On Saturday Rob and I helped build a row of townhouses with some people from my office for Habitat for Humanity. This was our first time helping the organization and it was definitely a learning experience. I was expecting to do some painting or smaller projects but we literally put up walls, installed flooring and carried sheets of wood that weighed more than me. When I was a kid I helped my dad build stuff but I was more excited about wearing the workbelt. Now I know some terms for contractors that had an entirely different meaning before:
Term: 8 and 10 nails
Before: Really long nails.. time for a manicure
After: There's a size difference for the nail, but there's also different things you do with them. 9 times out of 10 we used the 8s.
Term: Brace
Before: Something to help support an achy joint. If they said braces, it meant the stuff an orthodontist puts to help straighten your teeth
After: Small support structures that are used when connecting walls. You have to use an 8 nail. Small piece of wood, small nail. If you use a 10, you'll split the wood.
Term: TGI
Before: Abbreviation for Thank God It's...Friday
After: Wood boards that look like makeshift gutters that help support planks of wood. In this case, we used them to help support the sheets of wood that were for the second level of the house
Term: Toenail
Before: The nail on your toe (duh)
After: To support a plank of wood to another, you put nails in on the angle. You have to use an 8 nail.
Term: Sawall
Before: If you saw it, you'd think it was an electric slicer for Thankgiving or something
After: It's a saw that can saw all types of wood.
There were several other terms that got tossed around but it was definitely cool to learn how to build a house. We had a great time working with some of the people on the site. I definitely lucked out because my group was more fun than Rob's team who was doing flooring. That team seemed to forget we were people volunteering and didn't know how to build a house. Either way it'll be cool to go back one day and say we helped build that.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday Dinners
During the week our schedules are crazy, especially since Rob has so many work related events that run late. By the time we get home from work, walk Buster, exercise and make dinner, it's late and we're both tired. Come the weekend on Fridays Rob passes out from exhaustion while I do my laundry and cleaning and Saturdays/Sundays we have events to go to or run around for errands.
So for the last several weekends Rob and I have made a tradition to enjoy a family dinner together at home on Sunday nights. To change it up this Sunday we ate in the dining room. Maybe it was the different atmosphere or the delicious chicken marsala, salad (with fresh veggies from our garden), and yummy side dishes but we really had a great time talking and enjoying relaxing time together before another crazy week begins.
Hopefully we can keep up this tradition because it's something I think we've both come to really enjoy.
So for the last several weekends Rob and I have made a tradition to enjoy a family dinner together at home on Sunday nights. To change it up this Sunday we ate in the dining room. Maybe it was the different atmosphere or the delicious chicken marsala, salad (with fresh veggies from our garden), and yummy side dishes but we really had a great time talking and enjoying relaxing time together before another crazy week begins.
Hopefully we can keep up this tradition because it's something I think we've both come to really enjoy.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
It's the little things in life..
...like a great bathroom.
My company recently moved into an incredible new space which was built with so many amenities. Thanks to our amazing CEO and the other higher ups, our office now has a manicure room (with a manicurist who comes in once a week), a Zen Den with three full body massage chairs, a billiard room, a foose ball table, a putting green, dart boards, the largest TV in the state of New Jersey (no joke), and so much more.
It's really an incredible facility but the thing that I am the most amazed about is the bathrooms. Not only does it smell drastically better than our old building, but there's a vanity so you can do your makeup with professional lighting, plenty of stalls, and the automatic water, soap and flushing toilets. It sounds crazy, I know. But in all seriousness the highlight for me is that the toilets give you ample time for flushing. I hate when you go to a place and the toilets start flushing when you're on the bowl, or they don't flush at all and then you have to try to flush it yourself without touching any disgusting part. I use the bathroom more than I'm able to use the massage chairs, so having a state of the art stall is something I'm very appreciative of in our new home.
My company recently moved into an incredible new space which was built with so many amenities. Thanks to our amazing CEO and the other higher ups, our office now has a manicure room (with a manicurist who comes in once a week), a Zen Den with three full body massage chairs, a billiard room, a foose ball table, a putting green, dart boards, the largest TV in the state of New Jersey (no joke), and so much more.
It's really an incredible facility but the thing that I am the most amazed about is the bathrooms. Not only does it smell drastically better than our old building, but there's a vanity so you can do your makeup with professional lighting, plenty of stalls, and the automatic water, soap and flushing toilets. It sounds crazy, I know. But in all seriousness the highlight for me is that the toilets give you ample time for flushing. I hate when you go to a place and the toilets start flushing when you're on the bowl, or they don't flush at all and then you have to try to flush it yourself without touching any disgusting part. I use the bathroom more than I'm able to use the massage chairs, so having a state of the art stall is something I'm very appreciative of in our new home.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Pure Bliss
For the first time in a long time we didn't have any committments this weekend. Well, minus Rob's 5K on Saturday morning, but for the most part we were just able to relax and hang out. The big things on our list were foodshop, watch movies and lounge by the pool. Since we had the time we even made some delicious dinners boths nights. While I have a bad habit of always scheduling things, it was nice to have the problem of what minor thing to do first rather than rushing around trying to be at a party, wedding or family event.
Maybe it's just us settling down and getting older, but the highlight of my weekend was cuddling on the couch with Rob and Buster. The other highlight was a surprise trip to Bed Bath and Beyond to get a few odds and ends for the kitchen. Oh how I love that store! :)
Maybe it's just us settling down and getting older, but the highlight of my weekend was cuddling on the couch with Rob and Buster. The other highlight was a surprise trip to Bed Bath and Beyond to get a few odds and ends for the kitchen. Oh how I love that store! :)
Sunday, July 10, 2011
The fruits of our labor
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Saturday, July 9, 2011
Class of 2011
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Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Cuddle Time
I know there was a recent study which said you're not supposed to have dogs sleep on the bed with you. However, Buster isn't just any dog so I don't let it apply to us. Plus, he's always pretty clean and receives a bath at least once every two weeks and gets wiped down after he's out for a walk.
It's funny how Buster has a predictable routine of where he likes to go throughout the night. On a typical evening, he starts up at the top by us, moves to the foot of the bed, and then eventually hits the floor for a while before coming back on the bed. Once Rob gets up for work he moves over to his side until I'm up and begin making the bed. That's when he heads to the hall so I don't disturb him while I'm getting ready. He is SO not a morning dog.
Part of his routine is cuddle time with me. Usually Rob and Buster are asleep by the time I get into bed, but when I lay down I pat my left side and he comes up for a few minutes to cuddle. You can tell he can only take so much - especially now that his hair is growing in a little more and he's warmer - since he usually only spends a few minutes in my arms before getting up and going back to the end of the bed. Even though it's only a few minutes, it's always a great way to end the day and one of the many things I love about our Buster bear.
It's funny how Buster has a predictable routine of where he likes to go throughout the night. On a typical evening, he starts up at the top by us, moves to the foot of the bed, and then eventually hits the floor for a while before coming back on the bed. Once Rob gets up for work he moves over to his side until I'm up and begin making the bed. That's when he heads to the hall so I don't disturb him while I'm getting ready. He is SO not a morning dog.
Part of his routine is cuddle time with me. Usually Rob and Buster are asleep by the time I get into bed, but when I lay down I pat my left side and he comes up for a few minutes to cuddle. You can tell he can only take so much - especially now that his hair is growing in a little more and he's warmer - since he usually only spends a few minutes in my arms before getting up and going back to the end of the bed. Even though it's only a few minutes, it's always a great way to end the day and one of the many things I love about our Buster bear.
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