Home Improvements

Since we're having a hard time re-financing and realize we are going to be "stuck" in this townhouse longer than we originally thought, we decided to make some small improvements hoping to increase the value of the home a little bit. We decided to start with the kitchen, since kitchens have one of the bigger returns when selling (along with bathrooms... we watch HGTV all the time!) Our kitchen was very basic with laminate counters and just looked blah... so we decided to start by putting new hardware on the cabinets. After about the 5th trip to IKEA, we finally bought them! Here's a look at the bare cabinets:

I never knew Albert was such a handyman!

Isn't he cute? :)

Finally done!

Now Albert will know which side to open the cabinets!

Our next steps are to get granite countertops, put up a backsplash and eventually stainless steel appliances! We went to a home show with Mom and John when they were up here to visit and found someone to install the granite. They have measured our kitchen and we went to a huge warehouse and picked out the very slab they will use! How cool! We're hoping to get it done early May!

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We got new pillows in our living room. Tried to add just a "splash" of green to the room. We will probably re-paint the kitchen more of a green like the pillow instead of the teal that it is now.

A look from the loft

California Dreamin'

Albert and I just got back from sunny California yesterday so I thought I would put some pics up here... finally! It was Albert's brother Alex's birthday on Saturday so we surprised him by flying out and spending the weekend with him and Priscilla. When Alex got home from work late Friday night, Priscilla called out to him, "Allleeexxx.... come to bed... I have a surprise for you!" Albert was hiding under the covers in the bed while Priscilla was in bed and I was hiding in the closet trying my hardest not to laugh. (it was so hard) Then Alex walked up to the bed and Albert jumped out! It was pretty funny! Then we spent the next 4 days soaking up the beautiful weather. It was in the upper 80's to 90's. It even got up to 99 degrees on Monday! We went to Santa Monica one day, walked around the shops, visited family in Bellflower, ate a lot of yummy food, played tennis, took walks around the neighborhood looking at the million dollar houses, ate more yummy food, slept in everyday... a weekend of relaxation!!!

Priscilla picked us up from the airport Friday and we stopped for lunch in downtown Pasadena and walked around the shops. Here's a pic of Albert eating halo halo (a filipino dessert i compare to shaved ice with a few extra ingredients.)

Enjoying the sun-- wearing shorts and a tank top!

Albert and Alex in Santa Monica

Priscilla & Alex

Walking to the Santa Monica pier

On the pier looking back at the beach

Out to dinner Saturday night... ate at a Mediterranean restaurant... shish kabobs were amazing!!!

Albert and his cousin Justin

Me with the kids--- Lorei Jane and Justin

Alex & Priscilla's house-- from the family room looking out to the patio and back yard

New furniture in the living room

Relaxing!

I was trying to get a picture of the mountains inside the car. This is their neighborhood.

Happy to play tennis with his bro again!

Delicious Chinese food!!!

Front view of the their house-- I didn't get the whole house in the pic.

Beautiful flowers in the front!

We are sad to be back home... we went from 93 degrees when we left to 39 degrees when we got to Chicago :( We can't wait to visit again!!!