Trae and Jess

Home Sweet Home

2010-01-06T03:55:00.004+01:00

Sorry we're a little bit late to post these (by a little bit late, I mean 2 1/2 months). Here are the pictures of our house construction finished! Altogether, we:

ripped out the existing custom built cabinets in the back room and master bedroom
ripped up all the baseboards
refinished the kitchen, middle bedroom and master bathroom cabinets and put new hardware on them
chopped off a section of the kitchen cabinets to open the kitchen and fireplace room up more
painted every single wall of the house
touched up all the insides of the hall, middle, back and master bedroom closets
had hardwood floors and carpet put in
installed new baseboards (note: not all of the baseboards are finished in these pictures)

Thank you so much to all our friends and family who helped make this happen! We appreciate all of you!

We will eventually get pictures up of the house all put together with decorations...still in progress.

From House - After

Before the Mayhem

2009-11-25T18:53:00.003+01:00

Just now getting around to posting more on the house. These pics are right before we started doing lots of work! You'll notice green sticky notes on every wall - those were the paint color names that we were to paint that wall...

Just wait until you see the after! We'll post them soon!

We Bought a House

2009-10-12T21:20:00.006+02:00

We're continuing our blog here. No, we're not back in Europe (yet) but wanted to utilize the blog for other, fun life events.

We bought a house. And it's awesome.
It's a great 3-bedroom home, with a HUGE backyard and tons of updates. There weren't really any major issues with the house - well, except for one. And it was an issue.

Cabinets.All three bedrooms had walls and walls of built in cabinets. They were really nice wood and really well built, but on the "practicality for daily life scale" they were right at a big fat zero.

We knew we had to tackle that problem - and fast. Our plan is to move in the weekend of October 24th. That's coming up quick...yikes!

We've already started some work on it with help from great family and friends. We'll post more on that in a bit, but for now, I'll leave you with the rest of the real estate company's pictures.

***Remember, these are very much BEFORE pictures. These were pictures taken several months ago when the previous owners lived there. We'll do several updates so you can see the progress that we are making.

Woah, Wicked.

2009-05-05T03:34:00.003+02:00

On the 29th, our last full day in London, we ran around like crazy. We woke up and had our traditional English Breakfast from our GREAT hotel (the Lime Tree). Wheat-a-bix was a part of it. Awesome breakfast!

We then waited in line for an hour or so for tickets to Wicked. We got front row seats, for pretty cheap! Then, we quickly went and toured the Tower of London - not so much a huge tower like I was thinking. More of an old-school castle. Our guide was a "beef-eater" (see video). He wore a funny suit and had a super thick accent. He was pretty comical - told us all about the several beheadings that took place there. At the end of our tour, we finally got to see the crown jewels. Crazy, crazy, crazy. Huge diamonds - like 530 carat size.

We ate lunch at a restaurant called "The Texas Embassy". Right when we walked in we felt like we were back in the Stockyards in Fort Worth. The atmosphere was crazy-Texas like. The food? Not so much. Unless a pot-roast enchilada is what you call Tex-Mex food.

Then we did some shopping for a bit, and then went to St. Paul's Cathedral. We got to sit in an Evensong service, basically their Evening Service. It was awesome, the sound from the voices from the choir would hang in the air for seconds.

We had dinner at our favorite London "gastro-pub" called The Thomas Cubit. And then, we finally got to enjoy Wicked, and wow, a great way to end our day.

Beef-Eater from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

From Europe 2009

Day of the SWINE FLU scare (aka H1N1)

2009-05-05T02:47:00.000+02:00

On the 28th, we had our first full day in London. We were a bit bummed because there were several places that we couldn't take pictures of in London.

We began the day at the TKTS booth purchasing half-price tickets for Les Miserables. The booth opened at 10, so we waited about 45 minutes or so. The wait was totally worth it, we got seats in the Stalls (ground floor) right in the middle. Great seats for really really cheap.

Jessica really liked the red telephone booths and insisted that I take a picture of her in it. We had to do that really fast because the booth smelled rancid. Urine. yuck.

We then got to experience the British Museum, a big difference from other museums that we saw in Paris. Lots of old, even ancient(ish) stuff.

Then the rain came. And we saw the Tower Bridge, which we thought was the London Bridge. And then finally, Les Miserables. Which. Was. Awesome.

Then the Swine Flu came to London.

From Europe 2009

Missing a Few Days

2009-05-04T15:14:00.000+02:00

So here we are, back in "real life" wishing that "real life" was the way it was last week. But we're happy and glad to have had an unbelievable time in Europe.

We were planning on catching up on the blog on our last night before we left, but turns out we didn't have internet access! Bummer. We did a lot since the last blog entry: saw a few musicals, toured a few old buildings, and sat in on an Evensong service at St. Paul's. Tonight you will be a victim of an onslaught of videos and pictures from our remaining few days with detailed accounts of our final adventures. Gosh, we had an awesome time.

How to Protect from Swine Flu in London

2009-04-29T23:44:00.000+02:00

Here's a bit from our day yesterday (the 28th). We only had 2 full days and 2 half days in London, so we've been going pretty non-stop. Be safe.

How to Protect from Swine Flu in London from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

Cheers!

2009-04-27T23:54:00.000+02:00

London! We're here!

After an hour delay on the EuroStar train from Paris to London, we made it. And then walked confusingly with all of our luggage in the cold, London rain. Haha.

As soon as we made it to the Lime Tree Hotel (which is AMAZING!) we dropped our bags off and hit the streets...well, after we went to a pub right down and had lunch. If this was an indication of how our food in London will be, then contrary to what you hear, we might be in for some pretty good London food. Jess had a burger and chips and I had the standard fish and chips. Both were excellent.

We then followed Rick Steves' Westminster Walk, making a detour to actually go into Westminster Abbey (the old old old old old church), and wow - it was amazing. Jess said she enjoyed it just as much and maybe even more than Notre Dame. The bad thing - no photography inside...bummer.

Then - more shopping, and then dinner and now time to sleep! We haven't really been sleeping much - too much to see and do!

Mind the water drops on some of the pics, it was raining and cold! See you soon!

From Europe 2009

Zombies and Skulls

2009-04-27T23:17:00.002+02:00

Well hello! We've gotten a little behind on our days - so this is a double up. We've taken it a bit easier the last few days to get to soak in as much of the culture as possible before we left for London. The video is from our day on Saturday the 25th, as well as the first five pics. We got to visit the Catacombs - which is basically a huge, mile-long graveyard.

The last five pictures are from Sunday the 26th. Read about it a little ways down.

Zombies and Skulls from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

From Europe 2009

Sunday was a great day. By now, we really had a good handle on the city of Paris, and felt comfortable going anywhere. The only bad thing - Paris pretty much shuts down on Sunday, but we found plenty to do! Sunday was Metro day. Not like Metro as in a Metro guy - but the actual Metro. We rode it more than any other day in the week.

We went to the Rue Cler Market that morning. Tons of fruit stands, bakeries, cafes...and we browsed. We then went on an adventure to find any and all available stores to shop in. We ended up being successful near the Arc again. Tons of great stores, and a whole lot going on!

Then, feeling a little brave, we wanted to get a quick glimpse of the Red Light District before dark. Luckily, the Metro stop comes up right in front of Moulin Rouge. And finally, we ended up back at the Louvre to see it at night. It was a fitting end to our long stay in Paris.

And then Monday - to London!

From Europe 2009

Typical Parisian (Tourist) Day

2009-04-25T21:30:00.000+02:00

Yesterday we were fully immersed in (what we felt like) a typical Parisian experience. Complete with an accordian soloist, we rode the metro to Musée D’Orsay to look at a lot of impressionist paintings by Monet, Van Gogh, and Renior's collection.

Then we had an AWESOME lunch at one of the restaurants we've grown very fond of. We've actually fell in love with two different restaurants that are right next to eachother...and we might have eaten there four times between the both of them...they're just good, ok? I had a much needed diet coke, and we topped off our meal with crème brûlée.

Next we went to Napoleon's tomb. It was dynamite.

Yesterday evening, we ventured up the tower that we built earlier in the week. Hope you like the video and pics.

Today we hung out with dead people...we'll update soon.

Typical Parisian (Tourist) Day from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

From Europe 2009

Video Deux

2009-04-25T00:29:00.000+02:00

Uploaded a few videos from yesterday. Don't miss the last one!

Videos Deux from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

How to be a Tourist from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

4€ Nespresso

2009-04-23T22:41:00.000+02:00

We're beat tonight. Gonna post a few pics and then get some rest. Today we went shopping, toured part of the Louvre, walked and shopped on Champs-Elysées, then climbed up the Arc de Triomphe.

Oh- I also drank a 4€ espresso shot. Go here to see this coffee company- they go a little overboard. www.nespresso.com/

From Europe 2009

Château de Versailles

2009-04-22T23:33:00.000+02:00

Today we had a great time touring Versailles - a huge, ginormous castle that King Louis XIV built. It is so big. The castle itself is 551,220 square feet, but the castle probably only takes up about 1/16th of the property. The rest of the property is made up of gardens, ponds, fountains, and other "escape" castles. We were floored by God's creation while walking about 12 miles throughout the gardens.

We have really enjoyed soaking up the culture here...quick-stop pastry shops and fruit stands for breakfast, l'eau du robinet (tap water) in ice-less wine glasses, and long people-watching dinner times.

We would really love to make Parisian friends here...the language barrier seems to be keeping that gap open. We are determined to continue to meet people around the city!

Below are a couple of photo's of today, and a rather lengthy (almost 4 min) video. Hopefully you can see the awesomeness of Versailles!

Versailles from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

From Europe 2009

European Pig

2009-04-22T18:43:00.000+02:00

Just a taste of our day so far...just wait!

European Pig from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

The Historic Walk

2009-04-22T17:28:00.000+02:00

After getting the hang of the Metro, we had a pretty packed day. We used Rick Steves' Historical Walk tour from his Paris book that Evan got us. This started us at the Notre Dame, which is what several of the pics are of below. It was by far our most favorite part of the day. It's crazy to think about how much detail and time went into creating it. Looking at it from a distance it really didn't look real. Kinda like a green screen in a movie.

We then stopped at a cafe in the Ile St. Louis neighborhood. Ile St. Louis is the upscale, high-class neighborhood in Paris. But our lunch was cheap and good! In Paris, they have the chairs outside facing the streets so you can people watch during meals or drinks.

After a few more stops we made our way to the Shakespeare and Co. Bookstore. This place was about the size of a store in a mall, with about as many books as a full size Barnes and Noble, except old books. Books covered the walls from the ceiling to the ground.

The rest of the day was filled with eating crepes, seeing Sainte-Chapelle (a smaller, more detailed Notre Dame) and then having a picnic dinner of cheap, not great Japanese food in front of the lit up Eiffel Tower.

Day 2 is done!

From Europe 2009

The Metro

2009-04-21T18:51:00.000+02:00

Bonjour!
Today we tackled learning how the Parisian Metro system worked. Turns out, it wasn't as difficult as we thought. I guess it is one of those things that you have to actually do, to fully get it. Kinda like using a French Press (which I haven't seen here yet - café expresso only), once you actually use it- you realize why it is such a good thing. Ahead- a quick 3 minute(ish) recap. Enjoy!

The Metro from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

Pizza and Projects

2009-04-21T08:32:00.001+02:00

Pizza and Projects from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

Day One

2009-04-20T16:17:00.000+02:00

Day One from Trae Castles on Vimeo.

We're taking the first day to walk around a bit and get our bearings. Paris is HUGE, and there are a lot of people! We both were hoping to miss some of the crowds, but it looks like not. Still - first impressions from today have been awesome. We have a lot of organizing to do - which we're going to try and do tonight.

Right now it is 4:21 PM Paris time, 9:21 AM US time. We're rolling on 27 hours without sleep, and hoping to last until tonight to get our body clocks half-way correct. I had some coffee earlier this afternoon at the cafe right down from our hotel. That will prob be a routine breakfast stop every morning this week!

Leaving Tomorrow!

2009-04-19T06:37:00.000+02:00

Jess and I have the amazing opportunity to travel to Europe for the next two weeks or so. We'll be in Paris for the first bit, head to London for a few days, and back to Paris to close it out. If you're interested, and want to share a bit of the trip with us, join us here every few days. We will post some videos from our new Flip HD cam, and for sure upload some pics!

Adios! (oops, wrong language!)

-trae