Kitchen Remodel - Better Late than Never

*This little post has been sitting in draft mode for two years! Can you believe that I never pushed the publish button? Good grief!

But nonetheless, I still love my kitchen. It is by far my favorite room in the house. And I have a little secret....lean in... I don't cook! The hubs does.

Enjoy, friends!

Demo Day! 

The Destruction of the Kitchen

My hubby loves a good demo and boy, did he get one over the summer.  We tore up carpet through out the downstairs, we took out tile, we tore down a wall and moved pipes and air ducts.

It was back breaking and tiring.

And when the day was done we would go down to the lake and jump in to refresh ourselves for the next day of demo.

There was a mishap with a pot light hole cutter and my husband's ankles. He was grounded for 2 days because he was cutting something in bare feet!

Then my parents came to take care of our kids for a few days and my dad so graciously mudded and taped all the new walls.  It was a glorious gift that we truly appreciate.

Here is a little video of some of the process....it is more interesting that way.

Cheers!

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Project 365 {Week 2}

I have to say....remembering to take a picture {or set of pictures in order to get the perfect one} each day is tricky.  Between work and sleep and homework and hugs and snuggles, well you get the point.

But I did it. A second week of one picture per day.

I hope you like them.

These books are amazing. Truly. I am in love with them.

The Little Kitchen that Couldn't {A Before Story}

A little kitchen in the Adirondacks was employed about a house for such work as it was built for, making chicken nuggets and gourmet peanut butter and jelly. 

One morning it was waiting to make its next meal when the woman of the house asked it to hold more than one person while putting away the groceries.

"I can't; that is too many people for me", said the great little kitchen built for hard work. 

 Project 365

Dear Friends,

Please forgive me?

I have been lost for far too long.

There was laundry to do and bills to pay.

There were broken arms and polar plunges on New Year's Day.

Gallery Wall Featuring Kid's Art

When my oldest son was in Kindergarten I didn't see one piece of art work all year. Then in June he brought home a folder bigger than him full of all the art he had created that year. I was overjoyed looking through it.

I wasn't sure what to do with it, so we hung it in his closet at first. Then he finished 1st grade and brought home an even bigger folder of art. So we took down the art in his closet and hung the new pieces.

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Vanity Makeover

Hello! Sometimes you have a regular old maple vanity in the bathroom and it works. It does the job of holding your toothpaste and hairbrush and razor. Then you realize that something may be missing, besides the mascara or toothbrush.

It's missing a real personality. 

I lived with that lackluster-no personality-did its job only-vanity for 11 years.

My Birthday Present from Magnolia Market

Usually, birthdays are amazing, exciting moments for me. Last month my boys made me beautiful cards and put them on my pillow so that I would see them when I woke up. My parents and in-laws sent my mad money to buy something special. My hubby asked and asked and asked what I wanted for my birthday dinner.

However; this year I had no clue. In fact, I really wasn't hungry.

I'm not sure what it was, but this year, I really wasn't into the whole birthday celebration.

Serving Tray Makeover using 2 Colors of Chalk Paint by Annie Sloan®

Do you think that Chip and Joanna Gaines ever argue? I don't mean a little bickering. I'm talking about voice raised-red faced-teeth clenched shouting? They live together. They work together. They raise 4 kids together. That is a lot of....together.

I would never wish this on anyone. Truly.

They just seem too good to be true...a fairy tale for sure.

I am definitely not complaining. HGTV's Fixer Upper is my favorite decorating show.
FAV. OR. ITE.

In my mind, they can do no wrong.

Just like this tray I had.

Country Living Fair 2015 - Rhinebeck, NY {A Milk Glass Tale}

A couple weekends ago I had the opportunity to go to the Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck, NY with my friend, Carol.

What a glorious day it was! 

The whole drive down, I knew just what I wanted....milk glass. I was bound and determined to hunt it down.

And wouldn't you know it after about the first tent of vendors I stumbled upon the most perfect nubby milk glass lamp! And it was only $15. And the owner of the shop was a doll.

Chicken Wire Photo Frame

My husband recently built us a raised vegetable garden in our front yard.

He up-cycled old pieces of wood, our wonderful neighbors gave us some dirt that was left over from their front yard project, and we bought some chicken wire to keep the deer out. Then we all went and picked out the fresh, organic veggies....beans, watermelon, strawberries, lettuce, cucumbers.

{Oh, I can't wait to have strawberries and lettuce!}

Dress up Kid's Rooms with Hometalk

Hey, friends! If you have ever been stuck on how to decorate the playroom or the bedroom, then come on over and check out this board!  Maybe you will even have an idea to add to it.

Enjoy!

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White Washed Picket Fence Backdrop

My husband is the best. When I give him a list of things to fix or create or do for me around the house he is pretty agreeable about doing it.  I love that man.

So when we took our picket fence out of the backyard, I had a ton of ideas of what to do with the wood. 

And when I posted my February mantel here, I got a lot of emails about the backdrop. Funny, how so many people loved on it and my husband, although he gladly made it for me, very much disliked it.

OK....he despised it.

Oh boy, did I hear the complaints. 

Dresser Makeover with Annie Sloan® Chalk Paint

How grown up do you feel?

It is a tough question to answer especially when we do not really ever want to grow up. 

I think, for me; even over getting married, starting my teaching career, or having children... the moment I knew that I had grown up when I had a knock-down-drag-out week of debate with our gas company over a major mishap with our bill. And it was a mishap on their end, I might add....but isn't it always?

I know what you are thinking....that isn't glamorous. at. all.

Guest Bedroom Makeover: From Playroom to Relaxing Retreat

We love spending time with our family, especially since we are spread out all over the state and country. We love to have everyone come visit at the holidays and last year was no exception. 

The problem though?  We didn't have a proper bedroom for my brother and his new wife.

And my brother and his new wife are now expecting their first baby. We couldn't be happier for them, but that is a dilemma.  

How could we have them sleep on an inflatable mattress for 4 nights?  

No question about it...we just couldn't. 

One Day App and a VISA Gift-Card Giveaway

Like many moms out there, I have thousands of photos and videos of my two sons.  

All of them are tucked away in photo albums.....kidding....who has time to scrapbook anymore? They are all tucked away on my computer and sometimes my boys and I will cozy up and watch the funny moments from when they were little.

So when I was asked to review a new app called One Day (IOS and android available), I jumped at the chance to try a new way of recording my kids.

When You Love Someone.....Homemade Valentine Cards

When you love someone....you will brainstorm clever, witty sayings for Valentine's cards with 2 little cuties and use their exact words all the while smiling that they truly are your children.

...you will go to Target and browse the holiday aisle looking for the perfect non-candy add-on to go with the clever, witty cards.

...you will spend an hour or two creating said Valentine cards on the computer.

Chalk Paint® Kitchen Inspiration on Hometalk

Sometimes when it is snowing for hours and days and weeks on end and my boys are outside sledding, I like to cruise through Pinterest, and Hometalk to find inspiration for my next project.

 Am I the only one who does this?

If you haven't heard of Hometalk it is a community where you can post projects about your home and garden or ask for help with projects from the other talented members.

T-Shirt Gallery Wall

Once upon a time there was this t-shirt...oh wait...I started another post with that, but it was on the same wave length as this one, so let's keep going.

You see, there are two boys in this house who save me a ton of money on clothes. I don't have to buy super cute Mary-Janes or party dresses or 15 different colors of tights.  They require t-shirts, one pair of sneakers and sweatpants. They even share socks.

So when they do need clothes I try to buy the cutest of the cute and clever t-shirts out there.

Kitchen Update with Chalk Paint® by Annie Sloan

My neighbors moved in across the street almost 2 years ago, but I met them before they closed on the house.  They drove up one summer evening while I was walking down the street and we just started talking...for like an hour.

Right away I knew that we would be friends. Carol and Mark are from Texas and have that wonderful southern charm that sucks you in like a bear hug. They are warm and welcoming and I couldn't ask for better neighbors/ friends.

So this past summer when they decided to makeover their outdated kitchen I was all in to help.