Tiles done. 

Heres the question and I’d love your help- I have three 4 foot stainless shelves that I can put on that big white wall. Should I? 1? 2? 3? Staggered? Lined up like a single shelf all the way across? No shelf?

Help. 

Thank you!

Tiles done.

Heres the question and I’d love your help- I have three 4 foot stainless shelves that I can put on that big white wall. Should I? 1? 2? 3? Staggered? Lined up like a single shelf all the way across? No shelf?

Help.

Thank you!

Tile teaser…

Tile teaser…

Shelf on fridge panel. Coming together. Slowly.

Shelf on fridge panel. Coming together. Slowly.

Filling and delicious! So great to have a fully functioning kitchen again:)

Filling and delicious! So great to have a fully functioning kitchen again:)

Kitty condo. 

Goes inside the closet and houses the litter box accessed by the kitty door. That’s right, the kitty door. Laugh, be jealous, emote however you choose but spot will officially be shitting in style.

Kitty condo.

Goes inside the closet and houses the litter box accessed by the kitty door. That’s right, the kitty door. Laugh, be jealous, emote however you choose but spot will officially be shitting in style.

a note from contractor mark yesterday…
too soon mark, too soon.

a note from contractor mark yesterday…
too soon mark, too soon.

Green paint not my fav. Hoping it will look better when the backsplash goes up. If not, it’s back to square one on that one.

Green paint not my fav. Hoping it will look better when the backsplash goes up. If not, it’s back to square one on that one.

Hardware. Boring, but it will do until I have the patience for something fancier. 

Now if only I could pick my lighting. gah!

Hardware. Boring, but it will do until I have the patience for something fancier.

Now if only I could pick my lighting. gah!

looking back on 2011

1. what did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

nothing of too much significance.  but i pushed myself towards some new challenges. i changed my career in a way and i completed my first half ironman.  i’m proud of a lot of things this year, but next year i hope to answer this question a bit differently.

2. did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for the next year?

i didn’t really officially make any resolutions in 2011.  i set a few goals though and i think i achieved most of them. mostly i’m proud to have kept up with a lot of the healthier habits that i formed in 2010.  

3. did anyone close to you give birth?

welcome to the world mary ruth!

4. did anyone close to you die?

fortunately, no.

5. what countries did you visit?

sadly none.

6. what would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

confidence in my future.

7. what dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

october 29 - beach to battleship!

8. what was your biggest achievement of the year?

half iron - made me realize that i’m capable of anything i want to be capable of. physically that is.

9. what was your biggest failure?

not being brave enough.

10. did you suffer illness or injury?

i managed to work out some major tightness in my legs (quads, hammies, IT band). it sidelined me for a bit, and postponed my marathon goals another year, but i learned a lot about my body and how to take better care of myself.  the result has actually be a positive - i’m stronger and pretty much all my muscles are better off. i have high hopes for 2012.

11. what was the best thing you bought?

kitchen.

12. where did most of your money go?

kitchen.

13. what did you get really excited about?

kitchen. and half iron.

14. what song will always remind you of 2011?

adele’s 21 album.

15. compared to this time last year, are you:

happier or sadder?

about the same.  

healthier or unhealthier?

about the same.

richer or poorer?

poorer. (see 11-13 above)

16. what do you wish you’d done more of?

loved. let go of negative feelings/thoughts.

17. what do wish you’d done less of?

being disappointed, angry, sad.

18. how did you spend christmas?

with the squeeze and trav in chicago. 

19. what was your favorite tv program?

rescue me!

20. what were your favorite books of the year?

i didn’t get too excited about very many books this year, but i did get really into asian historical fiction. 

21. what was your favorite music from this year?

i loved adele’s album, 21.

22. what were your favorite films?

nothing notable.

23. what did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

i celebrated my last birthday in atlantic city with my best pals…in sparkles. it was pretty amazing. i plan to keep up the sparkle theme until i run out of sparkle outfits. so, never. take note, i’ll also be celebrating my 27th birthday from here on out.

24. what one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

getting my shit together.

25. what kept you sane?

spot.

26. tell us a valuable lesson you learned in 2011?

life’s short and will pass you by if you’re not careful.

destined to be without a garbage disposal?

looking like it.

i know life could be way worse, but i’m starting to get a wee bit frustrated with the daily kitchen drama.

stay tuned…