Home Sweet Home

After reading articles like this, I decided that renting is just ridiculous. Luckily I live in a city where I can actually find some affordable housing within a decent distance from my job.

[Not this affordable, but you know, decently affordable.]

That's right. I'm working on PURCHASING a house. Well, a condo. 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. All to myself. No roommates. (unless I want some extra dough). I put in an offer today and it was accepted. It's a short sale, so it's not even close to a done deal yet. But I'm super excited. I've been dreaming about dining room tables and floor rugs all day.  I'd probably be dreaming about couches, too, but I've got nothing on the couch front.

What colors? What shapes? What do I like? So many decisions. I finally understand the appeal of Pinterest!

How much of an opinion do I really have? How do I decide? It's a mystery!

Remember that whole "kitchen gadget" post I made about a year ago? [You don't? I'm shocked!] You can start thinking of kitchen gadgets to get me. I'll be needing them in about 90 days!

Fringe Benefits

I've always wondered about how people make blogging a career. From the blogs I've observed where it seems like the bloggers make a living blogging, the authors generally have a cohesive theme and daily (if not more than daily) posts. They have fancy advertisers and people sending them products to advertise or give away on their blogs. 

And I have thought on more than one occasion, well, it'd be nice to "make it" as a blogger, but that's a little far-fetched for me since my blog is a hodge-podge of random stuff that happens to me and I don't think that anyone that I don't know personally would be interested in reading my ramblings. 

But then miracle of miracles happened: One of my blog readers sent me a present! Remember how I wrote about wanting kitchen gadgets? I received a mystery package from Amazon with cooling racks! 

When I saw the package, I thought, "Oh no, am I ordering from Amazon in my sleep?" And then I saw the cooling racks and knew, one of my readers (who has my address) was so kind that they wanted me to have a snazzy kitchen gadget from my list. 

As the package left no note, I first texted my sister-in-law (and then I remembered that she doesn't read my blog), and then I texted a friend of mine who I talked to about my kitchen gadget distress and she said, "I wish I would have thought to do that!" (you see, I once sent her a hot dog in the mail as kind of a joke... long story). 

But the true hero let himself be known and said he mistakenly forgot to leave a note. I'm so glad he let me know that he sent me the cooling racks.

I now know that I have officially made it as a blogger since I have received gifts in the mail for no apparent reason. I can now die happy! 

(If anyone else wants to send me a kitchen gadget, I will not be opposed to the gesture)

"Melanie Likes Kitchen Gadgets, Too" Party!

In reference to my previous post about boycotting bridal (and baby) showers, I am open to anyone buying me a cool kitchen gadget. Here are some ideas for you:

A 4 Sided Grater. I could really use one of these. I've broken a couple of the ones you put over a bowl while you grate. (too much muscle, I guess)

I probably would never use these, but aren't they super cool? Quintuple Blade Herb Scissors. I just like the idea of having scissors with 4 blades. Maybe because I just like things done in quadruplicate. 

I tried my hand at some baking recently, and these Cooling Racks would have come in pretty handy.

I need a really good vegetable peeler. These are more temperamental than I previously thought. So choose wisely.

I'd really like a good Electric Griddle. 

Really good Paring Knives are essential for kitchen success. I hate that all my paring knives are always dull. 

I need a good Steamer Basket for my vegetables. Currently, my method to steaming vegetables is pretty primitive. 

These are pretty amazing Measuring Cups. Although I have measuring cups, these matryoshka dolls are actually measuring cups. These are just too fabulous for me!

In light of my impending spinsterhood, I figure a good "Easy Jar Opener" is a must have kitchen gadget. This way, when I'm the only one around, I can open that pesky jar of pickles.

I love corn holders. And these Unicorn Corn Holders are just A-Mazing! These are the ultimate kitchen gadget that would make my day!

Well friends, I hope you start shopping for me. I'm really at a loss over here for lacking in kitchen gadget goodness. :)