Big Comfy Couch

Anybody remember this show???

Finally broke down this weekend and bought a new couch for the family room!  Yay!  Yay!  Yay!!!  Our old couch has definitely seen better days and really needs to just go away.  Honestly, we shouldn't have even bothered moving it to MD from AL.  Basically, we bought the same exact couch from the same exact company just in a slightly different shade and a slightly different fabric.  We walked in the front door of the furniture store and it was the very first display.  It took all of about 10 minutes.  Once my mind is made up, that's it.  I didn't even look at anything else.

From there we took my parents to lunch and then did some shopping in Rockville at The Container Store (somehow Cosmo and I walked out with a $200 stainless steel kitchen trash can that closes by itself) and The Fresh Market.  We bought incredible steaks, twice-baked potatoes, broccoli slaw and garlic knots for Sunday dinner.

Saturday night we met my cousin Al at Uncle Julio's for dinner.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous so the Washingtonian was jammed packed but we enjoyed swirly drinks and chips before we were seated.  I usually have one of their salads but this time I went outside the box and had a delicious shrimp combination.

Sunday morning Bagel Boy took good care of all of us and after my parents left we started round 2 of "Cos Fam House Hunters."  As much as we've enjoyed living in this house, it's time to move on.  KJ loves the school district and is very excited about going to high school next year so we'll be staying in the same town.

The first house open house we went to was spectacular!  Exceptionally well-maintained with two master bedroom suites (KJ claimed one, natch), a full finished lower level with a work-out studio, wet bar and a theater room, in-ground pool with a detached two-car garage and a pool cabana.  The house had an amazing view from the deck and master bedroom.  Unfortunately, we hated the neighborhood.  It's such a shame.  The house is amazing but the neighborhood is awful.  And we need to think about re-sale.  So, scratch that one.

House #2 was my favorite of the open houses we went to.  Beautiful gourmet kitchen with granite counter tops, custom cherry cabinets, a wine cooler and top of the line Jenn-Air appliances.  Off the kitchen was a great sun-room, and french doors off the family room led to a new Trex deck, in-ground pool and hot tub with a completely fenced in yard. This house had a pretty rocking chair front porch and the best part was the amazing two-level master bedroom suite. Loved the neighborhood -- 20 or so homes in a quiet cul-de-sac.  Needs a few things done but nothing major; mostly just cosmetic.

House #3 was adorable but way too small for us.  Nice neighborhood, great price, beautifully decorated and incredibly well maintained older home.  But very, very small.  I don't think our king bed would fit in the master and the mast bath was only a "3/4" (no tub, just a shower) with only one sink.  I mean, c'mon.  A girl needs her jetted tub and her own sink!!!

House Hunters (International)

I luv, luv, luv House Hunters and House Hunters International.  Always so interesting and entertaining to see what priorities other folks have.  Especially International.  The European way of life is just so different from life in America.  The little closets, the little kitchens and fridgerators.  Those crazy washer/dryer combo things that sit in either the kitchen or the bathroom.  Americans love big -- big gas guzzling cars/SUV's, big homes, big backyards, big gulps, venti coffees, big department stores and impersonal mega super centers.  Europeans would rather stroll through a park or enjoy a latte at an outdoor cafe.  Or buy fresh fruits and vegetables every day at the market, pick up some fresh baguettes, some fromage, a couple of bottles of wine.  Stroll through the flower market.  Europeans walk more than Americans and public/mass transit is the norm.  They ride bikes.  Europeans are relaxed.  They enjoy their leisure time.  They take siestas and the pace is slower.  They don't stress over carbs or calories or exercise.  They enjoy pasta, olive oil and the typical European breakfast is some type of pastry or bread spread liberally with butter and a large cup of cafe au lait.  Europeans invest in classics . . . Burberry, Hermes, Dior.  A classic black pump, the perfect handbag, a cardigan, ballet flats, a pencil skirt that will never go out of style.  A trenchcoat.  The perfect red lipstick.  I'll never forget the stooped over, little old lady T-Bone and I saw strolling down the Champs Elysees in a classic bright red Chanel jacket.  She had to have been at least 80 years old.  And the coat was easily 30 years old but was still spectacular. 

I think most European women live by the "simple elegance'" philosophy - they are never "overdone" or "obvious."  Their clothes and make up look effortless.  American women spend hours trying to look that effortless and end up looking forced.  European women never look never forced but rather classy, feminine and naturally 'sexy."  European women are very confident and embrace their beauty and sensuality.  You don't see a lot of European women with big store bought boobs or inflated lips or brash blonde haircolor.  And most European women get better with age (a la Helen Mirren, Sophia Lauren).  European women understand the importance of hydrating and take care of their skin.  They use sunscreen  And they don't drink Diet Coke by the case. 

La Dolce Vita. 

house hunters

One of my favorite blogs/websites is: http://www.hookedonhouses.net/. They posted the following link regarding a House Hunter's (HGTV) drinking game:
http://realtybites.estately.com/house-hunters-drinking-game/
I love some of the comments listed after the post and secretly agree with most of them:

-Must have dual sinks in the en suite (sharing? are you mad?)
-a gas oven (otherwise, cooking simply can't be done)
-dedicated office space (even though he works on a loading dock)

You forgot a few....
-Stairs are too dangerous for anyone under the age of 18
-Disappointed when there is carpet and no hardwood
-Emphasize they want a house with "character" and yet go for the cookie-cutter new (or almost new) build

Do I get to drink the whole bottle if?:
- Prospective house buyer brings his/her mother on the shopping trip (a move usually reserved for "Property Virgins")
- Said granite/stainless kitchen critic admits to "never cooking"
- All three houses have enough backyard room for the dog (otherwise known as three-of-a-kind)

Drink Thrice - when the prospective buyers make a direct comment about something fundamental they do not like about the house and the agent totally ignores them and talks about something else to distract them or totally dismisses their concern. Example - gee, it's going to be kinda noisy living over the train tracks to which the agent replies - but you won't have far to walk to catch the train.

How about "Awww...only ONE bathroom (and there is only TWO of them) that's a real deal breaker"! =ONE DRINK

or....you have a couple looking for a house and when the realtor shows them a spare room he/she says WOULD MAKE A GREAT NURSERY" The wife giggles with glee and husband laughs nervously... =1/2 A DRINK

oh one more...houses are too close together and they see the neighbor's yard or the neighbor can see their yard

I am always amused when the folks featured on the show are moving out of either their parents basement or a crappy apartment and find really weird goofy stuff to complain about. I don't know if they're really are that annoying or if they're just doing it for the camers. In any event, I just want to yell "it's better than what you've got now!!!"