Only a couple days left of feeling obligated to post every day. Yes, all of a sudden I am feeling burnt out.

Obviously, I no longer have a perfect record, since Drew served as my under-study last night. I haven't been feeling very well the past couple of days. Just really tired and run-down, though, so it's not a big deal. I guess that's my only excuse for not having much motivation to post the past couple of days.

Anyway, I don't have anything very interesting to post tonight. Yes, as Drew mentioned, we've been getting a lot of estimates for replacing countertops, appliances, and carpeting/tile (upstairs in the living room/kitchen/dining area as well as the hallway to the upstairs bedrooms, stairway to both levels, and entry area). We'll probably do a little at a time, as we can afford it, and I think countertops will be first on the list. We got some initial estimates on solid surfaces such as granite, quartz, and Corian, but I don't think we're willing to spend that much. We're leaning toward laminate or granite tile (which can be comparable, price-wise, to laminate). Drew has been researching the granite tile a bit more to see if he is up to the challenge of doing it himself. (I'm not sure I'm up to being without a working kitchen for a couple weeks or more, but I guess we'll see. )

Other than that, it looks like we'll be getting a winter storm over the weekend. More snow for us!

-Em

Drew Here. I'm standing in for Em today so she can keep her perfect record :)   more »

Tonight I am thankful for...

a yard free of fallen leaves...

clothes and linens clean, folded, and put away...

yummy homemade comfort-food meals simmering on the stove...

Christmas presents purchased...

grocery shopping completed...

quality time spent with doggies and hubbie...

and a few more hours of freedom and relaxation before a shortened work week begins.

-Em

So, I cannot keep this secret any longer. I feel too naughty; I feel too completely reckless!

*Deep breath*

So, here it is: Drew and I bought a $130 trash can. That's right. Over ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS of our hard-earned money, down the tubes, just so that we can keep trash, in a can in our kitchen, before it is moved into an even bigger can out into the garage.

Seems completely frivolous, no?

Of course it is. We realize it sounds completely ridiculous, even if this purchase has actually been a couple of years in the making. We finally just bit the bullet and bought it (to be annoyingly alliterative without prior planning).

Reason #1: We bought this particular trash can because it is, well, doggie-proof. We've been having trouble with Molly getting into the trash and strewing it about at night, and this step trash can securely closes without any possibility of doggie noses being able to nudge it open on their own. We got sick of cleaning up trash every morning, first thing.

Reason #2: The genre of step trash cans we've had our hearts set on are of the stainless steel variety, but as you all probably know, stainless steel is easily smudged and not so easy to keep clean. We decided to save ourselves the grief and buy the 'smudge-proof' version. Let me tell you what--our garbage is now, without a doubt, the 'best-dressed' garbage I know.  And with all the sniffing it has received from those two doggie noses, it was well worth going for it.

Reason #3: We had a 20% off coupon at Bed, Bath, and Beyond. So, that exhorbitantly-priced garbage-holding receptable was actually a mere $110, or so, with tax.

See? We are really not so frivolous as all that, actually.  

-Em