Kitchen Remodel, Part Deux

A lot has been accomplished since November.  It's amazing what can be done in four days.  Yes, four days.  Due to scheduling issues and a thing called Thanksgiving, renovation work was put on hold.  How aggravating that was.  Oh well, right?  We're rollin' like thunder now, people!

The wall between the existing kitchen and dining room was removed and a B.A.B. (big a$$ beam) was installed in its place, much like the one installed when we removed the other wall between the dining room and the family room.  However, this time we had the beam recessed into the attic. 

Electrical was revised to reflect the moving of double ovens, cooktop and fridge to different walls.  Additional outlets were added as the THREE that were in the kitchen were not only insufficient but practically unusable due to their location.

Recessed lighting was added as well.  As long as we were going to the trouble of installing new lighting systems, we'd bypass the retarded CFL fixtures required by code and go LED (which exceeds code).  They weren't cheap but what WILL be in this kitchen remodel?!  Plus we'll be using like .2 watts for the next 30 years, haa!

I installed new insulation and what a welcome aspect that was after living without any in the kitchen where the attic was also exposed allowing the air and Lindsay's squirrels into the Manor.  This was an easy task.  Stuff and staple!  Stuff and staple!

We had our homies who did the ceiling over again to sheet rock and texture the walls and ceilings.  Man they're fast!

There's the update!  Stay tuned because we're ready to rock this kitchen from here on out!  

Still to come: 

prime/paint

cabinets

countertop

flooring

So much to do before Bajeda arrives!

33 weeks pregnant

 

Not sure why my eyes look nearly closed in this picture- must have been early in the morning :)

Here is Mom and Baby at 33 weeks (This is nearly 2 weeks old, and I need to upload a more current picture).  John and I are taking our birthing courses and I just got the 'ok' from my doctor to take a leave of absence from both my jobs- weird to think I really don't have to be anywhere!  Trouble is I am going to have to get disciplined and set my own "work schedule" to get things ready around the house for baby's arrival.  Hopefully motivation comes like... NOW!

Meanwhile, we are thinking about baby names, fine-tuning items on our registries, and... trying to make the best of a very cold house from the kitchen remodel...  At least we have our LOVE to keep us warm!

We can't wait for baby to get here!

Kitchen Delivery!

Absolutely nothing has changed since Part 1 of the kitchen remodel, frustratingly enough.  However, we purchased the IKEA cabinets last night and they arrived this afternoon.  Oh how exciting it is to see our new kitchen amongst a pile of 178 packaged goods!  I'd be more excited if I was able to put them together and begin installation.  So much to do before that process begins...

Don't the words "Lidingo" and "Akurum" make ya wanna go na nuh na nuh?!!!!!

Meanwhile, this is our kitchen right now - 

Note the Nesquik which has been a vital part of our existence lately.

Kitchen Remodel, Part I

As if we didn't have enough going on (like preparing for the arrival of our kid in January) we have started the kitchen remodel.  If you had the opportunity to meet our old kitchen, you would know why.  It was a special little beast, previously remodeled in 1986 according to the newspaper I found stuffed in the wall behind the drywall.  :-)  This is something we felt needed to be done prior to Bajeda and sibs because when would we ever have another chance to be without a kitchen for an extended period of time?  Additionally, who wants to constantly try and keep the little rascals out of the demolition area?  Blek.  Not fun and not me!

So here we are - pushing it to the verrryy lasstttt minuteeeeee...

Here's the beginning of THIS adventure -

Our lovely 1986 kitchen.

...and so it begins...

The original drive-thru window...

Moral of the story, don't be alarmed if we show up at your doorstep for a bite to eat.

Just sayin'...

Savings at Safeway

This was another delightful trip to Safeway!  Thanks to the 6 x 11 card o'coupons we received in the mail advertising ways to create inexpensive meals.  The coupons were for free Safeway branded items.  For the most part, I ain't too picky when it comes to brand names (...I did say for the most part)!  There were some pretty good items on there (ie. marinade, salad dressing, salsa, $3.50 4lb bag of chicken chichis, etc.). The only catch was that I had to spend a minimum of $10.  Since I already had my coups out for various other items and on the hunt for the $2.49 Best Foods, that was not an issue.

I must pause to mention that I happened to notice that Safeway had their own brand of cooking sprays.  Once upon a time, Trader Joe's had this baking spray that had flour in it.  It was terrific but like a handful of items from the past like my beloved flake salt and lysine, it has disappeared never to return!  Needless to say, when I spied a similar canned substance of a Safeway Select nature, I was all over it, especially at $2 a can.  Definitely worth a shot (or a spray)!

Back to my delightful coupon experience, it's not the most fabulous coupon raid I've had but I think that getting all of these items for $18.39 made for a very nice visit!  Here's to free tortillas and salsa (and a bunch of other free shiz!)!!!

$18.39 for all this shiz!!!

P.S.  Remember when Lucky ("the low price leader") used to be in this neck of the hood and "3 was a crowd"?  Those were the days because 3 is DEFINITELY not a crowd at THIS Safeway!  Apparently it takes about six on four different registers...

29 weeks pregnant photo

Baby Turner is certainly growing!  I gained quite a few baby pounds at my last check up- but I am still right on track for weight gain.  Makes me grateful I hardly gained anything in the first three months, because I seem to be making up for it in the third trimester :)  Cutting back on the chocolate milk isn't going to be easy!

 

My hair has grown like crazy.  I think John likes it much more than I do... it just takes so much time to get ready with long hair!  I am debating whether or not to chop it short once baby arrives.  We'll see.  In the meantime, we're pretty sure our cute little girl will come out with luscious locks of her own, since mom and dad both have rich dark (and potentially curly) hair to pass down.

I feel like the next ten weeks of pregnancy are going to fly by.  Overall, I can't complain- this pregnancy has gone by quickly and without major discomfort (so far!).  I've finally mastered getting a better nights sleep- sleeping on my side wasn't easy to get used to, but the purchase of memory foam pillows has been a complete relief.  I am getting very good at making multiple trips in the middle of the night to the bathroom - John doesn't even feel me get up or hear the toilet flush!  What a champ he is.

Baby is very active now.  I feel her all throughout the day, especially before bed.  She takes my breath away when she puts on her performances... full on 360's and flips are her favorite.  She has a solid punch and left hook too, that little rascal!  If this is any indication of what she will behave like after birth, John and I will definitely have our hands full...

We're registered for our hospital classes and we're in rush mode to get everything ready for baby's arrival.  The countdown is on!

Pomegranates

Look what we've peeped hanging over the fence in our backyard - gifts from our neighbor!  Have you any ideas what to do with pomegranates?  We need recipe ideas!  We look forward to reading your suggestions in the comments section.

Thanks!

A little here, a little there, a lot of savings everywhere!

The couponing adventures have continued.  I think I'm finally getting the hang of this.  After missing out on my KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce for $.50 after coupon at Target a few weeks back, I thought I'd skeet skirt on out early last week.  

Last Monday's rendezvous started at Walgreens:

Four 12 oz bags of M&Ms for $.75 ea!  The stinky thing is that I now have $5 in Register Rewards (like cash) that I must spend before a certain date.  In my opinion these are a PIA to use but we’ll be needing drugs here pretty soon for my Lindsay so that will definitely come in handy. 

Here’s how:

Courtesy of MyFrugalAdventures:

M&Ms Candy 4/$10

Get $5 Register Reward
Use  $1/2 Mars Bags Of M&M’s or Dove Chocolate, 7 Varieties, exp. 10/31/11 (RP 08/28/11)

Final Price: as low as $.50 per bag after coupons and RR 

My next stop was Safeway for CheezIts!

These were on sale for $1.49 with a Safeway coupon and Club card.  Because I earned a $3 catalina (Safeway cash) from my Gain purchase, this little purchase cost me $1.47 for three boxes! 

But wait, it gets better…

My third and final stop was Target.  This time I went straight back to see if they had perhaps restocked the BBQ sauce..  The heavens must have opened because ONE bottle had dropped from the sky, calling MY name!  I had two coupons but I guess one bottle is better than nothing, right?  Whatever.

Upon check out, I had

One bottle of KC Masterpiece

One 32 oz jar of Mt. Olive pickle relish

Three boxes of Zatarian rice

TOTAL: $3.53
  

BUT because of a balance from the Target gift card I had received from a prior purchase of razors, my total out of pocket for this trip was $1.43!

What a rush!