Kitchen appliances

I am still getting used to my kitchen appliances that came as part of the $1 kitchen promotion. The gas cooktop is easy to use. However, I haven't quite got the hang of the oven. The first time I used I actually set the auto cook feature and not the clock. So I didn't think the oven worked. Miraculously it turned on, that's when I discovered the auto cook feature. Lol I cooked a packet mix of blueberry muffins to test it out and it took an extra 15 minutes to cook them. I also cooked a baked chicken dinner that needed extra time and a frittata that I ended putting in the microwave to finish off.

I have never owned a dishwasher so I am also trying to work out the drying thing... I adjusted one of the dials inside to try and make the dishes a bit drier on completion of the cycle. I made another adjustment this morning, hope this works. The aftercare with Think appliances have been wonderful answering my queries on trying to use my new products. 

At handover you get another folder with warranties and emergency after handover phone numbers to call if things aren't quite right. This is where I found Think appliances phone number.

Lastly our microwave... Haven't played with this one much.... It has a grill function. We didn't get a microwave cupboard so it's sits on top of our bench.

I love our over head cupboards... And the pot drawers.

And my lights under my cupboard overhead cupboards. 

If you look carefully between my plates you can see my clear Ikea drawer liners. Have I said how much I love my new kitchen?

Still unpacking!

Boxes boxes and more boxes... I hate unpacking as much as I hated packing! I hope to sit down sometime this weekend and enjoy glancing about the house. Finch removals http://www.finchremovals.com.au/ did such a fantastic job of moving my furniture. I was really worried about my great-grandma's china cabinet making the journey but the boys took great care with my possessions.

We have had our security doors installed by Advanced Security doors. Corey did such a fantastic job!

NBNco have installed their equipment.

This is the comm box we upgraded to during construction. As you can see the NBN equipment was due to go on an uninsulated wall... Imagine the dust and dampness that may have interfered with the equipment below.

We have keys!!!

Actually we got them Tuesday... Just been too busy to sit down and take photos and blog... Will do soon. Promise!

Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's day with my family, brunch with my mum and sister and the kids at the scrumptious restaurant Barenz in Camden. After this I made a dash down the M5 to Ikea Tempe to pick up my drawer liners... So very happy, also got a plastic bag dispenser to put in the pantry.

On the way home popped into Kmart and bought a new ironing board cover, new pegs and new brooms. Then back to the house to resume packing.

I got an Aussie skip bag http://www.aussieskipbags.com.au/ delivered yesterday and have been busy filling it... I am getting rid of the old microwave as we get one included in our kitchen appliance package. I also have thrown out my toaster, it was a cheapie one when the old one went... I have forgotten to buy a stainless steel one today... Opps no toast tomorrow! Hope the one that was on sale at Target is still there tomorrow.

Security doors

I was soooo happy with the quote I received from Advanced Security doors... Corey  Adams  0430327186. He is based in the Macarthur area. He will be powder coating the front trilock door  the same colour as our wood work so it will match, it will be the toughened screen, and providing sliding doors for the laundry and alfresco areas, matching the window trims in these areas, and the same toughened screen. These doors will all be keyed the same, so we will just need one key! Best of all because we ordered today, they will be ready next Friday. Yeah!

I got three quotes and Corey's was the best by far... An enormous saving from what EB originally quoted. One thing down....so many more things still to do. One of them packing lol

Fence removed

Now we can see what our house looks like fully from the front...

The painter was down on the corner EB house working this morning. As our garage door is up, I am hoping they swing by our place this afternoon to do the touchups... I noticed through the windows, they have sanded the walls where we put the tape.

I hope to get a couple of solid quotes for landscaping in the next fortnight. We looked at some blocks to use for the retaining wall yesterday. I hope the neighbours like them.

I also intend on going to Ikea this week to buy some  drawer mats... Here is the link http://www.ikea.com/au/en/catalog/products/60177741/  My sister in law lined her kitchen shelves and drawers with it, it is such good quality, and it will stop marks on the beautiful new cabinetry.

Packing house...

I have been busy the last few days packing up... I have run out of packing tape on three occasions. But I must say I have enjoyed taking the break and wandering around Bunnings and on another time Masters looking at all the things I can buy after handover.... I still haven't found a front door mat I like. I have looked at clothes lines, and wardrobe organization, as well as laundry organization. I have taken bags to the clothing bins, had a council kerb side pick up, sold things online as I have decluttered.

One of my favourite blogs wrote these tips yesterday...
http://theorganisedhousewife.com.au/organising/moving/how-to-de-clutter-when-moving/

I will also add a couple of my tips... Buy some colorful round stickers... Anyone who know me knows that I colour code things to quickly get my hands on something. So I have colour coded my boxes as well as labelled them with room and contents. Eg... Blue stickers are for my son's room, green for Bed 4 etc. I hope it will all help on the other side.

At this stage, packing is overwhelming, exhausting work. But I better get to it, my partner is taking me out for dinner tonight. Looking forward to that :)