Our remodeling project commenced last week starting with the demolition phase, as contractors came and tore out much of our kitchen and master bathroom. To prepare for the job, we moved all our kitchenware, small appliances, food, and TV to the guest bedroom, turning it into a make-shift bomb shelter. For food, we stockpiled on ready-to-eat cha lua, frozen dumplings, hot dogs, and canned goods. Melody was also craving hot pot, which covered a few meals using a single pot. With the old fixtures quickly filling up our garage, we’ve also begun selling on Craigslist (even the kitchen sink!) to make room for the new stuff. The small influx of cash has been nice in light of the recent downturn in the stock markets. Meanwhile, we’ve also begun looking for lighting fixtures and finishing touches. This weekend, we drove to Roseville to check out rugs at Macy’s, kitchenware at Crate & Barrel, and light sconces from Lamps Plus. We also drove to Vacaville, and were glad to dig out a pendant from the Restoration Hardware outlet, which saved us almost $300. I was also excited to finally find a large canvas print of Brooklyn Bridge which I had been eyeing from Ross, but ultimately took three trips back and forth from home to prove that it could only fit in a rental truck, and neither of our sedans. With the renovations in full swing, I look forward to some reprieve this Labor Day weekend.