Hello February!

Man it is FREEZING outside!  Like so cold that after our garage door broke (bad and old sensors) the actual door to get into the garage froze!
When it is this cold all I want in life is soup, and I found an awesome recipe from Smitten Kitchen. I'm a sucker for chard, sausage and garlic - as well as lentils so it is totally in my wheelhouse!

And the dogs are saying chill, too:

 Doesn't Lenny's paw look like it has an angry rooster face?  Or is it just me and too many Daisy Cutters?

Olive was totally over our dance party last night:  Bill and I are up to 5 action packed hours of sweet jams for our Valentines Day Party!

Winter Time Updates!

Happy Winter Everyone!  Although I feel like life has finally slowed down a touch, things are nutzo in their own right.
I had my Women In Film Kickoff Party that I was part of the committee last week.  It was a success, but we were way over budget and didn't break even whatsoever!  Its our big membership drive, but I think people really had fun and that is also what matters!

It was a fun night, I think it went well!!!

We're still working on getting Lenny acclimated to the new house.  He is really having a hard time getting used to it- we thought a bigger space would be better for him, but I guess not.  His new thing is attempting to break into the refrigerator.  It's really annoying.  We have to put baby locks on the fridge and push the Butcher Block Island in front of it...its getting old.  We don't know what else to do!

Also - don't put plants in front of the window!  Lesson Learned!

Kyle & Marie-Elena moved to Minneapolis, but Kyle was in town and brought Tequila over for a play date with Lenny and Olive.  They're the greatest folks around, and I am already missing them so much!

And of course, my obsession with Olive continues...per usual.

Welcome, 2013!

New Years Eve was wild - we went to a wedding to the ceremony and cocktail reception for Bill's boss, then went back to the city for a party at James & Rachel's.  The photos tell this story:

And for New Years Day:
Our Huron neighbors have an annual NYD hangover brunch, and we had lots of food and good times. What made this year special and different, and that our beloved Kyle, Marie-Elena and Tequila are moving to Minneapolis.  While its super exciting and ME is so excited about her new job, its not Chicago, and we have become very near and dear friends with them.  And Tequila and the dogs love each other.

Olive still in bed, I think she and Lenny hit the town or something.

Yes, that IS bacon wrapped pineapple.

Homeownerwhat?

People that read my other blog will know that Bill and I finally bought a house, after looking for quite some time.  We are so excited to finally find a house we love, and so far the past 2 months have been great!

We knew going in that there would be some problems with the house since it was built in the 1880's.  They had to bring plumbing into the house, and the basement is built on wood timbers and the concrete was poured around it.

Our house inspector was great, and he gave us several warnings, but honestly he is so meticulous that there is a point where its like "is there anything good about it?"  We had faith, we both fell in love with the house but there is no such thing as perfection!  Even brand new homes have their problems.

We have done lots and lots of painting, and because we were in deep in the bathroom I would have noticed bubbles in the ceiling.  But I didn't. I noticed it about three weeks ago.  I mentioned it to Bill and the response was more of a "oh yeah, huh." Type of thing.  Well, yesterday morning after having a windy rain the night before, I wake up to "Julie.  The bathroom ceiling is leaking and I don't know what to do so I came back to bed."  I said "I don't know what the hell to do either!"  Why isn't there a New Homeowner Manual?

There is no landlord to call (we have had this situation in previous apartments) and we don't have an association, obviously.  So I Yelp'ed it.  I didn't know what to do.  I don't belong to Angie's List (yet).  I typed in "ceiling leaking" and I found a nice man - Greg that were able to come out that morning, and gave us an estimate.    Something that tells you what to do, who to call, resources, etc?  I even texted my realtor who now lives in Indianapolis because we were so clueless.

Ironically, it was exactly a problem that I wish we were cognizant about earlier on.  As Greg was telling us, it was the flashing off the bedroom door to the deck that was all wrong, along with the door itself and window placement. Greg said there is no way they weren't getting leaks.

Just as our inspector said!

So, lots of money later, I'm sitting awkwardly in my living room as four guys go back and forth, one working on the bathroom ceiling, 3 upstairs in our bedroom doing god knows what.  My poor dogs locked in the basement.  Its rough, but its homeownership!  And honestly, if we didn't think something would happen we would be fools.  This is part of the excitment of having our dream, of having our house!

House Stuff & Our first holiday as homeowners!

I love love love love love love love love love love love and am totally obsessed with my pantry.  I painted it while Bill was at work, it looks awesome!

And it was Thanksgiving, three for me, two for Bill.  Yes - I had three Thanksgivings.  I really am not a fan of Thanksgiving, I find Americans to be so hypocritical in the thinking and advertising and marketing of the whole thing it kinda makes me sick.  And on a personal level, I'm not a fan of any Thanksgiving food whatsoever.  Regardless, we had Thursday at Tom & ManDee's in Michigan City with Vasso, Geo and the girls, then Friday I went to my folks per my usual Xmas decorations and dinner with my family, then Sunday we had Thanksgiving at Georgeanna's.  She is an excellent cook and her turkey was by far the best!

 Here we are!  Next year though, Bill and I will be hosting, and I will ORDER a smoked turkey :)

John & Kadima's Wedding

This is a pretty late post:  I believe in earlier posts I had mentioned that I was asked to be John and Kadima's officiant of their wedding.  It was a hot August 31st setting up the park for the wedding - talk about DIY!  
The day of the wedding, September 1st was misty and rainy, but the weather held out all day and night for the wonderful day!

Homeownership - Week 1

Wow - I can't believe its only been a WEEK since we moved!
Really?  Wow!  Well, here is an updated picture of the bathroom - we totally rocked it:

It looks Ah-Mazing and we love it!
Lenny is having a hard time adjusting.  He got into the fridge - twice, and after I put baby locks on it, and then he got into the freezer.  I don't have time to run to Target, so here is hoping that packing tape holds!

Lenny also needs a major attitude adjustment - he hasn't been nice to people in the past, and I really hope he's nice when people come by tomorrow!  Bill and I disagree on all of this, of course, but I really think he needs to be on anti-anxiety meds....yes, for my dog.