Done Deal

 It felt right from the first time we walked into this little red house, red carpet, gold tinseled wallpaper and all.  We finally closed.  I am now a very proud first time home owner.  It is not a fun thing purchasing a home, and is not something that I want to do to many times during my life.  Now the updating starts...

1- remove wallpaper

2- paint

3- remove RED carpet

4- refinish hardwood floors

5- bathroom

remove wall mirrors

add a shower to the tub only bathroom (what is it about 50's homes and no showers?)

lay tile on floor

purchase new vanity

6- lay carpet over the linoleum flooring in the basement.

7- purchase and install a new garage door

8- paint kitchen cabinets

9- tile kitchen floor

Please send out good vibes to us, we are hoping to get a lot of this work done before we move in.  Is that possible with only 31 days until the move?

California vs. Utah

On the way to Utah last weekend, I notice how the bay was covered in a blanket of fog.  It made me realize how much I will miss living in the bay area.  I love the cool, brisk weather, and the unpredictability of the rain.  Most of all I love the fog,  I love nothing more than watching the fog roll under the Golden Gate Bridge and across the bay.  It's simply stunning.  My favorite view of this happening is from the Oakland hills.  The one positive thing about my drive/crawl home from work is the view.

San Francisco Peninsula 

Notice that you cannot see either the Golden Gate Bridge or the Bay Bridge coming from the city. 

Every time we go back to Utah, I am surprised by how truly incredible the mountains are.  As I was running, (yes I went running, and by the way, there is NO air in Utah.) I watched the sun rise over the Rocky Mountains.  It made me excited to move back in Utah, time cannot go by fast enough.  I am looking forward to sitting in my kitchen, looking out my back window and enjoying the view of the mountains.  But for now, I will savor the view of the bay, and enjoy the ocean while I have it close.

IFLY

One of the best things about K's school is the activities they plan for the students and their families.  Our latest expedition was to IFLY, an indoor, wind tunnel, skydiving experience.  We enjoyed an evening out, which I desperately needed after my week at work.  Afterwards we tried out a new sushi restaurant that is actually close to our house, and really good.  (we usually don't eat out in our neighborhood, it's a little ghetto for us)

Alcatraz Night Tour

I have been searching for a couple of months for these mysterious Alcatraz night tour tickets, that I have heard so much about.  I finally found them when my dad was planning his trip out to visit us.  Luckily my dad and step mom were excited to go visit this tiny little island as much as we were.

The boat left the city just before sunset and we didn't arrive back to the windy city until way past my bed time.  We dressed in winter clothes for the tour, it was very windy, and very cold.  The tour itself was really good, it was an audio tour that directed you to different parts of the prison.  Looking back towards the city it made me wonder... 

How did those men escape?  Did they make it back to the city?

K wants to make the 1.5 mile swim in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
.

Visit from Dad

My dad & step mom have been in town for the weekend, visiting and touring the city.  We have... 

-seen John Prine in concert at Mountain Winery, I loved, K did not 

-toured Alcatraz at night, very cold (notice the winter-like clothes)

-shopped at the Alameda Antique Fair, salon cabinet & shelf (photos coming soon)

-ate at one of our favorites House of Curries and found a new sushi restaurant

Taken on the boat ride from SF to Alcatraz.  Yes I am wearing a winter snow hat, and Yes it was that cold.

Job Opportunities

A lot of people have been asking what my plans are for work after the move, so here they are...

School:  I am setting up interviews with a couple of beauty schools in Northern Utah and/or to become an in salon educator.  Am I ready to leave the school system yet??  Not quite sure.   I will be flying to Utah in the next couple of weeks for interviews.  I will keep you posted.

Salon:  I am planning on flying back to San Francisco every 4 weeks and working 3 days in the salon.  This way I can keep my clients, have a little extra cash flow and get some Cali shopping done,  I am really going to miss the shopping here.  

House:  For the big news, drum roll please...I am putting a salon in the house!  Not only can a do your hair, but it won't be in the kitchen, very exciting news.  I am still looking for the final pieces for my little shop, hopefully after the this coming weekend, I will be done.

The Good and the Bad

I found this adorable pedestal Pottery Barn table on craigslist, except ours is black.  I think it's going to be perfect with my soon to be recovered parsons chairs.  

As I was driving home from a day at the salon I couldn't help but admire my new purchase in the rear view mirror.  Excited for the perfect little dining room that was coming together.  I had to slam on my breaks when a car decided cross 3 lanes of traffic in the middle of the intersection, I looked back to insure that my table was not going to be hurt in any way, and Crunch!  Rear ended.

There was only a minor scratch on the car, nothing to worry about and my table is perfect.

It was a good day.