Another Pinterest Post

Do you have a Pinterest account?  If yes,  estimate the number 'fulfilled' pins that you've pinned over the weeks and months.  Is it 50%?  20%?  1%?    I haven't actually counted all the things I have baked/crafted/purchased verses pinned but I'd say I am probably slightly higher-than-average because I use it like a cookbook and I like to bake cookies...a lot.  Anyway..

One thing that I always wonder about is the people that have pinned hundreds of DIY or 'clothing I want' pins.  I just cannot fathom how someone with over 1000 pins ever plans on implementing/purchasing all these different things.  Do these super-pinners ever go back and look at their boards or is it like...window shopping..on the internet?  Those are just my random thoughts on the matter and have nothing to do with what this post is really about-- my new ceramic berry baskets! I pinned this a couple months ago on my 'products I'd like to love' board:

In case it isn't obvious, they are, in fact, ceramic!.  A few months ago, I was in a store here in DK and noticed they had a little section of ceramic things that were made to look like 'American picnic items'--Solo cups, tin foil pie pans etc.  I had a chuckle to myself but moved on without spending my kroner.  However, these, I could live with!   When I unexpectedly snapped one of my favorite spatulas (didn't know that was possible), I decided that I would include these with my replacement purchase from Williams-Sonoma.   

They arrived last week and while Ed doesn't understand my obsession with 'containers', I think they make the Danish strawberries (that I could eat by the handful) taste better :) 

They are made by a company called Heirloom Home & Studio and they are also for-sale at William-Sonoma if you're interested in having some interesting, reusable berry baskets of your own!

It's a....

Boy!  The night before the ultrasound, I was worried that the baby would be sleeping and the midwife wouldn't be able to get a good look at his/her gender.  The next morning I was drinking lots of water and orange juice in hopes of getting lots of movement. Within the first minute she asked me "So, what do you think you are having?"   Well, even I could see it was boy so I guess I had nothing to be worried about!  We posted the actual ultrasound on Facebook and several of our friends mentioned how he was quite the exhibitionist! My dad's view was that he was probably sitting modestly and that the midwife was just a voyeur! I guess everyone is entitled to their own opinion! Anyway, Ed and I are really excited about the yet unnamed gentleman joining our family.  I am the oldest and grew up always wanting an older brother so I secretly hoped it was a boy...but if it would have been a girl, I obviously would have been really happy about that...I mean, have you seen baby girl clothes??  And, not only that but mothers and daughters always have at least one thing in common--they are both girls!   Speaking of clothes, I ordered my first baby item ever when the gender was still a mystery.  Before I was pregnant, we'd refer to our future unborn children as 'cubs', as in bear cubs. Well, this little number was on sale at Old Navy and I guess if we would have had a girl, she would have been wearing it with a skirt and blue bow!

Excuse me, do you have a REAL can opener?

Somehow, even with about 100 utensils to our name, Ed and I ended up here in Denmark without a regular can-opener.  I only say regular because I just assumed that a standard can opener in the western world was the 'normal' kind, you know, the one with two wheels that 'bite' into the edge of the can and then turning the wheel handle (i guess this is what it could be called) opens the can in under 30 seconds...

So, as I was saying,  we didn't have a can opener...In the first few days here, Ed looked for a can opener at a small grocery store but didn't see one.  Once I arrived, we looked for one at a larger store that is a cross between a SuperTarget and Walmart.  We found the kitchen area and again could not find a normal can opener.  Ed found an employee and asked if they had a can opener.  She took him to the utensil section and pointed to this and said there you go, this is the only can opener we have.

I guess it can be a bottle opener now.

Uh, okay.  Well, we needed to open a can so we bought it...though Ed declared as he was tossing in the cart "I think I would be better off just using my camping knife."  

Well, I was not satisfied with this.  I didn't watch Ed's attempt to open a can with this, but it definitely didn't take 30 seconds or less. I had already made up my mind to search every store in Kolding and pay any price for a normal can opener! I could see how it worked but I just wasn't going to accept this hook as my can opener.

A couple days later, I found myself back at the mall with some new friends.  I casually asked if there was a kitchen store--and there was, so we went.  I scanned the utensils, none, found an employee and both asked, and mimed what I was shopping for, and again, nothing. They actually were completely sold out of all can openers, but the clerk assured me that what they normally did have was not the kind that I was looking for...At this point I was feeling really disappointed because I thought for sure this would have been the place I would have found it.  As I was roaming the store, feeling slightly dejected, I was cheered by the sight of purple KitchenAid stand mixers.  Stand mixers always make me happy...and as I was staring at the boysenberry-colored mixer (yes, you have got to see this color-- so pretty!) I happened to glance to the left and see this

I promise you, my new kitchen bff, to never put you in the dishwasher

Oh my goodness, it was like seeing an oasis in the desert!  Haha, dramatic, but my true feelings at the moment!  There IT was!!  I have actually had 2 KitchenAid can-openers in the past and never was very happy with either (probably bc I put them in the dishwasher, which ruins them over time). This can opener, well I love it.  It is my new best friend in the kitchen. 

I just have to point out one last thing before I end this little saga (aside from the obvious--if you are moving overseas and are accustomed to something as simple as a can opener, bring it with you if possible) This box set of 5 kitchenaid utensils was originally 629 Danish kroner...roughly $120.  Yep, that's right, around $24/utensil. It's sale price was about $60.  I wasn't terribly happy about this 'sale' until I spotted another KA can-opener (yes, apparently KA has a corner on the American-style can opener market here) at a different kitchen store.  It was just the opener by itself and cost 200DKK--$40. Now I am definitely not complaining about my sale price :)

I Love You Fresh Market!

Oh hello blog. Long time, no see. 

I have been busy the past few days, busy creating masterpieces ;)  Maybe I will put some pictures up later...  So this post is a catch-up of a few days

This weekend, Ed and I continued our furniture shopping quest in hopes of finding a place for our tv.  We have a really, really big cabinet now. I have a feeling that after another PCS, this cabinet may arrive in a pile of sticks.  

We had zero luck.  So the tv may be sitting on the floor.  (On a brighter note, our table comes today, and chairs come tomorrow!)  Ed has been busy getting things ready for our move!  There is so much more that he is having to do in order for us to leave for this assignment.  And it seems that most of these tasks are things I wouldn't be able to do...Thanks for all the hard work Ed! 

I promise you, I was not holding him hostage!

In my last post, I mentioned taking the bus for a 2nd time.  I have become obsessed with the bus.  I do not know why I never bothered checking out the bus.  Having a car makes grocery shopping convenient but for everything else I ever did around DC via car, I could have taken the bus.  It's cheap, I don't have to be stressed about being in traffic, I won't get lost,  I can get to places that the metro doesn't  go (and you can basically be dropped off in front of whatever you are going because there are so many bus stops-I am not lazy, it's just HOT outside) The bus is just awesome!   There is a bus stop down the street from our house in DK.  I am not going to lie--I am just a little bit excited :)   So there is a point to my bus ravings.   I decided over the weekend that I would plan a "trip" by bus.  My destination of choice: The Fresh Market

Side-note:  I love Fresh Market! We lived near one in Florida and it was so great.  I never did all of my grocery shopping here (just coffee, orange juice, specialty ingredients not found at the regular store) because I haven't found my money-tree yet (It's fairly expensive)  If you ever have a chance though, definitely go.  They have classical music playing, serve really good, free coffee (with more than powdered creamer in a cylinder shaker) , have cheap, cute, reusable shopping bags if you're into that... Just go!  

Okay so a new fresh market opened about 8 miles from where we live on July 20th--after we had already shipped our car!  I was sad...until I discovered the bus.  I decided to drag my new friend Emily along since adventures are more fun when not alone. The trip there was uneventful--aside from having to wait 45 mins for the bus.  We spent an hour shopping and drinking the free coffee and orange juice.  We had a really good lunch at a restaurant around the corner. We laughed, I ate 2 salads, and then it started to rain.  

 We noticed the storm clouds building as we were waiting for the bus but I wasn't complaining.  Rain and clouds mean cooler weather right??  I actually said " if it starts to rain, i will run out into the rain and throw my hands up in the air and spin around"   Rains not the right word. It was a downpour.  We left the restaurant and walked under the covered section of the strip mall in hopes of finding the covered bus stop.  Most of the bus stops along the street had been covered.  I figured we would see it, dash  across the street and wait there... But no.  When we spot the bus stop across the street, it is not covered.  There were plenty of benches but no hutch.  I didn't know the exact time the bus was coming so we didn't want to miss the bus and have to wait another hour for the next bus--so we went into the rain.  We huddled under a tree for a bit but the rain drops were bigger under the tree!    

After being completely soaked, it stopped raining about 2 minutes before the bus pulled up!  We could have waited under the strip mall covering and still made the bus--dry.  Better safe than sorry, right??  :)   

I never did spin around in the rain with my hands in the air but it was still a really fun trip!  Thanks for joining me Emily!

What has 4 legs and is really expensive?

If you guessed pure bred dog, you are right...however, the real answer is a chair.  If I designed an awesome chair, and it became popular, I would be a millionaire-or at least would make a good bit of money.  

Ed and I decided to that we should buy a new dining table before our move.  We found a table that we both (Lots of emphasis on both, because Ed and I each have a strong opinion :)  loved, and could afford, so we bought it. We had no chairs in mind but figured "how hard can it be to find a chair."  I believe these are probably famous last words of many a dining room table-buyer.  There are so many choices, and many of them are really ugly, but still expensive.  Many are cool but don't quite match the style of the table- and still expensive.  Many are perfect--but really, really expensive. The final combo is cheap, but really wobbly lol. It is very difficult to find the perfect chair. (we would have liked to look at used stores and flea markets but we are running out of time--and don't have a car)

We found our table online at CB2.  We took the bus (again--my second time in less than a week.  I am growing quite fond of the bus:) to Georgetown to see said table in person. Unfortunately, they no longer had the table in-store.  We were disappointed but from what we read online, we chose it anyway. I have never seen a product with over 100 reviews and all positive. (btw, I am obsessed with reading people's product reviews)  So after we discussed chairs in CB2 for over an hour, we ventured to a few other stores in the area.  This is where I found out the true cost of a really good chair.  We were actually told by a salesman at one store that he was putting a piece of glass on 2 sawhorses and putting all of his money into the chairs.  Seriously!  This was a store where a low-ended chair was around $350/chair so I see his point.  After going back to CB2 a 2nd time, and spending ANOTHER hour discussing chairs, we decided to go home, chair-less. 

I did a little searching and ended up finding a chair online that again, BOTH Ed and I loved.

Here are some pictures:

table, from CB2-someone I knew thinks it looks like a card table :)

Chairs, from Industry West.  We ordered them in white.

Industry West's stock room--I think this would be a fun place to work :)

This was the runner-up chair from CB2.  I still think it would be a neat desk chair.  Its art in the form of a chair. 

Hope they make it by August 15th!   The movers are coming to pack that day!

Hoarder

No I am not a hoarder, but I have been collecting underwear for about a year now. Yes, actually more than a year.  They are all  new underwear.....To take to denmark, where my favorite undergarments cannot be purchased.  I happened to read on day 1 of our new assignment that "you may want to bring your own underwear because they will be different than what you are used to and more expensive."  I am sure they are not that different but in my mind, I was picturing frilly, full body-covering undergarments from the 1920's....as if Europe didn't get the memo that plain cotton underwear are okay for everyday wear. Travel, Heidi, not time travel.

Also, I have been wearing the same brand and style of underwear since high school.  They are so comfortable and just cute..for everyday.  I refuse to depart from something that works well just because it comes from a certain, aimed-at-high-schoolers store. 

As I mentioned, I have been collecting them... 29 pairs now.   Some were gifts from my bff rachael , others were $2 a piece and some I paid regular price.  And if given the opportunity, I may buy more.  3 years is a long time!

My new collection--I promise, they all still have tags!

The cute details--buttons, bows and ruffles. 

I know this is an odd topic but let's be real, we all wear them :)   If you are interested, they are American Eagle's Aerie boybriefs.  

I am off to finish my list of 'things to do' today.  Hej Hej!

a story of a certain cat

Let me tell you a little story.

First, let me mention that I took my last shopping trip with car.  From now on, I will be carrying my groceries home like a pack mule.  I also stopped by bed bath & beyond to buy padded draw liners.  When we first arrived in DC, I made a list of all the things that it would be convenient to have when our household goods arrive in DK and that, along with a new toilet brush (because there is no way I am transporting a used toilet brush around the world.  I am even a little hesitant to take the plunger) and shower curtain liner were also on my list (because again, I am not moving soap scum to Denmark).

So, back to my story.  Once, around my freshman year in high school, my mom and I were @ BB&B buying something or other when I encountered the greatest toilet brush holder I had ever seen.  It was sitting black cat with a looong neck with an opening in the back for the brush. Since I was just a freshman, and had no money, I didn't buy it, and my mom didn't acquiesce to my demands for her to buy it (hmm, actually i never did that ;)...so I left the store empty handed.

The very next day, my mom pulled up to school in the trusty sienna van with the black cat toilet brush holder held victoriously in her hand.  I truly was elated--over a bathroom accessory! So, through the years, I continued to use my favorite black cat toilet brush holder (bctbh). It survived many moves and eventually ended up in Florida after we were married. 

Then, Scout came into our lives.  He initially stayed in his crate while we were away but I decided that maybe he could handle being locked into the bathroom with a puppy pee pad instead.  I picked everything up that I was worried about but left the bctbh tucked in the corner.  When I returned 4 hours later, it was shattered.  Scout was sleeping on the unused pee pad and my 12 year old bathroom treasure was gone.  There was no saving it.  

Unbeknownst to anyone, I began searching the internet for this stupid toilet brush holder but I couldn't find a replacement.  Apparently, people don't sell toilet brush holders on Ebay.  I never forgot about it though.  I was in an antique store with Marilee this March and found a small, sitting black cat that was $9 dollars that reminded me of my lost bctbh.  As I was paying for it, I was telling the owner of the store why I was buying this trinket and the lady standing next to me was like "I know what you're talking about! My parents have one of those!"   Hmm, I wouldn't suppose they'd be willing to sell it to me...Kidding. I didn't ask but was again, saddened about my lost bctbh.

So, back to my shopping trip today.  I had collected my drawer liners and was rounding the corner into bath section when,  there it was....my bctbh.  But in white.  I could not believe it!  I grabbed it and ran to the front of the store to buy it.  Dave Ramsey didn't even cross my mind.   I was actually so excited that I paid and left the store without picking up my shower curtain liner...

Guess that means I have one more shopping trip before the mouse car heads to the boat :)

If you are still reading this long saga about a toilet brush holder, I will let you see my new beauty

BCTBH memorial cat

white cat tbh...I hope the movers don't break you

I put the white cat on top of the new pile of things from the storage unit that are going to DK.  If you come and visit us in DC before we leave, I apologize for the guest bathroom in advance.