summers ago, I was introduced to one of the coolest toilets ever. About 95% of the toilets in Spain (that I used) were all the same kind. They have two flush options. On the top of the toilet there is one button on the left for Number Ones, and a second button to the right for Number Twos. Obviously the Number Two option flushes more water, but the whole toilet is still very water efficient and it is just oh, so pretty. I am getting more and more done on the bathroom everyday. It should be done in about a week! Then on to the next project: helping Alan with the kitchen!

These aren't pictures of our exact toilet, but just so you

can understand how it looks and is set up:

Makin a List, Checkin It Twice!

Both Alan and I have been diligently working on the house, pretty much every single night after work. The kitchen is almost all cleared out now, and even missing a wall! After a leak in the roof a while back, the kitchen is needing a new ceiling. We originally planned on replacing the appliances, putting up a new ceiling, and replacing the flooring. That has quickly morphed into:

1. Replacing the appliances
2. Installing a new ceiling
3. Replacing new flooring
4. Tearing down all the walls to: Insulate the exterior walls and replace the textured walls with flat, smooth walls
5. Tiling and backsplash-ing
6. Repainting cabinetry
7. Adding extra lighting
8. Putting in new cabinetry, sink and faucet
9. Running water lines to the fridge so the Water-in-the-Door feature on our refrigerator will actually work, ha!
   

- and even -

10. Maybe putting bamboo flooring...on the ceiling. Haven't decided on that one yet, just something crazy that I threw out there.

All the rooms have a checklist. The kitchen's is by far the longest. It will take the most time, and the most money. However, as previously posted, Alan and I love to spend time in the kitchen. It will be our most loved room.

I have recently scored us some new things for the house that include but are not limited to: some rockin' storage containers for the kitchen (no really, these are awesome!), accessories, and a new rug for the living room! I got an awesome deal on a rug at Target and now it is anxiously awaiting the day for the floors to be refinished so it can be down and displaying its gorgeousness. As soon as the picture upload function is back up and working, I will post some pictures of my loot.

The First Step Is Admitting You Have A Problem

Hello, my name is Caitlin and I'm addicted to Target. It's true. After making myself stay away from my oft' frequented store, I stopped in the other day. I needed one thing. I came out with too much. Way too much. It was quite the receipt, let me tell you! However, I have received quite a fair sum of money as graduation gifts, and I try to make sure that I buy something in particular when people give cash as a present. I like being able to think back that "Eve got me a beautiful Liberty of London canister set as a present for graduating college," rather than "Eve gave me cash and I got some groceries that were gone in three days." I don't know why, but I have gotten way too excited about these canisters. I cannot wait to have them in my new, beautiful kitchen!

I have been looking for some attractive flour, coffee, and sugar tins to no avail. I found these on serious clearance, and just knew these were the ones I needed.

Kilzing Me Softly

Having a house that has remained the same for the last 30 some years, it is calling me to paint. I previously posted about paint colors, but now am now seriously trying to figure out what will go where. As we have been working, we've slowly done a few things here and a few things there. Every room has seen work of some kind. The bad thing about doing little bits in each room is not being able to see immediate results. I have decided to finish the bathroom first. It is small. It is doable. This shouldn't take me too long. I have scrubbed the tile and flooring until my heart almost burst, I have sanded the built in towel closet, and have cleaned the walls for painting. The other day I began to paint the built ins and the walls with good ol' Kilz primer. I love this stuff. Its the perfect stuff for sealing, odor and stain blocking, and priming of course. Getting clean, white walls up first has already made the bathroom feel clean and a little bit larger. Score. However, today, two full days after priming the bathroom walls and built ins, I have just found some residual paint on me. Two full days and two or three showers later, I still had it on me! It either says something for how good the paint is, or it says something bad about my hygiene skills. I'm hoping I've got both good paint and good hygiene.

Seriously love this stuff.

Stalking Stockings

I am a fan of dressing up. I especially love the style of the 40's through the 60's. Having a grandmother who never got rid of anything, I have a seriously astounding hat and purse collection. Mix a 40's style hat with a pencil skirt and some heels and you have quite a stunning outfit. Somehow, this outfit (which I mix and match quite often) always seems better with stockings. I love the look of panty hose and tights, but sometimes they lack the umph the outfit calls for. Tattoo Sock and More on etsy.com has some amazing options. Check these suckers out!

The scroll work tights are a favorite,

but not as great as the Peacock feathers! In. Love.