Oh, are you dressed up as a brat for Halloween?

Well, I had a great second Halloween. It was awesome weather for trick-or-treating and Truss and I cooked some really good chili. Everything was smooth sailing until the first group of trick-or-treaters arrived...

So, around 5 p.m., we decided to head to the grocery store for dinner ingredients. We saw a group of kids coming across the neighbor's lawn, so as we were backing out of my driveway, the kids walking across my yard came to a dead halt. A little six year old girl (who seemed to be the leader of the pack), violently threw down her Halloween bucket, stomped her foot on the ground and yelled in her most bratty/whiney tone "Ugh!!!! They are leavvvving!!!!" So, begrudgingly, I got out of the car, went back inside and gave them candy. Since when did kids get so greedy on Halloween? I always remember politely taking one piece, while this year, I experienced kids banging on my storm door with their fists, opening the door before I had a chance and taking fist-fulls of candy. Maybe I'm being a Halloween scrooge, but this holiday definitely shined a light on those kids who have manners and those that don't.

On another note, Sadie looked super cute in her bee costume. That lasted all of 20 minutes.

Christmas threw up in OP

With Thanksgiving next week, it's official that fall is almost over and winter is right around the corner.

One of my favorite traditions in the fall is going to the annual Holiday Mart (an event organized by Junior League). Despite the fact, I'm not in JL, I still like to support the event. So, last month, my mom and I ventured out to Overland Park to scope out the goods. With more than 200 retailers, there was a lot of ground to cover in two hours. Leave it to my mom and me to make it happen. Honestly, I wasn't too impressed this year with the products. Lots of the same stuff, scarves, silver jewelry and flavored dips. We did get to see Hope Brady from Days of Our Lives, which was a cheap thrill. She's really pretty in person, but as my boyfriend would say, she needs to eat a cheeseburger.

One booth that caught my eye was a mexican silver type booth. Lots and lots to choose from! And they were giving 'deals' although I'm sure everything was marked up 300%. I came away with a chip and dip holder and a bamboo design napkin box. The stuff kind of looks like Armetale, only it's less expensive. I actually found their website and may be ordering things for future use (www.pkfineimports.com).

Bed Buddy

I always used to be critical of "those people" who let their dogs sleep on their beds. I thought, "how can you sleep with a 50 lb dog next to you?" or "how can that be good for a relationship?" Well, slap me upside the head and call me stupid, because I started the habit with Sadie.

It started out with me letting her lay on the bed while I read before falling asleep. Well, just a few minutes into my reading she passes out cold. I just told myself, whatever, just let her sleep there for the rest of the night. This one act of kindness towards Sadie has now turned into a nightly ritual. Part of my enabling is probably because I don't get to see her during the day because of work. So, I guess I'll just chalk it up to 'bonding.' Here's the little 'angel' sleeping...

Wanted: double boiler

Not sure if I've made it clear on this blog, but I don't cook. Ever. I tried my hand at cooking last weekend by making a sauce that I only thought people like my mom could make. Behold ...Hollandaise! I made eggs benedict (I know you're wondering "Blair, why are you eating so healthy?") with Truss and he assigned me to the Hollandaise. We cooked at his house because it requires a double boiler, which of course, I don't have. Hollandaise, much to my dislike, takes patience. 45 minutes of it, to be exact. So, in went the eggs and butter and I began stirring. And stirring. And stirring. It wasn't difficult, especially because the double boiler was managing the heat- or so I thought. Long story short, 15 or so minutes into stirring, I noticed some clumping started happening and before I knew it the Hollandaise was ruined. Accordingly to Truss, we can't salvage scrambled egg-like sauce. So, after another run to the grocery store for more eggs, I started from scratch. I managed to not screw up this batch and had great success with my first Hollandaise sauce! Here's a pic of the finished product. Yum, yum!

Guilty of internet shopping

E-mail is the best thing ever and the worst thing ever. Each morning I check my yahoo mail account and find that I have between 10-15 e-mails. This usually gives me a mini-morning high, then I open it up to find 8-10 of those are what I call "shopping" e-mails. Retailers would call them "hook line and sinker" for people like me. So, I sift through them and delete the obvious ones that I only receive because I bought something with that company a long time ago. Then, there are the ones I hold onto like JCrew, airline deals and the ever-so-popular e-mail bill reminders.

It was at least a couple of years ago I heard people buzzing about a new website called GiltGroupe.com. It was all about shopping, so of course I automatically signed up. Gilt Groupe is an online retailer that sells "Luxury designers and fashion brands at prices up to 70% off retail." Every day they send out a preview of the days deals and the sale begins at 11 a.m. CT. The items are limited, which I think is why the website is so successful. Its like a race to see what you can get in the first five minutes before it's sold out. I've bought a few things and have been happy with my purchases.

I was equally excited when my aunt introduced me to a similar style website called OneKingsLane.com. It's like Gilt Group but for home decor and goods. However, this one, to my excitement starts at 10 a.m. every morning. It's great, they have things from linens to silver to artwork. The discounted prices really aren't too bad and they offer a variety of home styles, from traditional to modern. In addition, it has been nice learning more about designers I have never heard of. I've ordered two things so far. One is a lamp (which I'm waiting to receive) and the other is a super cute green toile dog bed for Sadie. Here's a pic of the bed.


So, if you happen to be low on e-mails and are looking for a fun one to actually read, sign up for OneKingsLane. If anything, it's entertaining to look at.

Charge away

What is a charger?
a. a member of the San Diego football team
b. a model of a car made by Dodge
c. large decorative plates used to dress up dinner tables at parties, weddings, and other special events (taken from wiki)

The correct answer in this context is C.
The reason I know this is because of my mom's entertaining skills. She has Armetale and gold chargers that seem to only creep out on special occasions. They look very fancy and brighten a place setting when paired with white china.

So, I was thrilled when I came across this deal in my mound of shopping e-mails today. As I probably have mentioned in earlier posts, I'm a fan of World Market. They have some great, inexpensive entertaining products. The e-mail was for all World Market members (it's free and requires a phone number at checkout) - 2 gold or silver chargers for $5. What a steal!!! Although they are made of lacquer this is still worth the deal, especially if you only bring them out a few times a year.

In addition to the gold ones, they have some chic rattan ones that would be great for patio entertaining.

Saturday in the Park, I think it was the fourth of July...

Okay, it wasn't the Fourth of July and it wasn't in the park. It was last weekend in my backyard...

Last Saturday was very productive. With some encouragement from Truss, he and I spent most of the day working in the yard.

Apparently I underestimated what tools were necessary to do yard work. There were a ton of weeds and vines that needed to be removed. The grapevines were tedious, but easy and could just be pulled up. The larger weeds, on the other hand required a shovel, which required a trip to my parent's house to borrow theirs. In addition, we also borrowed some weed-killer - yet another yard element that didn't occur to me.

Besides the heat, it wasn't actually too bad. We dug up weeds and dead plants in preparation for something prettier in it's place. Probably sod and plants, which likely won't come until it cools down here.

After sweating buckets, Truss left to do some errands and came back with what I call a KEY item for any homeowner. Introducing the economical and efficient Garage Door Keypad!

It was pretty easy to program and install and I'm so glad to finally have one. This is great for people (hopefully only ones I know) to get into the house if needed, while I'm away.

A bolt for a birthday

It's Birthday time!
I turned on July 11. It wasn't a big birthday, but it was a nice, low-key birthday. We opened gifts and went out to dinner. We've been pretty busy this summer, so my birthday gift for my sister wasn't as creative as it usually is. I got her a gift certificate to the Plaza and a Traditional Home magazine subscription. However, Courtney did get creative with my gift and surprised me! I had always liked a coral and tan fabric that I wanted to make throw pillows out of. The swatch sat, and sat, and sat on my table forever. I hadn't planned to purchase the fabric because I had other things I wanted to spend money on for the house.

Courtney surprised me with a bolt full of fabric to make pillows! In addition, in true Lawrence girls fashion, she also gave me 'trim' for the pillows. I'm so excited o have the pillows made - just need to decide where to put the pillows. Are they chair pillows or couch pillows...

Heading for a better bed

I haven't had an actual bed (headboard/footboard) since I left home for college. Not having one didn't really bother me until recently, when I realized my room didn't look quite 'together'. It not only would complete my room, but wouldn't look so bachelor-ish.

So, for the past several months I've been on the hunt for a headboard. This is my dream bed, but, after looking at the price, I think I'll have to pass.

I've looked at wood Pottery Barn ones, and particularly like the seagrass one, but feel it's a little to impractical, especially if I end up changing my bed linens. I think I've decided on an upholstered linen headboard from Ballard Designs. I ordered three linen swatches in their tan tones. The one thing I can't decide on is if I want grommets or not. Are they too decorated or do they add something to an otherwise muted color? Check out the tufted headboard and tufted headboard with grommets.

Fiesta time

So, after getting my grill and a new patio set, I thought to myself, this deserves a party. My house was (almost) the most pulled together I've seen it since I purchased it a year ago.

So, I invited a few people over for mexican food and margaritas. Oh, wait, I don't have margarita glasses! After a trip to World Market for traditional ones, I was almost set. Oh wait again, I have no candles for the dining table outside (again World Market), and the last oh wait moment was when I realized I didn't have any "good" cloth napkins (thank you World Market).

It was a fun night and I got a lot of use out of my kitchen. The patio furniture was fantastic and I'm so glad I decided to get a larger table and six chairs. Unfortunately it's only offered in the Target stores, otherwise I would post the link.

Entertaining isn't that hard - it's the clean up that sucks!

A girl's gotta grill

With my limited amount of cooking, I had never considered a grill as something I had to have as a homeowner. I got by perfectly fine with my oven and microwave. And, of course, I don't know how to grill, much less start a charcoal fire, so it wasn't much of an issue with me.

That is until I started dating Truss who loves grilling out. Steaks, chicken, seafood, you name it, he cooks it. We took a little trip to Home Depot to pick out the grill. There were so many different varieties, sizes and types. Apparently Truss had the exact one in mind: A black Weber (as many people have). We decided to go with the larger 22.5 inch top vs. the 18.5 because the larger holds a vegetable basket better. Here are pics of him putting it together, Sadie watching him put it together and the final product!

Being the nerd as I am, I think it's kind of fun to find grill accessories: thermometers, lights, and all the 'grilling tools'. Not to mention the contraptions used to cook whatever you want. Here's the grill basket I purchased this weekend. http://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/mesh-grill-top-chefs-pan/?pkey=coutdoor-grill-tool-acc&cm_src=hero.

We tried it out last night and the veggies were fantastic! We had chicken with the vegetables, which seemed pretty easy to cook. However, I just observed while Truss cooked, we'll see what happens when I attempt to do it myself. Next up... steaks!


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Spring!

Wow, how quickly March went by! It is officially spring in Kansas City and I'm loving it. Grass is super green, flowers are coming up. I'm excited to report I have two tulips in the backyard, a very pleasant surprise!

Today was a very special day in my life...I learned how to mow the lawn. Last year I bought a Black and Decker (yes, like the drill), cordless, electric lawnmower. It doesn't require gas and is much quieter than traditional mowers. So, I got it out today and took it for a spin (err...push). My lawn is pretty short right now, so I couldn't really see any results. The true test will come next time I need to mow, which will probably be in a week or so.

Great, another store I like...

Wow, how time got away from me!

I have Nell Hill's to thank for my puppy. If my mom and I hadn't gone to Briarcliff Village to shop at Nell Hill's we wouldn't have made our way over to Land of Paws and I wouldn't have been introduced to the cute little puppy in the window (or a dog pen).

I can't believe I had never been to Nell Hill's. There are only two locations - one in Atchison, Kan. and another in Briarcliff (North KC). The description of the store is as follows:
"Nell Hill’s Briarcliff Village-The largest and newest of Mary Carol Garrity’s home interior stores, Nell Hill’s Briarcliff in Kansas City, Mo., is a treat to visit, with its 16,000 square feet of realistic room settings that are arranged in lifelike setting including area rugs, upholstered furnishings, lighting, artwork and accents. You’ll find a vast selection of upholstered pieces, larger case goods including bookcases, armoires and entertainment units, and several sumptuous beds displaying Nell Hill’s unique, custom bedding ensembles. Nell Hill’s also offers custom design services."

Location:
4101 N. Mulberry Drive, Kansas City, Mo. 64116
Phone: (816) 746-4320

It took my mom and I at least one hour to go through the entire store. I fell in love with so many things - paintings, glasses, furniture, you name it. I even liked some of the wall paint colors, which they sell. If I were a big entertainer and had parties all the time, that place would be my heaven. I came away with two glass candlesticks. They were very reasonable ($16 and $18) each and are a great addition to my living room. Even better, they can hold candlesticks or pillar candles. I opted for some pillar candles from Pottery Barn. My friend Hillary (who knows her stuff), even thought they looked Simon Pearce-esq. That's a compliment!

We wandered upstairs and found the fabric room - jackpot!!! So many fabrics. They have tons of bolts and a very convenient envelope that holds swatches that you can take. I've been looking for a neutral linen to cover my club chairs in and I think I found just the right shade. If I remember correctly, the linen was pretty reasonable too. It's the upholsterer that's the pricey part :(

I've stepped into ultimate adult territory

Introducing Sadie, my new puppy. She's currently 7 lbs, 4 oz. and is a Shih-Tzu/Poodle Mix.

I bought her a week ago at the pet store. I had been casually thinking about a dog since I bought my house. I went to the pet store and poor little thing, she was marked down twice because she's a little older for a puppy (4 months). So, after some overnight thinking, I decided to get her.

I had an awful first night as she cried and whined all night long. I really thought I was going to cry the next morning. I felt like one of those moms that can't 'connect' with her child. It has gotten much better since and she's getting more used to me and the house. She's only had two small accidents, which I consider pretty good!

I am so lucky to have doggy daycare - AKA, my parent's house - to drop her off at every day. She loves playing with Gracie, my parent's dog and Zoe, my sister's dog. So, we're doing good, it's an adjustment, but I'm convinced it will be worth it.

Back to reality

It's been way too long since my last post-time has definitely gotten away from me! Can you believe it's almost March!?

Got back from San Diego a few weeks ago and had a well-deserved couple of days of relaxation and sun! Unfortunately we came back to more snow - I'm starting to feel like I live in a snowglobe. Although, as with most Kansas City weather, it's unpredictable and the high today is a balmy 43 degree - heat wave!

San Diego was nice. My sister and I got upgraded to a beachfront room, which was great (and will probably never happen again). I absolutely love the smell of sand and the ocean. My grandmother (Connie), as I've said before, is an interior designer. As many times as I've seen their house, it never gets old. She's always changing something. This time, she reupholstered their sitting room furniture, using muted blueish/green tones and tan tones and also repainted their kitchen. Connie was supposed to go into retirement last summer, but somehow is still working on a few houses. People love her style! Here are a few photos of their house.












































































I've decided to hold off on the installation of the can lights until Spring (aka: once I get my first time homebuyer check). But, in the meantime, I've decided to swap the furniture from my living room to my dining room and vice-versa. There is more room in my dining room and the flow is better right off the kitchen. I'll post before and after photos soon.

I took the ultimate leap into adulthood this last weekend. Stay tuned for news...

Change of garage door heart

I'll admit it, I got wrapped up into the thought of a squeaky clean new garage door. After some thinking and some people bringing me to my senses, I've decided it's not NECESSARY I get a whole new garage door. I'm such a sucker...

So, I've hired my handyman, Doug, to just replace the springs for now. In fact, he said my garage door is in good shape. Apparently Bill from Radio Control Garage just wanted some of my shoe money...

My next (maybe) project in my house: taking down the fluorescent light fixture in my kitchen and installing can lights. This is one of my very large pet peeves in the house - even more than my maroon office (that's another project). I really believe I would enjoy going in there more and cooking if the lighting was better. Although the current lighting is more energy efficient, aesthetics trump money and are more important to me, in this room anyway. I may even splurge and put can lighting in my dining room. Right now the lighting consists of a lovely ceiling fan with lights. I've gotten a bid from an electrician, so now all I have to do is bite the bullet.

Getting excited tax season is coming up...first-time buyer tax credit!!!

Exterior lift

The outside of my home is getting a mini facelift next month. Last night I met with Bill, a nice
man from Radio Controlled Garage, to get an estimate for a new garage door. I knew this issue would come up sooner rather than later because my home inspector identified my garage as a top 'hazard' in my house. In a very dramatic way, he told me my garage door springs could snap at any time and cause the door to come crashing down on either my car windshield or me.

Turns out the inspector wasn't just being dramatic - Bill the door guy said if a spring came shooting across my garage it could kill me. I wonder how he knows that...Anyway, since both of them scared the be-jesus out of me and the door is super old (original 1948), I decided to bite the bullet and replace the door. Better than getting killed by a wild spring, I suppose.

Like many home decisions, this wasn't a simple one. There are tons of garage doors to choose from. We narrowed the overall look (white with some simple panels/panes) and we discussed the quality of door. While I like nice quality things, I wasn't willing to fork over $100 extra for the premium door (steel on the outside and inside). So, I chose the one with steel on the outside and plastic on the inside. He tried to only show and quote me the premium one, but I knew better...there's always something less expensive. The good thing about the middle-range door I chose is that it is insulated. This is great because: a) It will keep the garage a little warmer in the winter and b) It qualifies for a 30% refund at tax time because it falls within the "Energy Efficiency" category.

I'll show the finished product once it's installed...hopefully it will look something like this one to the left (child not included).

Friday this and that

Happy Friday! It's been a long week - snow, snow and more snow! It's crazy how much we've gotten. Thank god for 4-wheel drive. It's times like these I'm glad I don't own a BMW sedan. I can't tell you how many I've seen on the roads struggling to get through the snow.

So, I'd thought I'd share some helpful information I received in an e-mail from my dad (surprise). Good tips for you girl homeowners. Check out the source at the bottom - can't get much better than that!

THINGS YOUR BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:

1. Of course I look familiar. I was here just last week cleaning your carpets, painting your shutters, or delivering your new refrigerator.

2. Hey, thanks for letting me use the bathroom when I was working in your yard last week. While I was in there, I unlatched the back window to make my return a little easier.

3. Love those flowers. That tells me you have taste ... And taste means there are nice things inside. Those yard toys your kids leave out always make me wonder what type of gaming system they have.

4. Yes, I really do look for newspapers piled up on the driveway. And I might leave a pizza flyer in your front door to see how long it takes you to remove it.

5. If it snows while you're out of town, get a neighbor to create car and foot tracks into the house. Virgin drifts in the driveway are a dead giveaway.

6. If decorative glass is part of your front entrance, don't let your alarm company install the control pad where I can see if it's set. That makes it too easy.

7. A good security company alarms the window over the sink. And the windows on the second floor, which often access the master bedroom-and your jewelry. It's not a bad idea to put motion detectors up there too.

8. It's raining, you're fumbling with your umbrella, and you forget to lock your door-understandable. But understand this: I don't take a day off because of bad weather.

9. I always knock first. If you answer, I'll ask for directions somewhere or offer to clean your gutters. (Don't take me up on it.)

10. Do you really think I won't look in your sock drawer? I always check dresser drawers, the bedside table, and the medicine cabinet.

11. Here's a helpful hint: I almost never go into kids' rooms.

12. You're right: I won't have enough time to break into that safe where you kee p your valuables. But if it's not bolted down, I'll take it with me.

13. A loud TV or radio can be a better deterrent than the best alarm system. If you're reluctant to leave your TV on while you're out of town, you can buy a $35 device that works on a timer and simulates the flickering glow of a real television. (Find it at faketv.com.)

8 MORE THINGS A BURGLAR WON'T TELL YOU:

1. Sometimes, I carry a clipboard. Sometimes, I dress like a lawn guy and carry a rake.. I do my best to never, ever look like a crook.

2. The two things I hate most: loud dogs and nosy neighbors.

3. I'll break a window to get in, even if it makes a little noise. If your neighbor hears one loud sound, he'll stop what he's doing and wait to hear it again. If he doesn't hear it again, he'll just go back to what he was doing. It's human nature.

4. I'm not complaining, but why would you p ay all that money for a fancy alarm system and leave your house without setting it?

5. I love looking in your windows. I'm looking for signs that you're home, and for flat screen TVs or gaming systems I'd like. I'll drive or walk through your neighborhood at night, before you close the blinds, just to pick my targets.

6. Avoid announcing your vacation on your Facebook page. It's easier than you think to look up your address.

7. To you, leaving that window open just a crack during the day is a way to let in a little fresh air. To me, it's an invitation.

8. If you don't answer when I knock, I try the door. Occasionally, I hit the jackpot and walk right in.

Sources: Convicted burglars in North Carolina , Oregon , California , and Kentucky ;



Next up on my list of home improvements, a possible new garage door. Radio Controlled is coming next week to give me a bid. Can't wait.

I was on a beach

then I woke up and realized it was all a dream. This freezing weather has made me wish I was elsewhere - preferably on a beach in Mexico.

Despite the fact I live in a Kansas suburb, I've always gravitated toward beachy decor. I love lots of windows, light colors and the overall look of 'coastal' houses. A movie that I love, mostly because of the setting, is "Something's Gotta Give." The house, located in the Hamptons, has everything I love about coastal decor and it's amazing. I found this great Web site geared specifically toward movie houses - it's a good resource if you're looking to decorate your house a certain way. The Something's Gotta Give house is on it - it's been a great resource for reference and has shown me that not everything has to match. Another useful link showing decor is on this set decorator's Web site.

I'm visiting my grandparents in Sunny La Jolla, CA later this month and hoping to soak up as much coastal influence as possible. It doesn't hurt that my grandmother Connie, is a wonderfully talented interior designer. I'll brag for a moment and say her work has been featured in Veranda and other well-known interior design magazines. Look for a post of my La Jolla photos in February.