So, I know I usually post about home decor-related stuff, but my blog is about new beginnings in general, therefore, I'm taking a little writing liberty here and delving into the subject of dating.
Two years ago, on Valentine's Day, my exhusband and I went to my favorite restaurant in Providence. It was a big night out and we had been (well, I had been) trying to focus more on spending quality time together. We had a big discussion back on Superbowl Sunday (I think Feb 2 or something) about how although we'd been only married for 7 months, we had been living together for 3 years and not spending enough quality time together. I have NO idea how we got on the subject of honesty, but he even held my hand across the table when the subject of infidelity came up and said something along the lines of "I'd have to be so stupid to mess this up...why would I throw our life together away?" Meanwhile, he was having sex with some 24 year old floozy from Craigslist (who knew he was married) on the side!!!! Lord! Our marriage broke up exactly ONE week later on Feb 21--that was the day I found his phone in our bed and the text messages from the Craigslist floozy. I left that night and never looked back....
Now, two years later, my life is just so different. Of course, at the core, I have the same job and same friends, and same family, but I'm just truly different. I feel like February 2009 was the month I became an adult. I was 28 at the time (one month from 29) and I look back and I see a naive kid. I girl who was all too willing to settle for the sake of this man. And, to be honest, I look back and wonder what was it that I loved about him so much? Who knows....the girl I am today is not the 24 year old girl that fell for him. The girl I am today is much more confident, self-assured, proud, and determined. Sure, I have moments when I hate being single and wonder just *when* I will feel that jolt of love again....but ultimately, I'm pretty satisfied with things overall.
So, what does Valentine's Day mean to me now? It's funny, I look back on that Valentine's Day with my ex and it wasn't anything too great. Sure, we had this decadent meal out and I had a good looking man sitting across the table from me, but in hindsight, I realize now that life was a lie.....tonight, I won't be having a fancy date, in fact, I have no date at all. I'll be going to teach my spin class at 5:45 like I do every Monday night and then I'm coming home to do some schoolwork, watch some shows on my DVR, and do some laundry. It will be a great night because it will be real and authentic.
I won't be looking back on this Valentine's Day thinking "Hmmmm, I wonder if he texted her on V-Day something like 'I wish I was you, not her...ugh'" or something else horrible like that! I will not be disappointed when he gives me a piece of heart jewelry (ugh, I HATE heart jewelry and he gave me heart jewelry about 2-3 times, who knows whY!), I won't be disappointed when he acts annoyed he ha to get me a card. I won't be disappointed in a man...(particularly that man!).....period!
I will look back and think: "I was with someone who'll never betray me: Myself."
Monday, February 14, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
I want to paint this room.....help me!
So, my spare room is blue. The sellers painted it this. It was a fresh coat of paint and I decided that I could live with it because I was painting three other rooms.
Now, I'm ready for change......
Part of me wants to go bright and expressive---a bright Kelly green or soft violet. Part of me wants to go very soft and feminine.....with a creamy color, but then again, my office is creamy and my bedroom is "Sand White"........
What do you think!?!?! I am going to keep the white bedding for now.
Now, I'm ready for change......
Part of me wants to go bright and expressive---a bright Kelly green or soft violet. Part of me wants to go very soft and feminine.....with a creamy color, but then again, my office is creamy and my bedroom is "Sand White"........
What do you think!?!?! I am going to keep the white bedding for now.
Monday, January 3, 2011
I'm not proud....#2
......of this cabinet!
It *is* one of the coolest features of my cool kitchen (see earlier post about how much I love my kitchen!), BUT because I don't bake a lot, a lot of these items go by the wayside during the day to day grind. I typically pull out these Pyrex dishes, etc when I'm cooking Thanksgiving dishes, etc.....I also keep my toaster down here because I don't use it all of the time and I don't want the exbut anyway, I decided that during my winter break from school (between Christmas and New Year's) I should start the year with some more organized closets and cabinets!
Before: (apparently, I throw stuff in here.....an old ratty towel? a bag I of things to return to TJMaxx? My lunch tote? Where is the baking stuff!!?)
After:
It *is* one of the coolest features of my cool kitchen (see earlier post about how much I love my kitchen!), BUT because I don't bake a lot, a lot of these items go by the wayside during the day to day grind. I typically pull out these Pyrex dishes, etc when I'm cooking Thanksgiving dishes, etc.....I also keep my toaster down here because I don't use it all of the time and I don't want the exbut anyway, I decided that during my winter break from school (between Christmas and New Year's) I should start the year with some more organized closets and cabinets!
Before: (apparently, I throw stuff in here.....an old ratty towel? a bag I of things to return to TJMaxx? My lunch tote? Where is the baking stuff!!?)
After:
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Why I Love My Kitchen....
When I was cruising for new homes, I was in a very surreal and fragile state. It was about 3 weeks after the breakup of my marriage and I was just in a state of utter and absolute shock. However, after it was determined that neither me or my ex would stay in our old home and we would put it on the market to sell, I needed to explore my options.
One of the things I didn't want was a COMPLETE fixer-upper because in the spring of 2009, the housing market sure was a buyer's market, and I knew if I explored enough, I'd find something modest, but yet had minor updates to make it "livable" for me. Let's face it, I didn't have the financial or DIY resources to do a major kitchen renovation! (Nor do I have the handy dad who can whittle a kitchen out of a single piece of wood!)
The MLS photos for my home showed these two pictures of the kitchen and I immediately booked an appointment to see this house! I went once with just my realtor, then that afternoon, begged my mom to come back with me and the realtor for a second viewing. By the end of the next day, the offer was in and on my 29th birthday, I had a Purchase & Sale for a new home!
MLS Photos:
I couldn't believe it! I had 2 more months in my "old" married home, a home that had meant so much to me, with a kitchen that we bought all new professional grade appliances for, installed new lighting, and redid the countertops with quartz! I looooooved my old kitchen and now I had to leave....but now, I had a new place that everyday, I walk in to my kitchen in yet another home that means so much to me, and I think, "I love my kitchen!"
So, here's the tour...
The cabinets are creamy white with a light almond glaze over them. They are solid wood and the drawers have the soft touch closure. Ah!! This trumps old kitchen for sure! I love white kitchens! Also, the countertops sort of look like they are granite! It's actually a shiny laminate countertop that looks like stone. Fooled me in the MLS pics, but in real life, it actually looks very nice. I think granite would actually be "over improving" for my neighborhood of modest ranches and cape style homes.
I love the corner cabinet with a window. I added little touches of yellow and white dishes, salt & pepper shakers, and vases to coordinate with the yellow walls. Sometimes, some red dishes peak out too, but apparently, not today when I shot this photo! I keep the kitties' fresh water fountain over here in the corner alongside of my Kitchen Aid mixer (which I must confess, I've only used 3 times in 2 years.....I don't bake too much!) Um, also, do you notice the uber storage!!! I use the top two sets of cabinet to the right of the window unit for utilities. The one of the left contains tools and other household tools. The set on the right are office supplies.
Next to the fridge is a sliding built-in spice cabinet! LOOOOOVE this!! This trumps old kitchen bigtime!
To the left of the fridge is another slim cabinet for cookie sheets, pans, drying racks, and other large size cooking items.
The angled cabinet is where I keep the animals' food. In fact, you can see Wilson is pointing out his food for me, "feed me, please, mom...." My kitty cat can open this cabinet. He opens it and meows at me as if to say, "mom, here's the food, I'll get it started, you do the rest. MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I also love the sliding drawers inside the bottom cabinets:
Last but not least, I love this corner unit that leads into the rest of the house. I store medicine here. It makes Advil, cold meds, and more very accessible! This also TRUMPS old kitchen!
While I loved my old kitchen, I think I love this one more! Hmmm, maybe I'll feel that way about a man someday too! I loved my ex-husband, but I think I may love someone new more someday!
PS, whenever I entertain or have people over, they always compliment my kitchen! They love it too!!! Ah, the love!
-TEM
One of the things I didn't want was a COMPLETE fixer-upper because in the spring of 2009, the housing market sure was a buyer's market, and I knew if I explored enough, I'd find something modest, but yet had minor updates to make it "livable" for me. Let's face it, I didn't have the financial or DIY resources to do a major kitchen renovation! (Nor do I have the handy dad who can whittle a kitchen out of a single piece of wood!)
The MLS photos for my home showed these two pictures of the kitchen and I immediately booked an appointment to see this house! I went once with just my realtor, then that afternoon, begged my mom to come back with me and the realtor for a second viewing. By the end of the next day, the offer was in and on my 29th birthday, I had a Purchase & Sale for a new home!
MLS Photos:
I couldn't believe it! I had 2 more months in my "old" married home, a home that had meant so much to me, with a kitchen that we bought all new professional grade appliances for, installed new lighting, and redid the countertops with quartz! I looooooved my old kitchen and now I had to leave....but now, I had a new place that everyday, I walk in to my kitchen in yet another home that means so much to me, and I think, "I love my kitchen!"
So, here's the tour...
The cabinets are creamy white with a light almond glaze over them. They are solid wood and the drawers have the soft touch closure. Ah!! This trumps old kitchen for sure! I love white kitchens! Also, the countertops sort of look like they are granite! It's actually a shiny laminate countertop that looks like stone. Fooled me in the MLS pics, but in real life, it actually looks very nice. I think granite would actually be "over improving" for my neighborhood of modest ranches and cape style homes.
I love the corner cabinet with a window. I added little touches of yellow and white dishes, salt & pepper shakers, and vases to coordinate with the yellow walls. Sometimes, some red dishes peak out too, but apparently, not today when I shot this photo! I keep the kitties' fresh water fountain over here in the corner alongside of my Kitchen Aid mixer (which I must confess, I've only used 3 times in 2 years.....I don't bake too much!) Um, also, do you notice the uber storage!!! I use the top two sets of cabinet to the right of the window unit for utilities. The one of the left contains tools and other household tools. The set on the right are office supplies.
Next to the fridge is a sliding built-in spice cabinet! LOOOOOVE this!! This trumps old kitchen bigtime!
To the left of the fridge is another slim cabinet for cookie sheets, pans, drying racks, and other large size cooking items.
The angled cabinet is where I keep the animals' food. In fact, you can see Wilson is pointing out his food for me, "feed me, please, mom...." My kitty cat can open this cabinet. He opens it and meows at me as if to say, "mom, here's the food, I'll get it started, you do the rest. MOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I also love the sliding drawers inside the bottom cabinets:
Last but not least, I love this corner unit that leads into the rest of the house. I store medicine here. It makes Advil, cold meds, and more very accessible! This also TRUMPS old kitchen!
While I loved my old kitchen, I think I love this one more! Hmmm, maybe I'll feel that way about a man someday too! I loved my ex-husband, but I think I may love someone new more someday!
PS, whenever I entertain or have people over, they always compliment my kitchen! They love it too!!! Ah, the love!
-TEM
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Christmas Decor Storage
How do you store your Christmas stuff!?!?!
Here are some "solutions" new & old from me....
1. I keep the boxes! The ornament boxes come in handy for storage for the fragile glass ones. This is super crucial and makes packing them up easy. They're pretty safe inside these boxes! AND, I kept the tree box that my tree came (I think most people do this, yes!?! I'm no genius?! Darn it!)
2. I wrap loose ornaments in paper towels, then tightly pack them into old shoeboxes.
3. I have a plastic bin of miscellaneous Christmas decor and candles. These are the items I mix & match for my shelf in my living room, end tables, and more. I also store candles with scents of the season (What, you don't burn your fresh balsam candle in July!?) in this bin too for next year.
4. I bought this handy-dandy wreath storage bin from Target after Christmas for $6. My best friend's mom made me this lovely wreath a few years ago and I put it up on my door every year!
5. I also bought this wrapping paper container at Target for $6. Well, the bulk rolls are too long (whatever, Target!!!), but I've stores my shorter rolls, gift bags, and tissue paper in here for next year's Christmas hooplah!
Here are some "solutions" new & old from me....
1. I keep the boxes! The ornament boxes come in handy for storage for the fragile glass ones. This is super crucial and makes packing them up easy. They're pretty safe inside these boxes! AND, I kept the tree box that my tree came (I think most people do this, yes!?! I'm no genius?! Darn it!)
2. I wrap loose ornaments in paper towels, then tightly pack them into old shoeboxes.
3. I have a plastic bin of miscellaneous Christmas decor and candles. These are the items I mix & match for my shelf in my living room, end tables, and more. I also store candles with scents of the season (What, you don't burn your fresh balsam candle in July!?) in this bin too for next year.
4. I bought this handy-dandy wreath storage bin from Target after Christmas for $6. My best friend's mom made me this lovely wreath a few years ago and I put it up on my door every year!
5. I also bought this wrapping paper container at Target for $6. Well, the bulk rolls are too long (whatever, Target!!!), but I've stores my shorter rolls, gift bags, and tissue paper in here for next year's Christmas hooplah!
Dreaming....
Just was wandering the web and found these lovely little biddies that would look even more lovely if I had them in my living room!!!! ha ha!
For right now, they look great on-paper!
For right now, they look great on-paper!
Friday, December 31, 2010
Merry Christmas to ME!
Who feels guilty shopping for themselves before Christmas? I do!
After Christmas? I don't!
Today, I ventured out to a FANTASTIC place called Legacy Place in Dedham, MA and enjoyed my fitness instructor discounts at Lucy and LuLuLemon and also, hit up a few other places. My bank account was very pleased to see Anthropologie had nothing exciting in stock........
At LuLuLemon, I grabbed another pair of "Wonder Under Crops" that I just LOVE for pilates, teaching indoor rowing, and teaching a fab barefoot cardio class called "WillPower and Grace" (FIND A CLASS NEAR YOU: www.willpowermethod.com) And, you can never have too many "to & from" tops to cover up and/or play in on the weekends (especially in charcoal grey!)
I grabbed this $58 gift set for 40% off at Victoria's Secret of my favorite scent, "Sexy Little Things: Noir", which came out to be around $34 (pretty good considering the perfume itself is around $40 on its own!)
Also, the other day, I met my newest love, my Keurig! I wanted one for Christmas so badly, but Santa isn't a coffee drinker and didn't quite understand why I wanted one so much! We have one in our department office at school and every morning (and mid day), I enjoy a lovely and comforting cup of coffee. I have an awesome top of the line Cuisinart coffee maker that I absolutely love; however, when it comes to making one cup of coffee, it is very inconvenient and labor intensive (ha ha!). So, I never used to buy into these Keurig things until I started using one at work! I now will be able to have that quick cup of coffee as soon as I wake up with next to no preparation time! When I have company or plan to drink on and off all morning, I can use the Cuisinary. Plus, I had the PERFECT little nook in my kitchen next to the fridge that was begging for something useful to sit on it! It was on sale for $139 at Kohl's, plus I had $20 in Kohl's cash, so I got the Platinum one for $119--what what!!!!!?????!!!!
YAY for Christmas presents you buy for yourself!
After Christmas? I don't!
Today, I ventured out to a FANTASTIC place called Legacy Place in Dedham, MA and enjoyed my fitness instructor discounts at Lucy and LuLuLemon and also, hit up a few other places. My bank account was very pleased to see Anthropologie had nothing exciting in stock........
At LuLuLemon, I grabbed another pair of "Wonder Under Crops" that I just LOVE for pilates, teaching indoor rowing, and teaching a fab barefoot cardio class called "WillPower and Grace" (FIND A CLASS NEAR YOU: www.willpowermethod.com) And, you can never have too many "to & from" tops to cover up and/or play in on the weekends (especially in charcoal grey!)
I grabbed this $58 gift set for 40% off at Victoria's Secret of my favorite scent, "Sexy Little Things: Noir", which came out to be around $34 (pretty good considering the perfume itself is around $40 on its own!)
Also, the other day, I met my newest love, my Keurig! I wanted one for Christmas so badly, but Santa isn't a coffee drinker and didn't quite understand why I wanted one so much! We have one in our department office at school and every morning (and mid day), I enjoy a lovely and comforting cup of coffee. I have an awesome top of the line Cuisinart coffee maker that I absolutely love; however, when it comes to making one cup of coffee, it is very inconvenient and labor intensive (ha ha!). So, I never used to buy into these Keurig things until I started using one at work! I now will be able to have that quick cup of coffee as soon as I wake up with next to no preparation time! When I have company or plan to drink on and off all morning, I can use the Cuisinary. Plus, I had the PERFECT little nook in my kitchen next to the fridge that was begging for something useful to sit on it! It was on sale for $139 at Kohl's, plus I had $20 in Kohl's cash, so I got the Platinum one for $119--what what!!!!!?????!!!!
YAY for Christmas presents you buy for yourself!
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