New Old Computer

So my beloved iMac kicked the bucket a couple days after Christmas. It probably can be repaired but I don't have the funds to get it serviced right now. So the only way I was accessing the internet was through my cell phone (yea that was fun) and at my mom's house. But thank my dad, Paul, for teaching me about computers. I may not be a genius like him but I was able to successfully reinstall Windows XP onto my old IBM laptop. It took me a good while to battle some problems with my ethernet controllers but with a lot of stubborness, I was finally able to figure it out and I now have a computer to blog again. So excited.

Computer 0 Jon'el 2, hahaha

2012 Goals and Resolutions

So I am so not a resolution type of girl. I normally blow them off within a couple of weeks...or was it days in the new year. This year, I determined to break the mold. Fresh off my weight release challenge that I participated in my job for the last 3 months, I want to continue to momentum to push and challenge myself.  I lost a 36lbs by the way but have gained some back to due the Holidays =). So here I declare on the great web my personal and home goals for 2012.

Personal Goals

1. De-clutter my life and become more organized. 
2. Find and do more family activities.
3. Exercise at least 3 times a week or more.
4. Commit to a more plant based diet transitioning to a vegetarian possibly vegan diet.
5. Treat Yo Self (or rather myself)

Home Goals

• Tackle the sunroom. Do the works - new flooring, wall treatment, finish updating the current furniture,  finish building daybed.

• Third bedroom - lay down new flooring, create cottage atmosphere, new light fixtures

• Dining Room / Kitchen - open up the wall, create a pantry near the basement steps

So there are my goals for 2012, hopefully post about them means I will attempt majority of them. I kicked off my new years by cleaning out the third bedroom. So already off to a good start.

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Happy New Year. So excited to ring in 2012. Looking forward to 2012 being a great year and I can't wait to share it with everyone!

Big Tings A Gawn, Everyting is Irie

Two weeks ago I along with my mother, daughter, brother and his fiancee took a plain to Montego Bay, Jamaica to attend our cousin's destination wedding in Ocho Rios, Jamaica. My mother, daughter and I spent 7 days and 6 nights at the Riu Ocho Rios in a junior suite overlooking the garden and pool, Room 1023 to be exact. The last time I went to Jamaica was 11 years prior during my junior year of high school for my grandfather's funeral. He lived near Kingston which is the southeastern region of the country while Ocho Rios is around the north coast.

We took a very long bus ride approximately 1.5hours to the resort. The resort itself is the largest resort in Ochie with beautiful scenery. We had actually arrived very early around 11am but check in wasn't until 3pm. We had a little trouble checking in but the staff was very pleasant and we actually got our wrist bands to enjoy the amenities right away. So we went off to eat some lunch cause we were starving. Here are some views of the ocean that I took

Despite the check in issues and the last day (will get to it at the end), the rest of the stay was amazing. The staff were very friendly and interactive with the guests. The night shows were a bit cheesy but fun for some evening entertainment. Sometimes they got a bit raunchy but most of the time it was ok for little ones to watch. Each day the room service lady would make a towel animal like this one

For the most part with the exception of Dunn's River Falls, we stayed on the hotel site. We enjoyed traditional Jamaican cuisine such as ackee and saltfish, plantain, boiled dumplings, and liver most mornings at breakfast. At night, they had specials such as curry paella and curry pasta.

We spent many days just relaxing, sipping drinks and lounging by the smaller pool closer to our rooms or the beach.

Bob Marley drink

My daughter would spend hours if she could just stay in the sand or the pool. She had a blast.

But back to the two people who made this trip possible. I guess we could have gone on our own but I felt blessed to be able to attend my cousin G and his wife L wedding. We arrived the same day as the bride and groom and the days leading up to and day after the wedding I got to know the bride better. They are truly a match for each other and I wish them many years of happiness, they truly deserve it. The turn out was amazing at approximately 100 wedding guests which is a large group for a destination wedding. They were married on July 22 which also happens to be my dad's birthday so it made the occasion double special considering I was in the country he was born on his bday.

The happy couple

reception center piece

Will share some more of my favorite pictures tomorrow.

Week Two House Tour: 3rd Bedroom

Today we have the third bedroom. It was to be baby Noah's room but now it is pretty much the room that holds all the junk. I don't have an updated pictured of the turquoise blue painted walls with orange ceiling but they are going to change. My visions for my house have changed in the last couple of months and although I loved that color scheme then (and still do) I am going a different direction.

This room is by far the ugliest room of the house besides the basement (which will not be shown yet) with the mystery toilet in the middle of the room. I don't have many pictures of this room but it is very small and has one window and a so called closet.

As you can see the room is very dark and dated. We have brown paneling. On the floor is old musty carpeting, laminate tiles outer and vinyl tiles inner. This room is also the only one without any overhead

Smallest room in the house but definitely the ugliest. Thinking white walls, new ceiling, new sconces, and transformation into a guest room possible future baby room.

Week Two House Tour: 2nd Bedroom (Daughter K)

Today we are going to look at the before pictures of my daughter's bedroom. They actually had wallpaper on that we easily took down on day 1 after we got the keys to the house. So this is essentially a stripped room. It did however still have a nasty stink carpet.

We used to sleep in her room until our room was painted but there are the stripped wallpapered plaster walls. They are in decent shape. The ugly nasty green shag carpet.

View from door

Radiator has since been removed

Other side of room view, entrance to right and closet

I don't have any recent pictures of her room but let's just say it's a whole lot of pink walls and hot pink trim. Definitely going to tone down the room to be more reflective in the house general scheme. Thinking about a muted pink or possibly light gray with white trim.

Also want to get rid of her ceiling which is not pictured. It's squares with indentions and I would rather have it drywalled and add crown modeling later on. Also need to refinish the hardwood floors as well as the other hardwood floors in the house.

Week Two House Tour: Bathroom (After)

Today we pick up where we left off yesterday. The bathroom renovation! This picture was taken before we got central air so imagine it without the radiator.

Here is a quick reminder of the before

And here is the bathroom today with everything new. No more carpet =)

new pedestal sink, new toilet, long shelved IKEA mirror

Close up of backsplash

New jetted tub...

Got rid of door to expose open shelving. Still need to add a shelf or two

There is my new sanctuary to relax and unwind. Hope you enjoyed it.