Around the Internet

Posted on August 3, 2010 by carrie

As I browse around the internet, I sometimes open things I really like or want to come back to in another tab.

But then I can’t close the tab – because I want to come back to it or I think someone else might think it’s cool.

I could bookmark it but don’t have my bookmarks sorted in any particular way, so I’ll probably just loose it in the shuffle (which would be a shame).

So I don’t bookmark it.

Instead, I just leave the tab open for weeks at a time until Firefox decides enough is enough and spontaneously barfs and shuts down.

While I could choose to restore all my tabs when it restarts, I usually decline for fear of starting the cycle all over. At least if Firefox decides to shut everything for me, I can take it as a sign from the cosmos that [whatever was open] really isn’t all that important and I should move on.

It’s a bad habit that sounds decidedly more crazy actually written down.

To save my trusty laptop from offing itself, I’m going to link to all the wonderful things that I’m currently loving. I’m sure I found these items linked through a blog in my reader but long forgot to note where. I’m sorry for the lack of a proper “finder’s” shout-out but I swear you have my undying love.

Lets get to it, shall we?

Things I’m Loving:

Posted in Inspiration | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Mask or Embrace the Lumps & Bumps?

Posted on July 29, 2010 by carrie

I’ve come to terms with the fact that the concrete floors in the basement just are what they are.

And what they are is lumpy & uneven.

Long ago I made peace with the fact that I won’t ever have flat floors on which I could install pretty hardwood floors but it’s been a long journey.

lumpy floor

Paint is my solution of choice and I thought that a mottled finish would help mask some of the lumps & bumps.

mottled floor

It masks them. But I don’t think like it.

I think the solid color looks brighter & cleaner.

Also, it’s faster to do.

solid in front, mottled in back

Worth the trouble? Or go solid?

Posted in garden unit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Garden Apartment Kitchen

Posted on July 28, 2010 by carrie

The garden apartment kitchen is giving me an ucler. Or maybe a migraine.

Probably both.

Here are the facts:

  1. The sink needs to be super narrow. 
    Like less than 16×20″ narrow. Which pretty much leaves me with tiny bar sink options.
  2. I dislike laminate counters.
  3. I love deep sinks.
  4. I need to rent this place ASAP.
    School starts in 1 month and students are looking for places NOW. The list needs to start getting shorter, not longer.

Things are narrowed down to the following 4

basement kitchen option 1
Option 1 = Most money, most time but prettiest

  • 18×24″ tile counters (inspired by DIY Diva)
  • Deep 13″W x 16″L x 10″ sink
  • More expensive raised panel upper cabinets to match raised panel base cabinet
  • The tile is going to be prettier than laminate but do I have the TIME to do it? So many projects are incomplete.

 
basement kitchen option 2

Option 2 = Quickest but not cheapest

  • Standard beige laminate counter
  • Standard top-mount 12″ x 12″ x 7″ bar sink
  • More expensive raised panel upper cabinets to match raised panel base cabinet
  • Laminate & a drop-in sink are going to be the fastest and easiest to install and I AM working against the clock.

 

basement kitchen option 3

Option 3 = Time-intensive but pretty counter, mis-matched cabinets

  • 18×24″ tile counters (inspired by DIY Diva)
  • Deep 13″W x 16″L x 10″ sink
  • Less expensive upper cabinets that would mismatch the raised panel base cabinet I already own
  • The tile is going to be prettier than laminate but do I have the TIME to do it? So many projects are incomplete.

 

basement kitchen option 4

Option 4 = Cheapest & quickest installation but mismatched cabinets

  • Standard laminate counter
  • Standard top-mount 12″ x 12″ x 7″ bar sink
  • Less expensive upper cabinets that would mismatch the raised panel base cabinet I already own.
  • Laminate & a drop-in sink are going to be the fastest and easiest to install. Plus I am working against the clock.

What would you pick?

Posted in garden unit | Tagged , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Patching a Ceiling

Posted on July 27, 2010 by carrie

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Measure. Triple check said measurements about 16 times.

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Using this, make the straight cuts.

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Using this, make the curvy cuts.

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Vacuum.

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Admire.

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Screw.

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Trim down the largest cut out piece to fit behind the pipe. Tape & mud.

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Tape & mud everything.

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Sand & mud. Sand & mud. Sand & mud. Sand & mud. Sand & mud. Sand & mud.
Sand.
Prime.
Paint.

Posted in garden unit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Media Epicenter For Sale

Posted on July 26, 2010 by carrie

The garden apartment isn’t quite done but – as usual – I’m already starting the next project. To make room, the tv/entertainment unit has got to go.

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Still in great shape and was awesome in the apartment; just doesn’t work with this space.

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Holds literally 100’s of CD or DVDs!

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Only $100. {I would have paid someone $100 to assemble the thing!}

Help a sista out. Check it out on craigslist or just shoot me an email at brickcitylove @ gmail.com

Posted in general | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Cooking Shirtless

Posted on July 21, 2010 by carrie

It’s 6:45 on Tuesday evening and 90 degrees in my kitchen and I’m making spaghetti sauce. From scratch.

cooking spaghetti

Clearly, a logical choice;

standing over a hot stove
making hot food
in a hot house
on a hot evening
in a kitchen impeded by 128 feet of baseboards.

last night

But sometimes you just need comfort food.

And sometimes you just can’t stand the heat anymore so you cook with your shirt off.

Welcome to my life.

Posted in general | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

A Quick Update

Posted on July 20, 2010 by carrie

This was supposed to come yesterday but this weekend (& yesterday) really flew by.

In an effort to make my August 1 deadline for the garden apartment, things have been kicked into high gear. Not a night goes by without something productive happening.

So far:

  1. walls were spackled
  2. spackle was sanded
  3. multiple times
  4. the entire apartment was cleaned top to bottom with a shop vac, then bleach
  5. the walls & ceiling were primed
  6. the kitchen island was partially demoed (not basement related but it’s keeping me sane)
  7. a giant piece of butcher block was purchased for aforementioned island
  8. the walls & ceiling got a top coat
  9. then a second coat
  10. the backyard was massively cleaned up (with the new addition of tomato & basil plants)
  11. the tree was trimmed so it doesn’t hit the back of the house anymore
  12. and 128 feet of baseboards were purchased

More detailed posts will come when I can take a few more moments and download the pictures from the camera.

In the meantime, I will continue to walk around the 8 – 16′ pieces of baseboard that have taken up residence in my center hall.

8 16' pieces of baseboard impede traffic flow

For the sake of perspective, you should realize that my entire house is only 35′ long at its longest point. That said, I will gladly walk around it and forgo standing in front of my sink for a few more days because it means 1 thing – progress is being made. Huzzah!

Now if we can just work on finding a tenant. . .

Posted in garden unit | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Newark Boat Tours!

Posted on July 16, 2010 by carrie

Today I’m over at Glocally Newark blogging about a fun & affordable summer activity –

A boat tour of Newark’s Riverfront!

Newark’s Waterfront?! What waterfront? I know. I thought the same thing.

Posted in Locally Newark | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Forgotten Toy

Posted on July 15, 2010 by carrie

Found via a craigslist ad for something completely unrelated in the garage of a retiring contractor.

Told to take it {for free} as the condition was unknown.

Stashed in my parents basement for over a year.

Forgotten about until last weekend.

Will it work?

Fingers crossed!!

Posted in garden unit | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Eat lunch? Or sand spackle?

Posted on July 14, 2010 by carrie

I am nipple deep in the sand/spackle/repeat drill.

Today ~ instead of eating lunch ~ I spent the 1 hour and 13 minutes I had between my morning meeting and my afternoon meeting sanding spackle.

I went from this –

Me before

To this –

Me during

Back to this –

Me after

All in 1 hour.

That INCLUDES showering, reapplying makeup and spending 5 minutes taking multiple before/during/after photos.

And I made it to my meeting with 3 minutes to spare.

How’s that for time management?!

{and yes, I did chop all my hair off}

Posted in garden unit | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments