Gosh, I don't think it's engineered. It's definitely natural--I had to get the backsplash replaced and the second backsplash they gave me has a little amber coloring at the top that the first didn't have. But I'm sure it's probably cheap and from China. Oh well! I still think it's pretty...and it adds a little bit of bling on a reno that's on a tight budget (after blowing our wad on our kitchen...whoops!). **Oh, and just for a little good news in the remodeling world of big box stores, since I'm generally pretty un-impressed with them--Lowe's was GREAT--bought the vanity back in August and my husband JUST opened the box that had the backsplash in it--and it was broken clean in half!! I called Lowe's that minute and explained what happened, and they got a new one out, gave me the backsplash and put the other one out without the backsplash as "damaged" on the floor (in case anyone doesn't want that 4" backsplash, the Lowe's in Glenmont, NY has a super-cheap vanity just for you!!) Hope you like it, kelleg...I would feel terribly guilty if people buy this because I posted pics of it and it turns out to be junk! I DEFINITELY think it needs to be sealed--no doubt. Like I said, I'm going to ask my fabulous local tile shop (that just happends to be darn expensive...hence the reason I'm only buying the grout and sealer from them!!) and see what they say. They've never steered me wrong before. And maybe they can identify the stone for me. :) Sarah (oh, and my mantra for all of my renovations as a fairly young couple with little kids is to try to get the bones of the reno right...and leave room for upgrading when we're older...for example, I got a 36" gas cooktop in the kitchen and double ovens...both Frigidaire...someday, if/when we get more cash, we might up the ante and get Wolf/Bosch/Thermador...whatever. Same with the vanity--right size, right placement...easy to swap out down the line)

Thanks so much all! I think I've got the spouse on board. The breakfast area will open out onto a covered patio and I could spill the slate out there maybe. (I assume it would be too hot to use in uncovered parts of the yard, but maybe I should visit the Pool Forum....) I've considered porcelain but nahhhh it's just not the same somehow! :) If I were doing porcelain/ceramic, I'd go all out with saltillo which I could probably pull off being in CA. Or terrazzo which would probably be too awesome for me to pull off! (We're adding a small bath though and I may go full-on glitter in there.) I was thinking of starting with filthy colored grout so I wouldn't notice staining--Pricklypear, what type of grout do you have and does it stain? Maybe I don't need to start with dirt colored grout... Love the floor on YHL! And I do have a spot or two where I could test out that product.

Johnliu, that was a great write-up, very educational. Count me as someone OCD about my knives. I also want to emphasize that one's "taste" in knives is very individual. So, for me, regarding ceramic knives - I know they are really sharp, and maintain their sharpness much longer than steel knives, and are easier to care for (as long as you don't drop them). Having said that, I cannot stand the hard sound they make when chopping - that sound and how they feel as they strike the cutting board gives me the shivers. Obviously, this is a very personal thing! One more thing that John briefly mentioned that I want to expand on a bit is the type of cutting board. If you care about your knives, or care about the investment of $$ you've made in your knives, you should not use a plastic cutting board. They will dull your knives in just a few uses. You should use wood cutting boards. No one knows where the idea came from that plastic boards are safer - researchers at the University of Wisconsin have studied this perception that plastic cutting boards are better, and were unable to ascertain why people think this. Their findings were that wooden boards are safer. "The [University of Wisconsin] researchers purposely contaminated wood and plastic boards with bacteria and then tried to recover those bacteria alive from the boards. They also tested boards made from seven different species of trees and four types if plastic. They incubated contaminated boards overnight at refrigerator and room temperatures and at high and typical humidity levels. They tested several bacteria, Q Salmonella, Listeria and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Q known to produce food poisoning. The results consistently favored the wooden boards, often by a large margin over plastic boards. The scientists found that three minutes after contaminating a board that 99.9 percent of the bacteria on wooden boards had died, while none of the bacteria died on plastic. Bacterial numbers actually increased on plastic cutting boards held overnight at room temperature, but the scientists could not recover any bacteria from wooden boards treated the same way. A major question is why wood is so inhospitable to bacteria. The researchers have tried unsuccessfully to recover the compound in wood that inhibits bacteria, and is continuing the research."

Keep in mind that by calling an 800 number, you are establishing a relationship, therefore an exemption. Ever see those For sale signs on houses with a number to call for info? Call it and you'll have realtors calling you within minutes. Again, you gave them unwitting permission. The DNC list is good but not perfect. Not all telemarketers respect it and those that don't won't have CID either. In my state it's illegal to use a recorded call without a person first introducing themself to get permission. Yet it's not enforced so it goes on. Vengeance is your best bet and have fun with them. Get an airhorn and blast them in the ear. Lead them on and waste their time. It'll be more fun and be as effective as reporting them. Ask them what color underwear they have on, if you can get the aluminum siding in paisley, if they'll sing the price list to you and keep putting them on hold. Take them to the bathroom with you after a chilifest and give vivid narration. Splash some water and muffle your voice and yell the phone fell in the toilet... can u hear me now???? Remember: No fear, no retreat, no surrender (to quote my wedding vows). Telemarketers are scum of the earth, the lowliest type of scum. The type that make gas station bathroom floors look clean. and Never, never, never buy from those scum! Don't even give them the time of day and maybe someday they will fade away...