floor plan of burbank house

Praying that all goes well with the escrow deposit today (that added to my grey hair on Saturday, tell you later) and we still get the house this is the floor plan.

I had drafted the floor plan on floor planner.com when we first went to look at the house in April, forgot all about it when we didn't get it and when I logged back in last week to make a floor plan there it was. It's not even remotely close to scale but you get the general idea.

The house also has a garage that's been converted into a guest house that has a living space, kitchenette, bedroom, and bathroom but that's not in my floor plan since it's not attached to the house. For the first few months we expect that guest house is gonna be just dumping ground and storage for all the furniture while we settle and decide what we need or don't need.

accepted!

We are no longer real estate rejects. I wanted to tell my gals in person so yeah, we got the house.

Bad Idea: having a home inspection the same day as a dinner party you're throwing. Mistake.

Pics of house and party to come.

Home owners soon. Scary!


- mobile blog post. spelling irrelevant.

B&W Christmas VI, two more days

Today is cleaning and setting the table. Tomorrow we cook.

B&W Christmas Party 6. The only other thing I'm thinking about besides paint colors.

co-co counter part 2

Signing and sending another counter. They want to table moving forward 'til January 2 since the holidays might delay things.

Does this mean they want us? We'll find out...

co-co-counter

Well we didn't get a no. We got a counter offer (with terms that seem they want to move this along faster) we need to sign and send back and once they sign their part and send it back it means our offer has been accepted. Which then means we have to do a home inspection within 10 days and so on and so forth. Escrow. Closing. Etc.

Yikes, we might be moved by February. I had a feeling this process would be zero to sixty. 

We'll keep you posted. 

departe de nuestra familia

being tia

The holidays make it extra emotional for me as the tia to these little critters. I dunno how best to say it but basically, my nieces don't have a lot of money. It's not as if they're want of anything or going hungry or living in crack houses but their moms don't really have great jobs that can afford them whatever they want, they're just trying to get by. Which is where our whole family comes in.

Christmas is for us to spoil the girls. We're not doing a gift exchange this year but everyone is buying the girls presents. I read about how the town of Newton (whose median income is $111,000) has received so many gifts for the kids that they're asking you to send those presents elsewhere. I'm sending all my love to my beautiful girls.

Is it bad to give them gifts to sway their love towards you? I think no...

second chance at love

Remember in April a home we lovingly referred to as "dumpy house". Well guess who broke up with her boyfriend, got a boob job, face lift, and is back on the market ready to mingle?

Yup, we went back today to check it out and we're gonna try once again to put a ring on it. She's not perfect by any means but I still like her the most from all the other hos I've been checking out. Maybe I just don't like looking around, I'm a monogamous person.

Was that enough dating analogies?

They had sold it in October and made some minor cosmetic changes to flip it and those changes did not warrant the price tag but it does mean that it is completely move-in ready now and Matt and I can deal with things little by little while we live in it.

I want this house. Everyone pray. Even you Ali.

wishlist a la evy: cool nerd

It's a good thing it's cool to be a nerd again. And it's a wonderful time in the nerd-world what with women becoming successful and realizing success is to be efficient and don't have to be ugly.

Not all hole punches are created equal my friends. Lies from the pit of hell they are.

I hope you enjoyed these little wishlists as much as I enjoyed making them and fantasizing about being able to buy everything.

wishlist a la evy: the californians

Devon! What are you doin' here?! I said go home, get back on San Vicente, take it to the 10, then the 405 north, exit Mulholland where you belong!

Obviously if you haven't watched "The Californians" you won't get it. It's like to-tally spot on. Though we really don't like sundried tomatoes as they claim but we sure do like to explain how we got places.

Also, it looked a little cluttered so I took off these glasses, which are even more relevant with that reference.

wishlist a la evy: for home

Home is where one adds pretty things. Expensive but small items that make you feel fancy.

The night light is actually $6 but let's pretend it's fancy.

wishlist a la evy: hosting goodies

Ah the stuff for parties and gatherings. Just the very prospect puts me in such a happy state, tiny spoons and picks and menus on chalkboards, these are a few of my favorite things I want to acquire.

I can't believe I don't own monogramed cocktail napkins. What would Martha think?

wishlist a la evy: cooking

After being subjected to gift guide after gift guide along the blog-o-sphere (and loving every single one) I will be making one for moi and the various mois that moi is. Up first: cooking moi.

Don't feel weird about buying me an awesome can opener for Christmas, I really will love it.

and then it was quiet

Well my sister had to go back for a job interview so back we go to drop them off. Lyla is a good lil girl but who doesn't get bored during a car ride? Secret Weapon:


iPad + Headphones + Incredibles


The car is very quiet now, and so will our house. sadface.

- mobile blog post. spelling irrelevant.

diy christmas things

I saw an image of a frame of ornaments and thought to myself I can do that I think I have the material 'cause I'm not going anywhere so I better have the material. A shadowbox type frame from Ikea I wasn't using, wrapping paper scrap, ornaments, and double sided tape. 

Cut, tape, place. Done.

I hung it over the fireplace.

I had also seen a chain of ornaments for the door and made this thing with some curling ribbon and regular ribbon. Hung it on the door with those 3M hooks that won't ruin the door and done.

There were just so many leftover ornaments that I figured I should use them in ways other than just sticking them in vases or bowls which seems to be my default for everything Christmasy.

This week we're hanging with the family and getting lots of Lyla in before they go back. Next week I hope to finalize the shopping and Christmas party prep.

my stockings are hung and i am done

Yesterday was my last day of work which means: I am unemployed! I turned down THREE jobs in the past two days just so I can spend a relaxing time at home for the rest of the year sitting by the fire and enjoying my white stockings.

Relaxing: ha! With these Christmas critters jingle belling all over my world.

We're also getting a little one for Christmas. That's right: Lyla Sky is gonna be our roommate for most of the month of December. Obviously, we are excited about it.

I thought this Christmas was gonna be toddler proof but I'll have to see how she does around Christmas trees. We're picking Liz up tomorrow.

Yikes, I better put up Christmas lights and finish decorating the guest room.

Have a merry weekend.

every girl needs one

I'm no fashion expert but I can tell you one thing all women could benefit from this item. A green utility jacket. They call it other things but it is halfway between dressed up and down and adds color since it's not black like 90% of all coats.

I got mine from Old Navy a few years ago and bust it so much that I have to coordinate with my boss who also has one to make sure we both don't wear it. This year's ON version.

To further confirm it's necessity, my sister Mari, who is the fashioniest of my sisters has one.

popcorn garland: see i made something

I spent a few days stringing popcorn onto fishing line to make a popcorn garland.

I put it on the tree in the kitchen since it felt a little retro to go with the party theme.

I should have started gifting the girls with ornaments since the beginning of these parties, I'd have quite a collection by now.

The bottom part of it was very low to the ground and Matt said the dogs would try to eat the popcorn. I said I didn't think dogs like popcorn and he said they eat cat poop so anything edible is fair game.

He was right. 

Stupid dogs.

I heart target (lists)

Obviously I spend a lot of money at Target. And what's just as fun as browsing Target in person? That's right browsing online or more importantly, the iPad app for Target:


Target has this thing called TargetLists which allows you to make little shopping lists like Pinterest but Target only stuff.


It helps me add adorable things to the list I am considering buying but controls the impulse and let's me just see them all together.

- iPad Post

ho ho ho

The halls took about 4 days to get decked since I was delayed by golf and family and breaking bad.


Holiday time feels busy in my mind but I want to make it feel less so this year and just enjoy each other more.

- mobile blog post. spelling irrelevant.

cooking supplies I need

I'm almost done cooking oddly enough, that wasn't too bad. Geez I was a winy child last night, I think I was tired. Now as I work I am realizing I badly need the following things, which is my notes to self:
1) a good set of cookie sheets/baking pans. Not for cookies though.
2) more white corningware type dishes but more modern that have lids for both cooking and storage. I did not imagine how much food storage and transport I would be doing.
3) mandoline slicer
4) more measuring cups: good ones and stainless steel. 2 sets
5) more measuring spoons. stainless steel. 1 more set should do it.
6) more digital timers. 2 more.
7) more large bamboo cutting boards. 4 at least.
8) a better can opener
9) new hand mixer
10) cuisinart popcorn machine

- iPad Post

it's the most host-y time of the year

I saw a photo of Pottery Barn doing it so I copied. Sticking your extra flatware into a jar when it's not being used. Part utility, part display.

I was in a rush and didn't quite capture the cuteness very well. It solves a storage problem quite well.

Why do I volunteer myself to make food every year this day? Next year I'm bringing frozen pizzas to my family's dinners.

Happy Turkey Day. Can't wait for it to be Friday so I can deck these halls.

don't worry, i bought myself my wish list

In a celebration of yay we just finished another shoot, I went to Target and bought myself things that I would never expect people to buy me. After this, Matt said not to buy myself anything anymore so I will obey but I enjoyed going around and buying myself shiny things and then seeing them all together. I am a woman of simple tastes.

These are items that you think I wouldn't get so much of a kick out of since they're generic Target Christmas gifts but I have very specific likes so it's a no brainer really.

PJs with gold dots, obviously. And a striped night shirt with gold lettering that says "Dream" which is kinda cheesy but I liked the gold.

PJ shorts with gold stars and black dots.

Fuzzy socks.

Bright gold slippers that come with a little travel bag.

I returned that shirt, peplum shirts are for skinny people, not me.

Polka dot notebooks.

And finally, a proper jewelry travel case. I also eventually need a good travel case for my products 'cause I don't quite like the system I have right now. Too many little bags, I think I just want one that hangs but haven't found the right one yet.

Anyway, point being: I'm a 15 year old poor girl trapped in a 30 year old upper middle class bank account. Who thinks Target shopping sprees are luxurious.

do or do not: tv in the bedroom

The kids at YHL had a post today about the fact that they now had a TV in the bedroom. Which made me wonder what you guys do about this most delicate of topics.

Matt & I are strictly anti-TV in the bedroom. It makes sleeping in hotels that much more special when we get to watch cable TV in bed. Also we do have a TV in the guest room so we're not opposed to multiple sets, though he didn't originally even want a second TV I think it's been good for times when I want to watch Downton Abbey and he wants to play video games.

Do you guys have TVs in the bedroom?

yikes

Stripes. Fruit stripe gum. Did you hear Twinkies are sold out everywhere? I keep forgetting to buy some when I end up at food places. Anyway... I bought us an early Christmas present of a striped duvet cover at Target.


West Elm sells the original version for $60. I'm sure it's way better quality. But the Target one is 1/2 the price!


They also have it in Navy, which I didn't realize Target did as well which was the color I really wanted. Doh!
http://rk.weimgs.com/weimgs/rk/images/wcm/products/201234/0006/img26m.jpg
Either way it is beloved by us even if I did change the covers on Matt while he was still in bed.

- mobile blog post. spelling irrelevant.

oh about that whole thing that i'm never home

Next week on Monday we're finding out if we got a job that's going to New York. Again. Just as I was wondering what New York looks like around Christmas. I guess I'll find out.

There is a possibility Matt will be coming with me. We're debating.

i restrained myself: christmas office

Okay so I was going to put up all my Christmas decorations this weekend but I had mercy on Matt and kept it within the walls of the office: aka my room. We can kid ourselves all we want people, it's my kingdom in that little room. My room. 

So here's the tree which definitely looked way better with wrapped presents underneath it. Good thing I did that in October... Also the tree in the middle with the green bow, it was originally wrapped in the same paper as the one underneath it and I didn't like that so I unwrapped it and wrapped it in a different paper and added a big green bow. Madness.

Here's a close up, I went with the Target tree inspiration where the tree had the colors grouped together.   I totally freaking love how it looks despite my original hesitations that it would look lazy. It does indeed look colorful. It could use a few more ornaments but I don't want to buy any more.

Here's the little Target garland. Worth the $10 and the fact that I didn't have to glue gun anything.

This is the sight when I walk into the office. So precious.

The ornament wreath from last year.

Right where it was last year.

 I made a little sign for above the sofa wall and bought a sea star ornament from Pier 1. 

And this is when I lost it. Yeah I added wrapping paper to my cabinet. And what? 

Next weekend though. Things are gonna get cray around here with Christmas. JUST CRAY!