Mintrific!

So I'm still having some noise issues with the neighbors, and it's so damn tricky trying to figure out if apt 28 or 27 is giving me the trouble!! The two are so close to each other it's hard to tell what their layouts are. Either way - they are giving each other a run for their money. One side screams and slams doors, the other stomps up a storm and is running a furniture manufacturing warehouse out of theirs. I've never heard so much hammering in all my life. At least I think that's what I'm hearing...

Last Thursday I was getting my nails "did" (shoutout Missy Elliot!) and found this blurb about www.mint.com in my Star mag. Free financial organization blah blah blah. It sounded cool.

And boy is it ever!! I've been obsessed since first click. You upload all of your accounts - checking, savings, credit cards, loans, investments (hah!) etc. and this little gem figures it all out for you and sets you up on a monthly budget. It also categorizes your spending trends (scary!) and sends you alerts when each of your credit card payments is due. I've never been so tickled. There are tabs to see how you can save money by opening different accounts...I mean there's nothing this thing doesn't do.

Check it out peeps!

Ahem...

I was woken this morning at 6:30 with something I like to call Neighborly Inconsideration. There is nothing like getting woken up an hour and 15 mins before your alarm goes off to something like this:

That's not faiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir.
No he didnttttttttttttttttttttttttttt.

stomp.stomp.stomp.door slam.

(repeat)

Ok so it wasn't in English and everything was mumbled because it came in thru the ceiling but each and every last syllable was held out for an uneccessary amount of time. After an hour of it, I stormed up there hoping to talk to someone and ask them to keep it down. No one answered.

I called the manager at 9 and calmly explained the sitch. She's had trouble with them before and said she'll talk to them later today. Apparently a mother & her teenage daughter live there and I'll use her words..."you know how teenagers are."

Yes, yes I do.


Stay tuned.

Under Construction...

The infamous chair:


Kitschy:


The oven couldn't fit in more with my taste (in case you can't tell that is seafoam):


My favorite part...the built-in bookcase:


The lamps that eventually put me in the poorhouse after purchase, shipping & end table necessities:


The dining area:


The dining table courtesy of San Diego (transportation provided by Ali Ito):


Stovetop area with a little moodlighting:


The best plate I've ever seen gifted by Carol:


My favorite shower curtain (thanks Ali for letting me bite off you!):

Photo Shoot

I assume all mothers are like this, but I swear I have the cutest little girl on the planet:



lounging in grandma's clean underpants pile...



clearly a favorite pasttime...



awww what a cutie!


a lil groggy:



all tuckered out and sleepin on mama's lap:

Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate

Mary introduced me to Starbucks' Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate over the weekend and I'll admit it was love at first sip. The first one I ordered was a grande and they were out of the sea salt they sprinkle on top but nonetheless it was still magical.

I tried to make a few alterations today to avoid fatty beverage guilt (FBG)...order nonfat milk, no whip & a tall instead of grande. Apparently they're all made with NF milk - just fyi. And I got suckered into adding the whip in the end - I was told I'd miss out on a lot of the flavor because they wouldnt be able to sprinkle the salt on top or the caramel sauce. I tried to be good...

I checked the points (after consuming said beverage) and was horrified to read that it was 11 points (9 w/0 whip)...ouch.

This will be one of those only-for-special-occasions drinks.