Fabulous Find

Found two of this amazing lamp (the other one is on the floor because I only have one night stand right now) at Marshalls back in December for $29 a piece! They were on clearance and they work, the reason for the mark down? The missing finial to keep the shade on. (Just noticed that I should take the tags off, the plastic and straighten out the lampshade a bit).

Now I know why the lamps were on clearance cause lamp finials that match, are turning into a bit of a pain to locate. I think I found a pair on the internet, now just have to suck it up and buy them.

Here's a picture of how it looks next to the bed. I would've taken a better picture of the room but it's a bit messing since some of the room has become Nick's "staging area" for the attic work he's been doing.

Hard Disk Not Exist

In English that means the hard drive is not detected and therefore D-E-A-D. Dead on New Year's Day.

The useless laptop is sitting in my desk waiting for the box from HP so I can send it in for repair and an attempt to recover the data from the hard drive. The laptop was last backed up in May which isn't good enough but better than nothing. (so HP, if you read this blog and somehow I don't think you do, I am good if you can hook me up with my data for the last 7 months - thanks.)

By mid January I should be up and running again...

Nick's Pride and Joy

It seems like Nick has been working on the electric and insulation for an eternity. There is still the basement outlets and the lights to the EIK, dining room and foyer.

The hub for all the electricity is the breaker panel. He has done a meticulous job organizing the box and I even know which breaker to flip if needed.

The Freedom Tower

I pass the Freedom Tower at least twice a day going to and from my (still new) job downtown. Yesterday I passed by four times! The first time I noticed a tiny corner of shiny glass and was in awe of how it finally looks more like all the computer generated images of what will be in 2013 than the orange skeleton that's been rising into the sky.

Today even more glass has been installed and it is breathtaking to watch the progress and what the completion will symbolize for many people with a direct connection to the events of 9/11.

I am way behind...

I can't believe it's been almost two months since I last posted and that wasn't much of post at all. I'm undecided if I should continue blogging since Facebook has become a blog-like forum for me and everyone else in the world and FB is a bit easier to update than blogger. Hmmm... I'll keep thinking about this for awhile before I make any kind of major decision.

Now to what's been going on at Casa Tocci...

Christmas Tree Acquisition (December 12, 2010)
We got our Christmas tree. This year we decided to try Lantier Tree Farm in Monroe Twp, NJ and we were very pleased with the selection of trees and the tree we got.They have acres upon acres of trees and our tree, a blue spruce, was perfect for hanging ornaments but blue spruces are prickly as heck! It was a bit painful to hang the lights, beads and ornaments but in the end we have a gorgeous. Hopefully all the needles will fall off before we have to un-decorate the tree.

 

Baked Christmas Cookies (December 18, 2010)

I made our usual of Chocolate Thumbprints, Mexican Wedding Cookies and K Bars. Shared some with co-workers, friends, family and my husband's belly.

My sister-in-law got engaged (December 18, 2010)

Yes she got engaged while I was slaving away making cookies. She just bought a house with her fiance this year (before they were engaged) so the engagement was expected but it's always so exciting when it finally happens and the wedding planning talk begins! It's going to be a very busy 2011. 

Christmas Festivities (December 24-25, 2010)

Christmas was a bit of a bummer this year, I was sick all through the events. I went through it in a bit of a haze and no appetite but still had to prep a bunch of food and show up when all I wanted to do was sleep. Now on day 6 (Dec 28) I finally feel better but just a bit congested. 

Hopefully the last snowstorm of 2010 (December 27-28, 2010)

We had a heck of a lot of snow this year.  Two HUGE storms days apart in early February and most recently, the day after Christmas we get hit with a Nor'easter. We got about 20 inches of snow!