Project Countertop Resurfacing

I've spent a lot of time and energy hating my blue laminate bathroom countertops over the last few years. I wanted to replace them with granite, but it's way out of my price reach.

Recently, I came across a local company (Almega Resurfacing) who refinish counter in a granite-like look. It's essentially a resin that goes over top of your existing counters. For a reasonable amount of money I had both my bathrooms redone from the gross dusty blue color to a speckled black granite look.

I was ecstatic. Shiny and black and new.

The next day I went in to stare at them and noticed a smudge mark. I figured it was just dust. Nope, it was a paw print. I looked harder and there were a dozen of them and even some claw marks. Apparently Miss Watson didn't like my new counters.

I immediately fell to the floor crying like a child. When I had pulled myself (mostly) together I called my counter guy and told him what had happened. He was not happy about it but told me he would come try to fix it.

I shut the door and tried not to think about it.

A week or so later he came by and sanded out the paw prints and put another couple of top coats on it and they are all fixed! Even better, he did it free of charge. Here's some before and after pics...

 

Ahoy! It's a boy!

For a girl who doesn't have a baby nor likes to shower that much, I sure throw a great baby shower!

My twin sister, Amanda, is pregnant with a baby boy, so we decided on a nautical themed baby shower. Ahoy, it's a boy! I started crafting about a month ago, so that I didn't have to rush through everything. My wonderful neighbor lent me her hot glue gun which i burned my fingers on approximately 67 times. I made an Ahoy it's a boy pennant banner, food table tent cards, a baby shower bingo game, tissue pom pom balls for ceiling hanging, water bottle wraps, and sailboat sugar cookie goodie bags.

My mom, Lisa and Katie helped to overflow the food and desert tables with deliciousness; the highlights being Katie's pasta salad and Mom's meatballs. I have to say the brownies I baked were top notch - gooey and fudgey - definitely a keeper (will post later).

Amanda got a zillion or so presents that she loved. Not surprisingly, I think she already has all the baby clothes washed and put away! Damon was dressed in a nautical outfit, which was probably my favorite part of the entire day. Here's some a link to my BABY SHOWER BINGO document and some photos...

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Project Kitchen Cabinets

I decided to re-paint my kitchen cabinets from antique white to trim white. It took me nearly two weeks to finish this stupid project, because it kept getting bigger and bigger. As usual, once I started painting I couldn't stop. Everything had been evacuated out of my kitchen, so I couldn't cook or bake, which was frustrating. I ended up painting all of the insides of the cupboards, which was a ton of extra work. I also ripped out the light fixture, which was exciting as it was the very last original light fixture in my condo. And by I, I mean my mom, dad and I. Reinforcements had to be called in at the end of my project because I was exhausted and frustrated. It was really challenging to put the cupboards back on the cabinets by myself - they are heavy and awkward. I called my mom whining about it right around the time I noticed I put two cupboards on upside down :| Anyhow, it looks so fresh and shiny and great, and I'm very happy with it. Here's some during and after photos, of course I didn't take any before photos, that would have been too perfect.

 

 

 ...and here's the after photos...

Watsons (not so) Great Escape

Silence greeted me this morning -no meowing cat demanding breakfast at 5:30AM. Hmm, wonderfully interesting, I thought to myself. I then proceeded to get ready for work and it wasn't until I was getting dressed it that  hit me that watson still had not made an appearance. I'm thinking she's still sleeping, and proceeded to check any and all hiding spots.

Nada. Nowhere. I lean over my balcony and check to see if Wendy's door is open- it's closed. I take a cursory glance below the balcony and don't see any furry remnants. I call her name and shake her food to no avail. I check the hallway. Nothing.  I'm thinking the only logical explanation is that she's slept over at Wendy's or has gotten inadvertently locked in there. I email neighbour Wendy, subject line: Watson's Whereabouts. I ask if they had been hanging out this morning. I leave for work and get on with my day.

Lunch time rolls around. I check my emails and there is a reply from Wendy stating that she kicked Watson out last night at about 8 and hasn't seen her since. Insert pale face followed immediately by a look up, trying not to cry face. I had a work errand to do, so I left the office, dropped some stuff off and raced home. I head to the back of the building, all the while searching for the Watsonator. I check the bushes under my area of the building and don't see anything. Crushed. I'm pretty sure she's run away from home. I design a Lost Kitten poster in my head.

I continue to search the bushes along the walkway and suddenly I see a gray and white furry blob. Insert puke face. I call out a tentative "Watson?" and hold my breath. A small little meow is her reply. A flood of relief flows through me and I tromp through the (rather prickly) bushes in my (not super long) dress. She is hunkered down against the wall looking super terrified. I kneel down and move up to her slowly as I'm scared she's going to bolt and also that she might be hurt. I kind of give her a pokey jab to see what her response will be. No cry or hiss or much of anything, so I take it as a good sign and haul her up into my arms and run into the building.

In the stairwell, she launches herself from my arms and runs into the corner. Huge scratch across my stomach- ouch. lucky i am super in love with her at his point and I do not get mad. I collect her and manage to get my condo door open before she does another flying leap away from me. Scratch number two. insert swear word.

The first thing she does is walk up to the patio door, which i promptly close in her furry little face. I shake her food bowl and she runs to it and starts chowing down. I give Watson her obligatory brushing. I pretty much only brush her while she is eating. I started this habit as I realized that while she is eating she is too busy to attack me, so the brushing is usually a painless event.

I head out the door to go back to work, quickly sending Wendy an email to let her know that Watson is OK. She lets me know that she would be happy to take her to the vet and pay any vet bills. I thank her for her very kind offer but reiterate that Watson is unhurt. I decide to let Watson once again roam the balcony, so that Wendy can see for herself that the Miss is alive and well. I heard them chatting outside, so I think Wendy is appeased.

Since her escape, the furry girl pretty much won't leave me alone. I think she realized how awesome she has it up here on the third floor with a pretty decent mom and super great surrogate neighbour mom! I think we will go cuddle in bed now.

xo. shelly & watson.
PS. Stay tuned for the unavoidable, but surely entertaining Future Adventures of Miss Watson!

My Kitten Kit.

I probably check my mail two or three times a week. On the weeks that I check it three times, at least one of those times the mail box is empty. I am always very excited when there happens to be mail in the box. There are three types of mail i get- 1. stuff from the government 2. junk/flyers/coupons/free stuff I've ordered online 3. actual awesome mail that is meant for me. Yesterday when i opened my mail box it was FULL. I squealed in delight and ran up the stairs.. okay ran up the first flight and walked up the rest. I sat down at the table and started in on my STACK of mail.

Now you'd think this blog would be about #3, awesome mail. It is not. Although, come to think of it this item is kind of #2 and #3. It's awesome and free. THAT makes it a twofer, which instantly brings up its awesomeness rating. It could probably get its own page in the 1000 awesome things book.

I will delay no longer.  The snail mail i received was something I had ordered off the Purina website ages ago and had forgotten all about. "My Kitten Kit" they call it. Please see that it was addressed to Michelle & Watson! Adorable? I think so.

In this kit was a Owner's Manual type thing that covers everything you'd ever need to know about owning a cat. There was one Did You Know blurb i found especially interesting. "Cats are the only mammals that are unable to taste sweetness." I thought it was weird that Watson licked all the icing off my cupcake if she can't taste sweet. It must be the butter in the icing that she likes. or the pink. or maybe the sprinkles. It had lots of helpful information that i could have used weeks, if not months, ago. How to make sure she uses her litter box, how to keep her from scratching the furniture and my entire body, how to get her to sleep at night and not annoy the crap out of me. I skimmed through the book and filed it away if future reference is necessary. There is lots of information about if they get sick and about keeping her a healthy weight and basically stuff i don't care about at this point in time. Oooo! It also came with this cute little charm to go on a collar.

The thing i was most excited about, OBVIOUSLY, was the free coupons. Included in the package: a free bag of kitten chow, a free can of wet food and a free container of kitty litter. Like no joke, best deal ever. Watson didn't care much for the charm, coupons or manual, but she really loved the cellophane that the package was wrapped in. That's all for right meow... uhh i mean now.

holiday lolcatz.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Please note that Watson and I will be travelling to The Little's for Christmas day. The Big Breakfast will commence at 9AM I'm told. This will be followed by PRESENT MADNESS. Drinking will commence shortly after that, to be followed by Christmas Dinner. In attendance will be the original 5; grandma & grandpa; great uncle ron & aunty joyce; maggie and grandpa robert; uncle stu and his terrible 2; Peter, The Apple Pie for Breakfast Guy; assorted strays unknown.

Watson has major plans to ruin Carol's tree. Louie has plans to eat Watson. I imagine it will be a quiet, lovely day for all.