the teal-est pantry around

…and it’s finally finished!

We received the smaller shelving unit (on the left) today and Andrew wasted no time in assembling them. I just placed the last item and hung the hooks for my aprons.

The paint color is darker than we both anticipated, but now that everything is inside, I think it works. Andrew said he’s pleased with how it turned out and that it is ‘exactly how he imagined it.’

Despite only gaining a few inches on either side, it’s definitely bigger than before. Here’s what it looked like when we moved in:

WAY more room, WAY better lighting and overall just better use of space. The best part? I can walk in and grab something without hitting my right shoulder on a shelf. And the floor matches the kitchen. And way more space. I can’t believe how much space these new (well, one is new, the other is old) shelving units brought to the pantry.

You know how whenever you spruce up/improve/clean a room in your house it makes you want to just spend lots of time in the new space? That’s how I feel with the pantry. If I could put a chair in there and just sit, admiring Andrew’s handiwork and my organizational skills (and the beautiful teal walls), I would.

But that would be weird.

labor day

We dropped our house projects for the long weekend to host our dear friends Emily and Dan and Jen and Dave and their baby, Aiden!

They arrived Friday night and we (not-so-promptly, according to Emily) ordered Pasquale’s pizza and wings:

Early risers Hadrian and Aiden hangin’ out the next morning:

After a circuit-training workout (led by Emily!) at the park across the street, we walked to Charlie’s for brunch, then to Fisher Price (headquartered in my NEW hometown!):

Followed by refreshments at Taste!

(Aiden got ahold of my earring…)

Miss Emily posing while we walked FROM OUR HOUSE TO MAIN STREET (how awesome is that?!):

Dinner on Saturday was beef on weck and homemade salad, which we devoured before I got a chance to snap a photo:

I made a cocktail for the girls of cake-flavored vodka and chocolate coconut water, a recommendation from a cousin. It was amazing!

Andrew made a fire in the backyard and we roasted marshmallows:

(In the interest of journalistic integrity, I feel I have to divulge this: the fire department and police may have shown up. Well, there is no ‘may’ about it; they did. Turns out a neighbor called our fire in, but YES, we are allowed to have a fire in our backyard. The authorities wished us well and left almost as soon as they arrived, somewhat puzzled as to why they were called in the first place…)

The spread the next morning:

Homemade bagels and blueberry donuts!

We headed off to Niagara Falls (because what else do you do with visitors who’ve never been?!), then proceeded on to Crystal Beach (also in Canada) against our better judgement. It was a bust, Aiden was hot and fussy–heck! We were ALL hot and fussy–so we scrambled back across the border as fast as possible!

We were welcomed by the familiar sights and smells of Wegmans, where we ordered subs to-go and picked up Bar Bill wings on the way home. After some showers, some grub and puttin’ our feet up, I’d say we all fully recovered from the crowded Falls and beach trip. Emily and I made a second pilgrimage to the caboose (our local ice cream joint), where we waited for what seemed like an eternity while the post-college returnee staff was still learning the ropes…

Our company left this morning after feasting on leftover breakfast and loading up the car. We said an enthusiastic goodbye, knowing it wouldn’t be the last.

Andrew and I wasted no time in getting back to the grind; he worked tirelessly in the laundry room (ready for ceiling lights and drywall!), while I picked up, repotted some plants, did laundry at the Layers’, organized the pantry and prepped for school.

I think I need more sleep…

i feel smart, and other things of note

So… Today in Chemistry, we tackled this equation:

E = mc^2

Like, as in the one Einstein came up with all that time ago. It has to do with energy, mass of nucleons (neutrons and protons) and the speed of light.

Can I just say that five years ago, I would NEVER have guessed I’d be where I am right now? In so many ways…

In other news…

1. Andrew comes home this afternoon! I feel all giddy inside… I guess absence DOES make the heart grow fonder 🙂

(Psst! I’m making bagels as a surprise for his return… Since he doesn’t have a smart phone, there is no way he can see this before he actually arrives home, so I thought I’d share–in a whisper voice–to add to the suspense.)

2. I have confirmed that I am OFFICIALLY finished with Microbiology, with A’s in both lecture and lab. Thus, I’ll be making bagels this afternoon when I would have normally been in lab.

3. It’s my birthday month! WOO-HOO! Birthday list is being made and tweaked as I speak… (That’s how Andrew’s family does it; they practically DEMAND a list two months in advance, and hound you if you don’t provide one soon enough. I. LOVE. IT.)

On the list this year: a pair of Crocs, better, non-warping baking sheets and other miscellaneous clothing items. (If you’re reading this and need “the list,” Andrew can provide it to you :))

4. Emily’s birthday is the same day as mine. God really knew what he was doing when he arranged our chance meet-up at a friend-of-a-friend’s bbq, in which Emily and her hubby were attending as friends-of-a-mother…

5. Pineapple boxers!

Andrew and I found these at Gap a couple weeks ago. It wasn’t even a discussion; I held onto those things for dear life. I mean, how could we NOT buy them? They have been washed and are currently in my jammie drawer, waiting for warm weather.

6. Andrew ate a 30-ounce steak last night at his final dinner in Texas, at some super-snazzy restaurant, I’m sure. Thirty ounces. THIRTY. People, 16 ounces is a POUND. He’s already requested salads for the forseeable future…

7. While I’m super excited for Andrew to come home, I don’t know that I’m ready to give up the clean, quiet, organized and peaceful house/routine I’ve enjoyed for the past week…

8. Here’s a good one: To those who continue to ask about whether or not we’ve found a house: Yes, we’re still house-hunting. We will continue to house-hunt until we find one. New houses are coming up on the market now that it’s spring, but it’s been a little slow. (No, I’m not upset, but I’ll admit that the question, “So, are you still house-hunting?” gets old. We’re in a tiny rental with gross carpet, no yard and no dishwasher–OF COURSE WE’RE STILL HOUSE-HUNTING.)

9. Speaking of houses, we’re seeing a fixer-upper tomorrow night, and one popped up just today that piqued my interest. A LOT. Prayers please!!

10. Cinco de Mayo is this weekend 🙂 Margaritas, anyone?