diff --git a/lib/log4js.js b/lib/log4js.js
index 109fe3c..3a112f8 100644
--- a/lib/log4js.js
+++ b/lib/log4js.js
@@ -136,7 +136,9 @@ function dispatch(event) {
 
 function load(file) {
   debug("loading ", file);
-  return JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(file, "utf-8"));
+  var contents = fs.readFileSync(file, "utf-8");
+  debug("file contents ", contents);
+  return JSON.parse(contents);
 }
 
 function configure(configurationFileOrObject) {
diff --git a/test/dateFileAppender-test.js b/test/dateFileAppender-test.js
index 59355e2..883b2f9 100644
--- a/test/dateFileAppender-test.js
+++ b/test/dateFileAppender-test.js
@@ -1,153 +1,173 @@
 "use strict";
-var vows = require('vows')
-, assert = require('assert')
+var should = require('should') 
+, async = require('async')
 , path = require('path')
 , fs = require('fs')
-, sandbox = require('sandboxed-module')
-, log4js = require('../lib/log4js');
+, sandbox = require('sandboxed-module');
 
-function removeFile(filename) {
-  return function() {
-    fs.unlink(path.join(__dirname, filename), function(err) {
-      if (err) {
-        console.log("Could not delete ", filename, err);
-      }
-    });
-  };
+function remove(filename, cb) {
+  fs.unlink(path.join(__dirname, filename), function(err) {
+    cb();
+  });
 }
 
-vows.describe('../lib/appenders/dateFile').addBatch({
-  'appender': {
-    'adding multiple dateFileAppenders': {
-      topic: function () {
-        var listenersCount = process.listeners('exit').length,
-        dateFileAppender = require('../lib/appenders/dateFile'),
-        count = 5,
-        logfile;
-        
-        while (count--) {
-          logfile = path.join(__dirname, 'datefa-default-test' + count + '.log');
-          log4js.addAppender(dateFileAppender.appender(logfile));
-        }
-        
-        return listenersCount;
-      },
-      teardown: function() {
-        removeFile('datefa-default-test0.log')();
-        removeFile('datefa-default-test1.log')();
-        removeFile('datefa-default-test2.log')();
-        removeFile('datefa-default-test3.log')();
-        removeFile('datefa-default-test4.log')();
-      },
+describe('../lib/appenders/dateFile', function() {
+  describe('adding multiple dateFileAppenders', function() {
+    var files = [], initialListeners;
+
+    before(function() {
+      var dateFileAppender = require('../lib/appenders/dateFile'),
+      count = 5,
+      logfile;
+
+      initialListeners = process.listeners('exit').length;
       
-      'should only add one `exit` listener': function (initialCount) {
-        assert.equal(process.listeners('exit').length, initialCount + 1);
-      },
-
-    },
-
-    'exit listener': {
-      topic: function() {
-        var exitListener
-        , openedFiles = []
-        , dateFileAppender = sandbox.require(
-          '../lib/appenders/dateFile',
-          {
-            globals: {
-              process: {
-                on: function(evt, listener) {
-                  exitListener = listener;
-                }
-              }
-            },
-            requires: {
-              '../streams': {
-                DateRollingFileStream: function(filename) {
-                  openedFiles.push(filename);
-
-                  this.end = function() {
-                    openedFiles.shift();
-                  };
-                }
-              }
-            }   
-          }
-        );
-        for (var i=0; i < 5; i += 1) {
-          dateFileAppender.appender('test' + i);
-        }
-        assert.isNotEmpty(openedFiles);
-        exitListener();
-        return openedFiles;
-      },
-      'should close all open files': function(openedFiles) {
-        assert.isEmpty(openedFiles);
+      while (count--) {
+        logfile = path.join(__dirname, 'datefa-default-test' + count + '.log');
+        dateFileAppender.configure({
+          filename: logfile
+        });
+        files.push(logfile);
       }
-    },
-    
-    'with default settings': {
-      topic: function() {
-        var that = this,
-        testFile = path.join(__dirname, 'date-appender-default.log'),
-        appender = require('../lib/appenders/dateFile').appender(testFile),
-        logger = log4js.getLogger('default-settings');
-        log4js.clearAppenders();
-        log4js.addAppender(appender, 'default-settings');
-        
-        logger.info("This should be in the file.");
-        
-        setTimeout(function() {
-          fs.readFile(testFile, "utf8", that.callback);
-        }, 100);
-        
-      },
-      teardown: removeFile('date-appender-default.log'),
+    });
+
+    after(function(done) {
+      async.forEach(files, remove, done);
+    });
       
-      'should write to the file': function(contents) {
-        assert.include(contents, 'This should be in the file');
-      },
-      
-      'should use the basic layout': function(contents) {
-        assert.match(
-          contents, 
-            /\[\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}\s\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}\.\d{3}\] \[INFO\] default-settings - /
-        );
+    it('should only add one `exit` listener', function () {
+      process.listeners('exit').length.should.be.below(initialListeners + 2);
+    });
+
+  });
+
+  describe('exit listener', function() {
+    var openedFiles = [];
+
+    before(function() {
+      var exitListener
+      , dateFileAppender = sandbox.require(
+        '../lib/appenders/dateFile',
+        {
+          globals: {
+            process: {
+              on: function(evt, listener) {
+                exitListener = listener;
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          requires: {
+            '../streams': {
+              DateRollingFileStream: function(filename) {
+                openedFiles.push(filename);
+                
+                this.end = function() {
+                  openedFiles.shift();
+                };
+              }
+            }
+          }   
+        }
+      );
+
+      for (var i=0; i < 5; i += 1) {
+        dateFileAppender.configure({
+          filename: 'test' + i
+        });
       }
-    }
-    
-  }
-}).addBatch({
-  'configure': {
-    'with dateFileAppender': {
-      topic: function() {
+
+      openedFiles.should.not.be.empty;
+      exitListener();
+    });
+
+    it('should close all open files', function() {
+      openedFiles.should.be.empty;
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('with default settings', function() {
+    var contents;
+
+    before(function(done) {
+      var testFile = path.join(__dirname, 'date-appender-default.log'),
+      log4js = require('../lib/log4js'),
+      logger = log4js.getLogger('default-settings');
+      
+      log4js.configure({
+        appenders: { 
+          "date": { type: "dateFile", filename: testFile }
+        },
+        categories: {
+          default: { level: "debug", appenders: [ "date" ] }
+        }
+      });
+        
+      logger.info("This should be in the file.");
+        
+      setTimeout(function() {
+        fs.readFile(testFile, "utf8", function(err, data) {
+          contents = data;
+          done(err);
+        });
+      }, 100);
+        
+    });
+
+    after(function(done) {
+      remove('date-appender-default.log', done);
+    });
+      
+    it('should write to the file', function() {
+      contents.should.include('This should be in the file');
+    });
+      
+    it('should use the basic layout', function() {
+      contents.should.match(
+          /\[\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2}\s\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}\.\d{3}\] \[INFO\] default-settings - /
+      );
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('configure', function() {
+    describe('with dateFileAppender', function() {
+      var contents;
+
+      before(function(done) {
         var log4js = require('../lib/log4js')
-        , logger;
+        , logger = log4js.getLogger('tests');
+
         //this config file defines one file appender (to ./date-file-test.log)
         //and sets the log level for "tests" to WARN
         log4js.configure('test/with-dateFile.json');
-        logger = log4js.getLogger('tests');
         logger.info('this should not be written to the file');
         logger.warn('this should be written to the file');
         
-        fs.readFile(path.join(__dirname, 'date-file-test.log'), 'utf8', this.callback);
-      },
-      teardown: removeFile('date-file-test.log'),
+        fs.readFile(path.join(__dirname, 'date-file-test.log'), 'utf8', function(err, data) {
+          contents = data;
+          done(err);
+        });
+      });
+
+      after(function(done) {
+        remove('date-file-test.log', done);
+      });
       
-      'should load appender configuration from a json file': function(err, contents) {
-        assert.include(contents, 'this should be written to the file' + require('os').EOL);
-        assert.equal(contents.indexOf('this should not be written to the file'), -1);
-      }
-    },
-    'with options.alwaysIncludePattern': {
-      topic: function() {
-        var self = this
-        , log4js = require('../lib/log4js')
+      it('should load appender configuration from a json file', function() {
+        contents.should.include('this should be written to the file' + require('os').EOL);
+        contents.should.not.include('this should not be written to the file');
+      });
+    });
+
+    describe('with options.alwaysIncludePattern', function() {
+      var contents, thisTime;
+      
+      before(function(done) {
+        var log4js = require('../lib/log4js')
         , format = require('../lib/date_format')
         , logger
         , options = {
-          "appenders": [
-            {
-              "category": "tests", 
+          "appenders": {
+            "datefile": {
               "type": "dateFile", 
               "filename": "test/date-file-test",
               "pattern": "-from-MM-dd.log",
@@ -156,63 +176,45 @@ vows.describe('../lib/appenders/dateFile').addBatch({
                 "type": "messagePassThrough" 
               }
             }
-          ]
-        }
-        , thisTime = format.asString(options.appenders[0].pattern, new Date());
-        fs.writeFileSync(
+          },
+          categories: { default: { level: "debug", appenders: [ "datefile" ] } }
+        };
+        thisTime = format.asString(options.appenders.datefile.pattern, new Date());
+
+        fs.writeFile(
           path.join(__dirname, 'date-file-test' + thisTime), 
           "this is existing data" + require('os').EOL, 
-          'utf8'
-        );
-        log4js.clearAppenders();
-        log4js.configure(options);
-        logger = log4js.getLogger('tests');
-        logger.warn('this should be written to the file with the appended date');
-        this.teardown = removeFile('date-file-test' + thisTime);
-        //wait for filesystem to catch up
-        setTimeout(function() {
-          fs.readFile(path.join(__dirname, 'date-file-test' + thisTime), 'utf8', self.callback);
-        }, 100);
-      },
-      'should create file with the correct pattern': function(contents) {
-        assert.include(contents, 'this should be written to the file with the appended date');
-      },
-      'should not overwrite the file on open (bug found in issue #132)': function(contents) {
-        assert.include(contents, 'this is existing data');
-      }
-    },
-    'with cwd option': {
-      topic: function() {
-        var fileOpened,
-        appender = sandbox.require(
-          '../lib/appenders/dateFile',
-          { requires:
-            { '../streams':
-              { DateRollingFileStream: 
-                function(file) {
-                  fileOpened = file;
-                  return {
-                    on: function() {},
-                    end: function() {}
-                  };
+          'utf8',
+          function(err) {
+            log4js.configure(options);
+            logger = log4js.getLogger('tests');
+            logger.warn('this should be written to the file with the appended date');
+            //wait for filesystem to catch up
+            setTimeout(function() {
+              fs.readFile(
+                path.join(__dirname, 'date-file-test' + thisTime), 
+                'utf8', 
+                function(err, data) {
+                  contents = data;
+                  done(err);
                 }
-              }
-            }
+              );
+            }, 100);
           }
         );
-        appender.configure(
-          { 
-            filename: "whatever.log", 
-            maxLogSize: 10 
-          }, 
-          { cwd: '/absolute/path/to' }
-        );
-        return fileOpened;
-      },
-      'should prepend options.cwd to config.filename': function(fileOpened) {
-        assert.equal(fileOpened, "/absolute/path/to/whatever.log");
-      }
-    }
- 
-  }
-}).exportTo(module);
+      });
+
+      after(function(done) {
+        remove('date-file-test' + thisTime, done);
+      });
+
+      it('should create file with the correct pattern', function() {
+        contents.should.include('this should be written to the file with the appended date');
+      });
+
+      it('should not overwrite the file on open (bug found in issue #132)', function() {
+        contents.should.include('this is existing data');
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/fileAppender-test.js b/test/fileAppender-test.js
index 11fe4f1..5e889ac 100644
--- a/test/fileAppender-test.js
+++ b/test/fileAppender-test.js
@@ -1,22 +1,19 @@
 "use strict";
 var fs = require('fs')
+, async = require('async')
 , path = require('path')
 , sandbox = require('sandboxed-module')
 , log4js = require('../lib/log4js')
 , should = require('should');
 
-function remove(filename) {
-  try {
-    fs.unlinkSync(filename);
-  } catch (e) {
-    //doesn't really matter if it failed
-  }
+function remove(filename, cb) {
+  fs.unlink(filename, function(err) { cb(); });
 }
 
 describe('log4js fileAppender', function() {
 
   describe('adding multiple fileAppenders', function() {
-    var initialCount, listenersCount; 
+    var files = [], initialCount, listenersCount; 
 
     before(function() {
       var logfile
@@ -28,12 +25,17 @@ describe('log4js fileAppender', function() {
       while (count--) {
         logfile = path.join(__dirname, '/fa-default-test' + count + '.log');
         config.appenders["file" + count] = { type: "file", filename: logfile };
+        files.push(logfile);
       }
 
       log4js.configure(config);
 
       listenersCount = process.listeners('exit').length;
     });
+
+    after(function(done) {
+      async.forEach(files, remove, done);
+    });
     
     it('does not add more than one `exit` listeners', function () {
       listenersCount.should.be.below(initialCount + 2);
@@ -83,34 +85,38 @@ describe('log4js fileAppender', function() {
   });
 
   describe('with default fileAppender settings', function() {
-    var fileContents;
+    var fileContents
+    , testFile = path.join(__dirname, '/fa-default-test.log');
 
     before(function(done) {
-      var that = this
-      , testFile = path.join(__dirname, '/fa-default-test.log')
-      , logger = log4js.getLogger('default-settings');
+      var logger = log4js.getLogger('default-settings');
 
-      remove(testFile);
+      remove(testFile, function() {
 
-      log4js.configure({
-        appenders: { 
-          "file": { type: "file", filename: testFile }
-        },
-        categories: {
+        log4js.configure({
+          appenders: { 
+            "file": { type: "file", filename: testFile }
+          },
+          categories: {
           default: { level: "debug", appenders: [ "file" ] }
-        }
-      });
-      
-      logger.info("This should be in the file.");
-      
-      setTimeout(function() {
-        fs.readFile(testFile, "utf8", function(err, contents) {
-          if (!err) {
-            fileContents = contents;
           }
-          done(err);
         });
-      }, 100);
+        
+        logger.info("This should be in the file.");
+        
+        setTimeout(function() {
+          fs.readFile(testFile, "utf8", function(err, contents) {
+            if (!err) {
+              fileContents = contents;
+            }
+            done(err);
+          });
+        }, 100);
+      });
+    });
+
+    after(function(done) {
+      remove(testFile, done);
     });
 
     it('should write log messages to the file', function() {
@@ -127,24 +133,32 @@ describe('log4js fileAppender', function() {
   describe('with a max file size and no backups', function() {
     var testFile = path.join(__dirname, '/fa-maxFileSize-test.log');
 
-    before(function() {
+    before(function(done) {
       var logger = log4js.getLogger('max-file-size');
 
-      remove(testFile);
-      remove(testFile + '.1');
+      async.forEach([
+        testFile,
+        testFile + '.1'
+      ], remove, function() {
 
-      //log file of 100 bytes maximum, no backups
-      log4js.configure({
-        appenders: {
-          "file": { type: "file", filename: testFile, maxLogSize: 100, backups: 0 }
-        },
-        categories: {
+        //log file of 100 bytes maximum, no backups
+        log4js.configure({
+          appenders: {
+            "file": { type: "file", filename: testFile, maxLogSize: 100, backups: 0 }
+          },
+          categories: {
           default: { level: "debug", appenders: [ "file" ] }
-        }
+          }
+        });
+        logger.info("This is the first log message.");
+        logger.info("This is an intermediate log message.");
+        logger.info("This is the second log message.");
+        done();
       });
-      logger.info("This is the first log message.");
-      logger.info("This is an intermediate log message.");
-      logger.info("This is the second log message.");
+    });
+
+    after(function(done) {
+      async.forEach([ testFile, testFile + '.1' ], remove, done);
     });
 
     describe('log file', function() {
@@ -177,26 +191,32 @@ describe('log4js fileAppender', function() {
   describe('with a max file size and 2 backups', function() {
     var testFile = path.join(__dirname, '/fa-maxFileSize-with-backups-test.log');
 
-    before(function() {
+    before(function(done) {
       var logger = log4js.getLogger('max-file-size-backups');
-      remove(testFile);
-      remove(testFile+'.1');
-      remove(testFile+'.2');
-      
-      //log file of 50 bytes maximum, 2 backups
-      log4js.configure({
-        appenders: {
-          "file": { type: "file", filename: testFile, maxLogSize: 50, backups: 2 }
-        },
-        categories: {
-          default: { level: "debug", appenders: [ "file" ] }
-        }
-      });
 
-      logger.info("This is the first log message.");
-      logger.info("This is the second log message.");
-      logger.info("This is the third log message.");
-      logger.info("This is the fourth log message.");
+      async.forEach([
+        testFile,
+        testFile+'.1',
+        testFile+'.2'
+      ], remove, function() {
+      
+        //log file of 50 bytes maximum, 2 backups
+        log4js.configure({
+          appenders: {
+            "file": { type: "file", filename: testFile, maxLogSize: 50, backups: 2 }
+          },
+          categories: {
+          default: { level: "debug", appenders: [ "file" ] }
+          }
+        });
+        
+        logger.info("This is the first log message.");
+        logger.info("This is the second log message.");
+        logger.info("This is the third log message.");
+        logger.info("This is the fourth log message.");
+
+        done();
+      });
     });
     
     describe('the log files', function() {
@@ -219,6 +239,10 @@ describe('log4js fileAppender', function() {
         }, 200);
       });
 
+      after(function(done) {
+        async.forEach(logFiles, remove, done);
+      });
+
       it('should be 3', function () {
         logFiles.should.have.length(3);
       });
diff --git a/test/with-dateFile.json b/test/with-dateFile.json
index 1872743..31a23aa 100644
--- a/test/with-dateFile.json
+++ b/test/with-dateFile.json
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {
-  "appenders": [
-    { 
-      "category": "tests", 
+  "appenders": {
+    "dateFile": { 
       "type": "dateFile", 
       "filename": "test/date-file-test.log",
       "pattern": "-from-MM-dd", 
@@ -9,9 +8,9 @@
         "type": "messagePassThrough" 
       } 
     }
-  ],
+  },
   
-  "levels": {
-    "tests":  "WARN"
+  "categories": {
+    "default":  { "level": "WARN", "appenders": [ "dateFile" ] }
   }
 }