Kitchen Journey, Part 2...

Hi there! I'm back and I am still talking kitchens here.  Sorry if you are looking for a fancy travel story.  I am doing some work travel and will try to sneak in a post or two here or there from the trips. In the meantime, if you are interested in renovation, well, this is the post for you.

Today I am going to talk cabinets.  More specifically I am going to talk shopping for kitchen cabinets.  I would talk countertops but, frankly, that has been the easiest part of the kitchen shopping process thus far.

Now, those that personally know me know that shopping is my jam.  I love to shop - clothes, doorknobs, shoes, purses, most anything is fun to shop for!  So, spending a day with the kitchen designer half of my contracting team was a vacation day made in heaven!  It did not hurt that the weather was amazing here in the DMV on my designated day allowing me to drop the top on Franklin and enjoy the time!  I took it as a sign from the contractor gods that this day was going to go well!

First stop:  Cabinets!

The cabinet designer showed us around the showroom and we settled in to talk about my dream.  I am all for talking about all the amazing things I would love to have in my kitchen when it comes to cabinetry but I broke the first cardinal rule of shopping:

Lesson 3: Set budget expectations with vendors right from the start!

What happened?  We waxed poetically about pull out shelves for everyone, pull out spice racks next to stove, open shelving made by cabinet maker, and more drawer bells and whistles than you can count.  

After a second walk through to do final measurements and map out where cabinets will really go, I got the first design and, more importantly, the first quote.  The cabinet price was going to be 75% of my budget.  Not good.  I reached out to my contractor team with my disappointment at the price as they knew from the beginning what my budget was.  They reassured me that there were several other lines for cabinetry that the same company could work with to design my dream townhouse kitchen. 

And there were.

We made it to the third line of cabinetry before we hit a price that did not make me want to weep and that would not kill my budget.  I am sacrificing those magical pull out shelves in the pantry right now...but not for long.  You know my existing cabinets? Well the previous owner added in aftermarket tracks and pull out shelves!  What does that mean?  Well, I am pretty darn handy if I do say so myself (I mean I own a finish nailer, circular saw, wet-tile saw and many other items!).

Plan:  Harvest the pull out shelf hardware and make new shelves that fit the new cabinets better!  Success and on budget! 

PLUS, the new cabinet doors are still wide enough to transfer some of my favorite Elfa organization pieces from the current pantry closet!  Second Success!

So, what cabinets have I settled on?  For all the cabinetry, including the coveted wall o' pantry, I am going with a classic and simple 5-piece Shaker style cabinet in bright white:

 Simple and elegant!  Terrible picture but I don't have one high-res yet.  I will totally be imaging when I actually get the cabinets in so you can see them. 

For the island - yes, I am adding an island!  a 66" island of storage and seating - no bar height please! Just a full 66" x 40" of soapstone gloriousness!  But I digress.  To bring the wood tones from the floors in the rest of the townhouse and add warmth to the kitchen, I am going with the same shaker style with a slightly different drawer face in a Honey tone:

Why the different drawer styles?  wealthy don't have the 5-piece in the stain color.  Too bad. but I am overall okay with it for a few reasons.  First, the drawers only face inside so you will not be able to see from rest of kitchen.  Second, the door styles are exactly the same.  Third, the countertops will all be the same so the island will not look like a weird afterthought. And Fourth, I will tie it all together with cabinet hardware.  Honestly, I don't think it is going to be a big deal.  

And let's just imagine both topped by this deliciousness.  Excuse the terrible lighting and iPhone image but trust me when I say it is an amazing slab.

No I have not shared the overall theme yet with all of you...be patient.  I will.  So, cabinets and counters selected...the two biggest expenses down other than the expense for labor and general materials.  

That is all for now!  Next time we will talk of statement pieces and making good choices to make the budget work. 

See ya!

Shel

Not about travel...

Okay, so I have not posted in FOREVER but I am embarking on a new journey...just not one involving leaving my house.  What is this journey, you say?  Well, I am renovating my kitchen.  

I have been planning - and Pinterest Boarding - my vision of my perfect Townhouse kitchen for a while now.  I am hoping to keep up with a relatively steady blog series through the process and sharing with you my occasional readers with some, hopefully sage, advice as well as images, thoughts, and probably a few tears through the process - because renovations.

So, where am I in the process?  Well, I spent some time investigating and interviewing contractors to select my partners in crime on this reno.  I invited quite a few to come out, hear my vision, and walk the space before giving me bids as well as references.  I could tell right away which ones were going to take me seriously and which ones I would probably never hear from...except for one.

The first appointment was my preferred contractor...on paper.  Great images, great reviews and in person was very, well, personable.  My initial budget number seemed to throw him off even after he spent an hour hearing my vision and walking and diagramming the space.  He knew his stuff and I was even amenable to raising my budget somewhat should he come up with a plan that made sense.  I fully expected to hear from him with a quote, even if the quote was far higher than I could afford.  Or at least a thank you but no thank you.

What did I get?  Ghost.  Nada.  Not one word even when I followed up with him.

Lesson 1:  Keep your mind open and talk to twice as many contractors as you think you need to. 

The contractor I ended up going with is a husband and wife team.  They listened to my vision, worked with me on budget realities, and followed up with quotes, references, and frankly more information than I probably wanted but actually needed. 

Once I had my partners in this journey, I needed to establish a couple of ground rules to this renovation.  It was important for me to set and manage expectations with my team so they knew what was important to me and what was just a wish.  Also, it was important for me to share all my visions. But the most important was to share my budget and hold them accountable.

Lesson 2:  Set a budget and hold everyone - including yourself - accountable!

Nothing is more stressful than getting into a project and starting down the fun path of "visioning" your future amazing space only to find out everything you love is out of your price range.  It is frankly demoralizing.  I am not saying don't dream but you also have to keep reality in mind.  This means have the big vision, all the bells and whistles, and proverbial bling in mind.  BUT, you also have to know what is a deal breaker must have and what is just a nice to have.  

For me, it was amazing countertops, full pantry cabinets, and a single basin, apron front sink.  What I REALLY wanted were full pull out shelves in the pantry, the super fancy amazing custom cabinets, and the instant hot water thingy for the sink (you know, for those coffee days!)

What am I getting?  Amazing soapstone countertops (from a slab I picked out myself!) with a soapstone inset behind the stove for a feature!  Great quality cabinets that have some of the features I want (hello deep drawers for pots and pans! Baking pan/cutting board divider cabinet to the rescue!  almost 8 Ft of wall to wall pantry cabinets - HELLO storage!) And ladies and gents, one AMAZING statement sink....gold.single.basin.apron-front.sink.  Just let that sink in.  

Not sharing images yet.  I want to hold onto those for future posts and future lessons...because I know there will be more.  After all, I am taking out a wall - I am praying to the construction deity that there are no surprises in the wall but there probably are.  Plus, there are more decisions - TILE! - that I know I will have to balance my vision with my budget reality.  

But, I am in this for the long haul and I know I will love what I end up with because I can only go up from my builder basic, golden oak (painted grey when I moved in) cabinets with faux green marble formica counters and a cheap sink.  

So, some of you may decide to join me on this journey and I will do my best to post regular.  probably not because, you know, life.  I will absolutely promise to share the good, the bad, and the ugly through the process because I value that when I read up on someones renovation journey.  

So, goodbye for now but keep a watch here and join me on this journey!  

Shel

Italy Travels in Photos...Part 1

Hi all and sorry for the length in time between postings!  Blogger, the site I use to write and publish this blog, does not work well on iPads....not even the pro models. I did not take a computer with me to Italy so....it was a total forced relaxation...not even blogging while I was away!

Anywhoo, after resting up, then traveling to Phoenix for work (talk about weather shock!), and processing through the hundreds of photos I took while in Italy, I have come to the conclusion I will need to have several posts about my wanderings in Italy.  This is the first....

And the first post starts with Rome.  I was really excited to go and see the wonders of the ancient worlds.  I am a total fan of historical architecture and museums as much as anything else so Rome was the place for me, or so I thought.

Even being in Rome during what is considered an off-period, the crowds around anything considered "touristy" were crazy!  Little secret about me...I hate crowds. I feel totally overwhelmed in large bodies of people.  This meant in Rome, I could see some of the beautiful and historical architecture but museums were a no-go....

The other thing about Rome that I did not expect is that all these great historical pieces - the Coliseum, the Vatican, etc - are totally surrounded by big-city. Conceptually I knew this but it was disappointing to see how things are built up right to the doorstep of history. Totally not the city of Rome's fault - they gotta have a place to live after all - but ended up not being as excited about Rome as I thought I would.

Bonus?  I thought staying "outside" the city-center was going to be annoying but ended up loving the separation for some quite solitude...something that I much needed!

Anyway, that is enough words.  Onto the pictures to tell the story of what is still an amazing city!

This is the view I woke up to every morning in Rome....seriously.

Obligatory Coliseum photo.  This is also where I accidentally joined a German youth tour group - well, really they joined me in admiring and reporting on this bit of history.

I loved watching people walk their dogs and let the kids run loose on what was the Circus Maximus.  Having a big part of some of the historical city in the background was nice as well.

Beautiful views of the Tiber River....and I see you St. Peter's Cathedral peaking over the Vatican grounds and surrounding parts of Rome!

This is just decoration for a bridge, y'all....seriously.  I call this shot Angel Upon High

Oh, you know...just going fishing in the heart of Rome. NBD

This shot was brought to you after climbing a huge marble staircase up the Capitoline Hill. Totally Worth It!

More of the same ruins that are a part of the Capitoline Museum area. I believe they were a part of the Foro Di Caesaro or Caesar's Forum. 

Literally across the street from Caesar's Forum is the Foro Di Augusto or The Forum of Augustus.  Bellissima!

And finally, one of my favorite places in Rome....Piazza Navona.  Compared to the rest of the city, it was a bit calmer and I could walk around without feeling like I was going to get run over by 
tour groups!

Yes, I visited the Trevi Fountain and most all of the other tourist hotspots but with so many people, the photos were just terrible.  But I have my memories....

Next up and next blog post will be about what has to be one of my favorite cities and general areas on earth....Florence.  LOTS of pictures of the city and some stops around Tuscany so stay tuned.....

How much is in that Carry-on?

last time I talked a bit more about how I prep for the packing process.  This allows me to pack in a hot second when I finally motivate myself to do so.  When I was younger, I would pack weeks in advance and take half of my closet in clothes and shoes - and those that know me well know how much that really is!

But after having lost my checked luggage for two days on a Korea Japan trip, I finally gave up checking luggage unless there is absolutely no other option.  I shared my preference with luggage - but know that some of the other brands - both more and less expensive - make great carry-on luggage.  The goal is to get one that you are comfortable with and that helps you stay organized as you pack.

So how about a small visual story? I am currently sitting in an airport on a layover for my big vacation of the year - 2 weeks in Italy!  I am so excited and this is an opportune time to share with you all my secret, and not so secret method of packing to maximize what I can take and minimize the luggage I have to take.

First, lets talk the trip - 4 days Rome, 4 days Florence, 4 days Venice, and 3 days Milan.  That is a lot of days but if you plan ahead and pack well, you can do it in a carry-on.

So, I started by selecting pants and tops I wanted to take based upon the weather.  Since it will be mid 70s during the day and 60s at night in Rome and Florence and much cooler when I get to Venice and Milan, it is all about packing in layers.

I selected 6 pairs of pants - wearing the bulkiest of them on the plane to save space. Ladies isn’t he audience, I know you are saying “only 6 pairs of pants for a trip that long?”  Well, let me ask you...how many times do you wear jeans before washing? We have to get over the thought that I cannot re-wear clothing before washing them.  I’m just saying...

Pants selected since this was a casual trip are: Jeans, White Jeans, Black Jeans (which can be used for a night out or two), Green Jeans, Navy Slacks, and Grey Slacks.

Okay, weird packing tip....and I don’t even know if it is true...but I iron all clothing before I pack. The clothes lay flatter and seem to take up less space. I know by physics and science this is not true but I still do it. It also saves me time on the other end when I arrive as my clothes are not crazy wrinkled.

Shirts I selected for their thin material, ability to layer, and warmth or coolness for this trip....and I selected 9 of them which is a lot for me.

Reds, blues, steel, wine, stripes, etc. the only rule was that they had to go with a minimum of 4 pairs of the pants I packed for maximum variety.

Pants went into the bag first on the side with the straps (sorry no pick of this step...I was tired). I alternated the waistband starting at each end so the stack of pants does not get lopsided.  Once the pants were in the suitcase, shirts followed.  The pants do not take up the entire width of the space so I always have space on the side for shoes or something else.  In this case, 4 rolled up shirts can fit in with the rest of the 9 being layered in over the pants.  Then it is all topped off with two sweaters and cinched down tight with the straps.

Notice, those handily little zippered pockets on each side of the clothing side of the bag?  Well, they are perfect for things like panties and socks.  In this case, I stuffed them full of panties.

Okay, so the first side of the suitcase is organized and packed...so lets tackle the other side.  This is where shoes, makeup, and all the other travel essentials go!  First, lets talk about shoes.  When I am doing one of these trips where I am going to walk a lot for a couple of weeks, I always take two pair of really good tennis shoes.  I wear one and pack the other as they are bulky and take up a lot of space.  In this case, I am wearing the white ones and the hiking variety get to ride in the bag. I also pack two pair of flats - a black one and a brown one so I am covered whatever I am wearing.  This time the black foldable ones got to come with a cute pair of brown driving shoes.  These will be great to go out to dinner in rather than tennis shoes. 

But before I put all those shoes in my suitcase, I need to add the socks!  I can fit 6 pair of socks into a single pair of tennis shoes buy filling up foot space before putting them in the shoe bag!  Easy, peasy and is another secret to maximizing your packing space. 

Shoes are now in the bag.  Now to layer in all the other essentials including my favorite travel hair dryer from Drybar.  I have short hair that has to be dried and styled so this is my one packing splurge since almost all hotels have hair dryers now.  I just like mine.

Pause.  Let’s talk makeup and jewelry for a minute ladies.  I used to be one of those that had to pack everything because I just did not know what look I might go for on a trip.  No longer.  I streamlined my makeup needs for travel and packed only the jewelry I wanted or needed into a handy travel bag....I love that the makeup goes in the top compartment and the jewelry in the bottom!

I have also streamlined liquids to just what I will need for the time I am going to be gone and I use a face cleansing wipe that takes up little space in a suitcase.  

Makeup essentials - you can see that I use a cheek stain so it is in the liquid pic below with my mascara.

Liquid Essentials

PS, on longer trips such as this, one of my liquid essentials is the small tide sink packs.  They are great for washing socks and panties in the sink and letting them dry in the shower.  You can choose to have a hotel wash them for you but it is just weird getting back your socks and undies on hangars.  You could also find a laundromat but it takes no time to wash and rinse in the room, roll up the wet items in a towel, and squeeze for all your worth to get as much water out before hanging to dry.  Why take up vacation time finding a place to do a chore?

Last item, and ladies this one is important, is a place to stash those bras....well, my bag comes with this handy pocket so in they go.  As we all know, it is not good to wear the same bra back to back so I pack enough that I can rotate and only wear a bra every three days.  That gives time to air out and the elastic to return to shape.

Oh, one of their hint.  If your suitcase has an outside pocket, go ahead and throw your liquids back in it so it is easy to access when you go through security.  I have PreCheck but when I travel internationally, that goes away so it is much easier than having to open your bag and find your liquids!

That is it everyone!  That is how I pack for 2 weeks or more in a carry on.  Well, a carry-on and a backpack.  I have to have somewhere to stash my PJ’s - which I sometimes change into for a while on the plane for long trips - and my computer/IPad, a wrap that can act as a scarf, and a few other things.    This system has worked well for me and I hope it helps you think about simplifying your packing process.  

Happy Travels!

Shelley

Prepping, Yes Prepping, for Carry-On Packing

So, as I anticipate my next trip - this time Vacation! - I have started the prepping part of my packing routine.  Now, make no mistakes, I am not actually packing.  I have found, though, that to make my packing routine smooth and seamless, I need to do a bit of prep-work.

I made a decision a long time ago that barring something crazy, I would only pack in a carry-on for any of my travels by plane.  There is absolutely nothing like having your checked luggage lost in a foreign country on a business trip and no business clothes. For. Two. Days.  That is definitely a situation that will push you to working with a carry-on.

Just deciding, though, to go to using a carry-on is only the first step.  Next, you need to make sure you have the right carry-on!  The bag needs to be the correct size to fit based upon your air carrier as well as any countries you are, or plan, to travel to. You don't have to go super expensive when it comes to luggage but I do recommend you get something that is durable and super mobile.  

I love a carry-on with the spinner wheels as it makes it easier to navigate down the isles of the planes.  I also like a bag that is made with ballistic material for the durability.  I flex between hard and soft-sided as I have both and they have their merits.

Next, I like a bag that - in itself - helps in the organization process.  A bag that has integrated pouches and pockets - as well as a suit hanger and the buckles to snug down clothing is essential in fitting in as much as possible.

Now, I am in no way possible compensated for my opinions here in my blog - and not provided with any freebies - but my favorite bags are Tumi Bags.  My current love is theTumi Continental Expandable Carry-On.  I picked mine up at the Tumi Outlet Store which saved on cost and it was probably a previous season but that honestly does not matter.  It is sized just a hint above EU carry-on standards but from a visual standpoint, would be hard to tell.  Plus it fits in the overhead perfectly.

What do I like about it?  All those pockets, straps, and segments!  This helps me stay as organized as possible and pack smartly.  The side with the straps, that is the clothing side.  The zippered side?  That is for shoes, makeup, and other essentials.  No more clothing that what will fit on the strap side (besides socks and undies - more on those later) get to come on a trip! 

The rest of my prepping time is dedicated to making sure I have enough of things like makeup remover, hair products, socks (they seem to disappear), Tide Sink-washing packs (more on that later as well) and all the other travel essentials!  

Finally, I also make sure that the clothing I want to wear (and, again, more on that later) is clean and pressed so ready to be packed.

Want to see how I pack?  Stay tuned as I will do a whole blog - with pics! - of the process! P

Proper prepping before packing keeps me from forgetting essentials and from over packing, making my life much easier.  Also?  The actual time it takes to pack is quick and stress-free!  

Catch ya'll later!

Shelley

So it is an Introduction....

So, starting a new blog...third in my lifecycle of blogs and this one is totally dedicated to Travel...the industry I love and the wanderlust that lives in my blood.  And not just travel...but single girls travel.  I travel about 90% of the time by myself on planes, trains, and autos.  So many females out there are reticent to travel by themselves for business or personal. 

To this I say DON'T BE AFRAID! You can meet the most interesting people on the road...or not.  That is the beauty of traveling by yourself!  You can do what you want, when you want, wherever you want to do it.

Let me share....a couple of years ago, I was on a business trip to Amsterdam but tacked on London in advance as we have an office in the area.  As I was sitting on the rooftop bar at a hotel in the heart of some of the most interesting portions of London, I met two gentlemen who shared their bottle of red wine with me.  Come to find out, they were some of the original programmers for Atari and they, while goofily drunk, took me back to my youth in the 80's.  So fun and so free wine!

On the other side, recently I had a meeting in the Burgh...Pittsburgh...that is after I had spent the previous 8 days in my hometown of Dallas.  Rather than taking the train, I opted to drive from the DC suburbs - where I live now - and saw the most amazing countryside.  Imagine rolling hills, trees starting to change colors, farmsteads, and all the amazing things about rural America while being blessedly away from all technology - phone calls and emails.  Was only an overnight trip and a 4 1/2 hour drive each way but the alone time is precious.

I have traveled around the world as a single girl by myself or meeting up with a select few friends or colleagues.  What I have learned over 20 years of travel is that every experience is unique and every trip, whether frustrating or fun, is an experience.

What do I do to make the travel experience more tolerable and the destination more fun?  Well, that is what the rest of this blog is for.  Stay tuned to travel experiences, packing tips (because I only carry on - event for two weeks), shopping experiences because I am that kind of girl, and all things fun and unique.  I am hoping to keep up with this blog more than others but if you are also in DIY, come visit me on my Mann on the Move blog for all things home improvement and chaos....

Party on and here is a pic - just for pic sake - from one of my experiences....

Love you all and hope you join me on the experience!

Shelley