Mini Kitchen Remodel

What started out as a simple hood installation progressed into a mini kitchen remodel...! Since we are cooking a lot more now, we decided that it was finally time to install a hood over our stove so our house won't smell like the food we just ate everytime we cook. SQ looked around and decided to buy a model from Home Depot. So, that was that. But it doesn't stop there. With the hood, we would need a duct to exhaust the air outside. We would like a nice cabinet to hide that 6" ugly silver duct. Then there came the cabinet. But if we install 1 cabinet, we mind as well install more cabinets - wall and base cabinets. We always need extra storage space anyways, for dishes, pots, pans, you name it. The cabinets go in. But base cabinets require a countertop. If we install a new countertop for the new base cabinets, we mind as well install a new counter for all the cabinets so it will look uniform. New countertop goes in. Installing the new countertop will require removal of existing backsplash tiles and some will be damaged and hard to match back. Mind as well replace the backsplash with new tiles. New tiles go in. Wait... hardware pulls on the old cabinets and new cabinets don't match. Mind as well replace all the hardware pulls. Did anyone notice that the white on the cabinets are not exactly the same? One is in a more "worn" white and the other "fresh" white. Mind as well repaint all the cabinets 1 uniform white color....

BEFORE AFTER

So you know the term -- opening a can of worms? This is one classic example. What started out as a simple project became more and more work. But I'm glad that it's all done now. I ended up with a new kitchen!

Cheesy movies

I am such a sucker for Cheesy movies - aka chick flicks. ABC showed "Win a date with Tad Hamilton" today for their Friday movie. When this movie first came out on DVD, I wanted to watch it so bad. But of course SQ would never agree to it so I never got to watch it. Finally I was able to watch it on the plane... and then again on TV. Tonight's show would be my third time watching it... and yet, I still cry over the cheesy parts. So touching. So romantic... ok, ok, I'm pathetic!

Random

Every night when I come home from work, after dinner, I go online and hit my usual sites. Check email, check Facebook, check 360, read up on people's blogs, etc. I like reading blogs -- friend's blogs, or sometimes even random stranger's blogs. In fact, when you're in Blogger, you can click onto "Next Blog" and it will pull the next random blog for you. Most of the blogs I've ran into usually fall into 2 categories: Hobbies and Babies/Families.

After clicking through a few, I always get inspired to write an entry on my own blog...but most of the time, I end up not posting anything at all. I feel like I have nothing to share. I don't have a hobby and I don't have kids. My life seems very normal and there is nothing to rave about. Sometimes normalcy is a good thing. As they say, "no news is good news."

Well, glad tomorrow is finally Friday. This week passed by extremely slow. Labor day this Monday so we have a day off! Yipppeeeee!!!

Thought of the Day

Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

Satay Chicken

Yesterday my sister hosted a 2008 Olympics Open Ceremony Viewing party, so what better opportunity to try out a new recipe with a group of guinea pigs? Sorry let me put a disclaimer out there - this is one of those "cheating recipe," and not one made by scratch.

It is super simple - Soak the Skewers in cold water for 1 hr (so they won't burn when you grill). Brine 2 lbs chicken breasts also for 1 hr. Flatten chicken by pounding it with a mallet or a cleaver. Slice into 1" strips. Marinate with Lee Kum Kee Satay Sauce (about 6 tsps). Add into diced green onions. Skewer the chicken and grill. It comes out perfectly done! You may want to also buy the pre-made Thai peanut sauce at your local Chinese market. Serve the sauce warm.

The satay chicken was a huge success! The best part is that it is super-easy to make! Something to think about for the next potluck.

Shocker!

Did you guys know that Judge Judy is NOT a judge? Well, she WAS a family court judge but have since retired back in 1996. So technically, she no longer a judge. On her show, "Judge Judy," although she is referred to as the judge, she is only acting as an arbiter. The court officer who stands by her is acting as a private security guard. I feel cheated. I feel like I've been tricked.

RedBox

Have you guys seen this? SQ and I went to Lucky's (supermarket) yesterday and came across the "RedBox." What attracted us to the machine is this $1 DVD rental banner. As you know, we don't have cable and since unsubscribing to Blockbuster.com, we haven't seen a DVD in a long long time. Plus,, the $1 deal is very attractive... DVDs at Blockbuster stores usually go for $3.99 or something ridiculous. So we gave this RedBox a try.

The movie selection is not extensive because I guess there is only so much DVDs the machine can store. I don't know if it's just me, or I couldn't recognize like 3/4 of the movie titles!! Finally, we saw a couple of titles we recognized and rented "Juno." The "vending" part of it was easy. Select the movie, and then just swipe your credit card and then enter your zip code on the key pad. Then within seconds, the DVD pops out on the side. $1.09 ($1 with tax). We need to return it by 9pm the next day otherwise there is a $1 per day charge(maximum $24). So it's not too bad. It's convenient - considering the machine is just inside the supermarket. I think we will use it more if they have more movies we want to watch in there. The website says you can also reserve it online and pick it up at a destinated location. Kinda cool...

By the way, Juno was good. I liked it.