I need a vacation.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
I need help!
Well friends, I wasn't going to post pictures of my kitchen again until it was FINISHED but... I need help.
We have been trying to renovate our kitchen on a grad student budget for the past year-and-a-half while trying to raise our rambunctious toddler. I'm ready to be DONE with the kitchen but I can't make decisions! So I need your help.
Here's a little recap of what we've done so far.
Our kitchen has gone from this:
To this:
Then to this:
And then to this:
And this:
And then my son started sleeping (mostly) through the night and I realized my kitchen was still ugly (and stuck in Scandinavia in the 90s.) So, inspired by this:
And this:
I did this:
And this:
But something still didn't feel right. I felt like the raw butcher block was clashing with the dark floor. So last Saturday I stained the beech butcher block on the island a dark walnut:
(Please excuse the mess.)
Now I'm freaking out about it. I think the stain is too dark and I'm not sure about the black and brown combo. But I don't know what to do next.
Do I:
1. Sand the island top back down to raw beech and change the paint color on the kitchen walls to tie in with the island??? (Maybe a creamy yellow???)
2. Sand the island top and stain it a lighter color; similar to the floor but not as dark???
3. Leave the island the way it is???
4. Demolish the kitchen and take out a loan to start over???
Also, do you think I should paint the upper cabinets black too?
Please help me!!! Thanks!!!
We have been trying to renovate our kitchen on a grad student budget for the past year-and-a-half while trying to raise our rambunctious toddler. I'm ready to be DONE with the kitchen but I can't make decisions! So I need your help.
Here's a little recap of what we've done so far.
Our kitchen has gone from this:
To this:
Then to this:
And then to this:
And this:
And then my son started sleeping (mostly) through the night and I realized my kitchen was still ugly (and stuck in Scandinavia in the 90s.) So, inspired by this:
And this:
I did this:
And this:
But something still didn't feel right. I felt like the raw butcher block was clashing with the dark floor. So last Saturday I stained the beech butcher block on the island a dark walnut:
(Please excuse the mess.)
Now I'm freaking out about it. I think the stain is too dark and I'm not sure about the black and brown combo. But I don't know what to do next.
Do I:
1. Sand the island top back down to raw beech and change the paint color on the kitchen walls to tie in with the island??? (Maybe a creamy yellow???)
2. Sand the island top and stain it a lighter color; similar to the floor but not as dark???
3. Leave the island the way it is???
4. Demolish the kitchen and take out a loan to start over???
Also, do you think I should paint the upper cabinets black too?
Please help me!!! Thanks!!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Leah's Top 10 So Cal Destinations With (Little) Kids
My girlfriend, her hubby, and kids (ages 2 and 10 months) are taking a vacation to Southern California. (Lucky, lucky, lucky.) She called me yesterday to find out what we do while we are there. I started making this list for her and realized that some of you might like this info too. (P.S. I'm not including San Diego here; that's a topic for another post.) Anyway, here it is:
Leah's Top 10 So Cal Destinations With (Little) Kids
1.The Beach!
Beaches we love:
a. Point Dume Beach or Zuma Beach in Malibu. Malibu has lovely beaches and they're nice and warm from 1 pm to 4 pm almost year round. The water in So Cal is always FREEZING but you can catch some rays in Malibu even in February. (It's no wonder all the celebs have homes there...)
b. Seaward Beach in Ventura. This beach can be rocky and a little chilly but we like it because crowds are minimal. There are nice picnic areas (with bbq grills) and grassy parks just off the beach. Seaward also has a nice, long, paved trail that's fun to walk, bike, or roller skate. I think it is Seaward Beach that rents tandem bikes and 4-wheel surrey bikes like this one. So fun!
c. The Santa Monica Pier.
One of our favorite things to do is to pack a picnic lunch, park in the lot by the Santa Monica pier ($5) and play at the beach all day. Santa Monica beaches are great for boogie boarding, especially if you're a beginner. The waves are usually pretty tame around the pier. After a day at the beach, we like to get cleaned up (in the car) and walk the Pier and the shops up the street (5th street and the surrounding area). They have street performers on the weekends and the shopping and dining are great!
2.The Zoo!
I love the L.A. Zoo. Admission is $12 for adults (ages 13 - up) and $7 for children (ages 2 to 12). Visit www.lazoo.org for more info. Bring a lightweight stroller and lots of water in the Spring and Summer. It gets HOT!
3.The Museums!
a. Drew loves the Natural History Museum (and so do we!) They have a cool Thomas the T Rex Dinosaur Exhibit right now and stuffed animals from all over the world (taxidermy... not toys.) Very cool. Call 213-763-3466. Admission is $9 for adults, $6.50 for kids ages 13 to 17, $2 for kids ages five to 12 and free for kids under five. www.nhm.org
b. The Science Center and Travel Town Automotive Museum are great. These museums are fun, educational, and very kid-friendly. Plan on spending at least 2 hours at the science center (longer if you're going to see an IMAX movie) and an hour at Travel Town. Visit www.californiasciencecenter.org and www.laparks.org for more information.
c. The LaBrea tar pits are also WAY COOL. (Dino bones fossilized in tar.) Go to www.tarpits.org for more information.
d. Note: Do NOT take your little kids to the Getty Museum. This should be a no-brainer but we tried to go anyway with Drew. (We love the Getty.) We ended up spending the whole time outside in the gardens after being scolded by the security guards for bringing a bottle into an exhibit. Lame. Go for date night, not for family night. www.getty.edu
4.The Observatory!
We haven't taken Drew to the Griffith Park Observatory yet but they just finished renovating it and I've heard it's way cool. Go to www.griffithobs.org for more information.
5.The Great Outdoors!
a. There are lots of fun hiking and biking trails in So Cal. We like to hike in Wildwood Park. The tee-pee hike is fun with kids. Just make sure you have energy to pack your toddler(s) on the way back.
b. If you can beg or borrow (or rent) a couple of bikes and a bike trailer it's fun to bike down Sycamore Canyon. The trail head is in Newbury Park and ends at Point Mugu Beach just off the PCH (the Sycamore Canyon State Campground). It's a REALLY easy down hill bike ride (about 9 miles) with beautiful scenery along the way. This is a fun day trip; pack a lunch and eat at the beach when you get there. However, unless you are Lance Armstrong you MUST leave a car at the beach or get someone to pick you up at the campground or beach when you've finished. Do NOT attempt to pull your kids in a bike trailer back up the canyon! Take the 101 freeway to the city of Thousand Oaks, get off at Lynn road and go South. Take Lynn a couple miles and go left on Wendy Drive. The trail head is at the end of Wendy Drive. With kids, try to get onto the flat section of the trail before beginning your ride!
6.Santa Barbara!
Santa Barbara is a lovely little town with tons of cool, kid-friendly places to hang out. Here are a few we like:
a. Santa Barbara Historical Museum (free admission; 805-966-1601),
b. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History ($6 for adults, $5 for teens ages 12-17 and $4 for kids ages 12 and under; 805-682-4711)
c. Chase Palm Park (Pretty park with fountains and a cool shipwreck-themed playground. It's rght next to the beach, and it's FREE!)
d. Santa Barbara Zoo ($9 for adults, $7 for kids ages 2 to 12; 805-962-6310) www.santabarbarazoo.org
7.Citywalk!
(Right outside of Universal Studios.) We like to go there in the early evening. We go with kids for family night or without kids for a hot date. There are tons of restaurants and shops, a huge movie theater, fountains and fun things to see. www.citywalkhollywood.com
*Don't take your little kids to Universal Studios unless YOU REALLY want to go. There's just not that much for little ones to do.
8.Long Beach!
I love the Long Beach Aquarium (The Aquarium of the Pacific). It's a little pricey (adults get in for $23.95, children 3-11 are $11.95) but it's lots of fun. They have a tank where you can touch sting rays and sharks, TONS of HUGE fish tanks, sea otters, seals and sea lions and fun shows for the kids. It's a pretty big aquarium and it's right by the beach. www.aquariumofpacific.org
We like to leave for Long Beach after lunch (so Drew sleeps in the car), and arrive at the aquarium at around 2 or 2:30. It takes about 2 hours to see everything so we're usually ready for dinner when we've finished. There are tons of restaurants within walking distance so we go eat early and then take a long walk up and around the Lions Lighthouse (take the scenic walkway that runs up and down the beach.) ALWAYS bring a sweater to the beach after 4 or 5 pm.
9.Disneyland! And Disney's California Adventure!
This one is a no brainier. If you haven't been to Disneyland with your kids, you haven't been to Disneyland. Here are a few insider tips:
a. If you're going to Disneyland around any major holiday, during spring break (late February through Easter week) or during the months of June, July, or August, your best friend is www.Ridemax.com. For $15 you can download a program that plans every minute of your Disneyland vacation; minimizing wait time and maximizing ride time. You can schedule your rides and breaks so you'll be sure to hit all of your favorite rides. You'll spend at least an hour in every line at the park without this program. We LOVE it!
b. USE the baby swap program! Here is an explanation.
c. USE the fast pass system. Here's an explanation.
P.S. Fastpasses DO NOT expire. You can use them anytime after the first time printed on the pass. (Use them on the same day you get them, of course.)
d. Unless you want to spend a fortune on food, take your own snacks, food, and water into the park! (Just be discreet and follow these tips.)
If you're short on cash and can't afford to visit Disneyland (or if you just don't feel like dealing with crowds), visit Downtown Disney instead. Downtown Disney has free admission and free parking for like 4 hours. It is super fun place on the weekends with live bands, shopping, and lots of yummy places to eat. Click here to learn more.
Also see www.mouseplanet.com and www.mousesavers.com for more insider tips.
10.Grandma's Backyard!
(Ha ha. I had to throw this one in.) Yes, I am talking about MY Grandma's backyard. I love my Grandma. Grandma's is a great place for hot tubbing, scooter riding, motorized wheelchair racing, comfort food eating, porch swinging, and old movie watching. And best of all, Grandma is there!
If you don't know my Grandma... I'm so sorry... You'll have to find a hot tub and comfort food elsewhere. Take one night off to just chill out. Pick up some chicken and biscuits (and a slice of Adam's Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple cheesecake) at your local California Cheesecake Factory, take a few minutes to soak in your hotel hot tub, and then curl up in your pajamas with the kiddos and an old movie. (Almost like Grandma's... but not quite.)
Have a fun trip.
Leah's Top 10 So Cal Destinations With (Little) Kids
1.The Beach!
Beaches we love:
a. Point Dume Beach or Zuma Beach in Malibu. Malibu has lovely beaches and they're nice and warm from 1 pm to 4 pm almost year round. The water in So Cal is always FREEZING but you can catch some rays in Malibu even in February. (It's no wonder all the celebs have homes there...)
b. Seaward Beach in Ventura. This beach can be rocky and a little chilly but we like it because crowds are minimal. There are nice picnic areas (with bbq grills) and grassy parks just off the beach. Seaward also has a nice, long, paved trail that's fun to walk, bike, or roller skate. I think it is Seaward Beach that rents tandem bikes and 4-wheel surrey bikes like this one. So fun!
c. The Santa Monica Pier.
One of our favorite things to do is to pack a picnic lunch, park in the lot by the Santa Monica pier ($5) and play at the beach all day. Santa Monica beaches are great for boogie boarding, especially if you're a beginner. The waves are usually pretty tame around the pier. After a day at the beach, we like to get cleaned up (in the car) and walk the Pier and the shops up the street (5th street and the surrounding area). They have street performers on the weekends and the shopping and dining are great!
2.The Zoo!
I love the L.A. Zoo. Admission is $12 for adults (ages 13 - up) and $7 for children (ages 2 to 12). Visit www.lazoo.org for more info. Bring a lightweight stroller and lots of water in the Spring and Summer. It gets HOT!
3.The Museums!
a. Drew loves the Natural History Museum (and so do we!) They have a cool Thomas the T Rex Dinosaur Exhibit right now and stuffed animals from all over the world (taxidermy... not toys.) Very cool. Call 213-763-3466. Admission is $9 for adults, $6.50 for kids ages 13 to 17, $2 for kids ages five to 12 and free for kids under five. www.nhm.org
b. The Science Center and Travel Town Automotive Museum are great. These museums are fun, educational, and very kid-friendly. Plan on spending at least 2 hours at the science center (longer if you're going to see an IMAX movie) and an hour at Travel Town. Visit www.californiasciencecenter.org and www.laparks.org for more information.
c. The LaBrea tar pits are also WAY COOL. (Dino bones fossilized in tar.) Go to www.tarpits.org for more information.
d. Note: Do NOT take your little kids to the Getty Museum. This should be a no-brainer but we tried to go anyway with Drew. (We love the Getty.) We ended up spending the whole time outside in the gardens after being scolded by the security guards for bringing a bottle into an exhibit. Lame. Go for date night, not for family night. www.getty.edu
4.The Observatory!
We haven't taken Drew to the Griffith Park Observatory yet but they just finished renovating it and I've heard it's way cool. Go to www.griffithobs.org for more information.
5.The Great Outdoors!
a. There are lots of fun hiking and biking trails in So Cal. We like to hike in Wildwood Park. The tee-pee hike is fun with kids. Just make sure you have energy to pack your toddler(s) on the way back.
b. If you can beg or borrow (or rent) a couple of bikes and a bike trailer it's fun to bike down Sycamore Canyon. The trail head is in Newbury Park and ends at Point Mugu Beach just off the PCH (the Sycamore Canyon State Campground). It's a REALLY easy down hill bike ride (about 9 miles) with beautiful scenery along the way. This is a fun day trip; pack a lunch and eat at the beach when you get there. However, unless you are Lance Armstrong you MUST leave a car at the beach or get someone to pick you up at the campground or beach when you've finished. Do NOT attempt to pull your kids in a bike trailer back up the canyon! Take the 101 freeway to the city of Thousand Oaks, get off at Lynn road and go South. Take Lynn a couple miles and go left on Wendy Drive. The trail head is at the end of Wendy Drive. With kids, try to get onto the flat section of the trail before beginning your ride!
6.Santa Barbara!
Santa Barbara is a lovely little town with tons of cool, kid-friendly places to hang out. Here are a few we like:
a. Santa Barbara Historical Museum (free admission; 805-966-1601),
b. Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History ($6 for adults, $5 for teens ages 12-17 and $4 for kids ages 12 and under; 805-682-4711)
c. Chase Palm Park (Pretty park with fountains and a cool shipwreck-themed playground. It's rght next to the beach, and it's FREE!)
d. Santa Barbara Zoo ($9 for adults, $7 for kids ages 2 to 12; 805-962-6310) www.santabarbarazoo.org
7.Citywalk!
(Right outside of Universal Studios.) We like to go there in the early evening. We go with kids for family night or without kids for a hot date. There are tons of restaurants and shops, a huge movie theater, fountains and fun things to see. www.citywalkhollywood.com
*Don't take your little kids to Universal Studios unless YOU REALLY want to go. There's just not that much for little ones to do.
8.Long Beach!
I love the Long Beach Aquarium (The Aquarium of the Pacific). It's a little pricey (adults get in for $23.95, children 3-11 are $11.95) but it's lots of fun. They have a tank where you can touch sting rays and sharks, TONS of HUGE fish tanks, sea otters, seals and sea lions and fun shows for the kids. It's a pretty big aquarium and it's right by the beach. www.aquariumofpacific.org
We like to leave for Long Beach after lunch (so Drew sleeps in the car), and arrive at the aquarium at around 2 or 2:30. It takes about 2 hours to see everything so we're usually ready for dinner when we've finished. There are tons of restaurants within walking distance so we go eat early and then take a long walk up and around the Lions Lighthouse (take the scenic walkway that runs up and down the beach.) ALWAYS bring a sweater to the beach after 4 or 5 pm.
9.Disneyland! And Disney's California Adventure!
This one is a no brainier. If you haven't been to Disneyland with your kids, you haven't been to Disneyland. Here are a few insider tips:
a. If you're going to Disneyland around any major holiday, during spring break (late February through Easter week) or during the months of June, July, or August, your best friend is www.Ridemax.com. For $15 you can download a program that plans every minute of your Disneyland vacation; minimizing wait time and maximizing ride time. You can schedule your rides and breaks so you'll be sure to hit all of your favorite rides. You'll spend at least an hour in every line at the park without this program. We LOVE it!
b. USE the baby swap program! Here is an explanation.
c. USE the fast pass system. Here's an explanation.
P.S. Fastpasses DO NOT expire. You can use them anytime after the first time printed on the pass. (Use them on the same day you get them, of course.)
d. Unless you want to spend a fortune on food, take your own snacks, food, and water into the park! (Just be discreet and follow these tips.)
If you're short on cash and can't afford to visit Disneyland (or if you just don't feel like dealing with crowds), visit Downtown Disney instead. Downtown Disney has free admission and free parking for like 4 hours. It is super fun place on the weekends with live bands, shopping, and lots of yummy places to eat. Click here to learn more.
Also see www.mouseplanet.com and www.mousesavers.com for more insider tips.
10.Grandma's Backyard!
(Ha ha. I had to throw this one in.) Yes, I am talking about MY Grandma's backyard. I love my Grandma. Grandma's is a great place for hot tubbing, scooter riding, motorized wheelchair racing, comfort food eating, porch swinging, and old movie watching. And best of all, Grandma is there!
If you don't know my Grandma... I'm so sorry... You'll have to find a hot tub and comfort food elsewhere. Take one night off to just chill out. Pick up some chicken and biscuits (and a slice of Adam's Peanut Butter Fudge Ripple cheesecake) at your local California Cheesecake Factory, take a few minutes to soak in your hotel hot tub, and then curl up in your pajamas with the kiddos and an old movie. (Almost like Grandma's... but not quite.)
Have a fun trip.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Oh No!
Garrit brought this home from Walmart today. I guess he thinks Drew is ready for potty training. Before I could protest, he had the thing all set up in the bathroom.
When Drew saw his new toilet, he ripped off his diaper excitedly and took a leak. Unfortunately, in his excitement, he didn't quite make it to the toilet. He leaked all over the bathroom floor.
Can you tell I am SO not ready for this?
When Drew saw his new toilet, he ripped off his diaper excitedly and took a leak. Unfortunately, in his excitement, he didn't quite make it to the toilet. He leaked all over the bathroom floor.
Can you tell I am SO not ready for this?
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Sunday, March 1, 2009
We're Baaaack!
We snuck away to California last week. Here's a little preview of our vacation pics. More later :)
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