I can't resist. Also, I want to share a couple of things....first of all, I want to clarify that we did NOT do this all by ourselves.  I designed all of it myself, but much of the heavy lifting and hard part was done by skilled contractors and craftsmen.  I have a friend that is a contractor,  that consulted on the hard parts, and with questions that I had, but I pulled permits, was there every day, and I made sure the project went along as planned and on budget.  (thus the hardhat comment)

Also, I don't know weather you all noticed in the kitchen AFTER shot, that lying on the floor in the pantry is my dog Hampton. 



Well, Hampton is no longer with us.  During the week that The Nate Show producers called me, my first child, my dog of 12 years had to be put down.  It was the craziest week, because I was so happy that Nate had called, but soooooo sad that my sweet (actually he was a pain in the neck, but we loved him) dog was no longer around.   Long story short, when the showed the photo of my kitchen, I paused, because I remember taking that photo, and talking to my boy...and got a little teary.  Nate asked me "are you ok?", what is it your dog" and I said "he (my dog) just passed away. Nate was sooo apologetic, the studio audience had a moment....and all I could say was "it's ok", it's ok, it's ok."  which translated into the 10 thankyous that I said at the end....and why my energy faultered a bit. 

My boy Hamp always protecting me, was looking down on me that day (literally). I miss him terribly, even though he drove me crazy, he always wanted to be the center of attention...so in a way, he got it.  Love you old boy:)