Kitchen Progress

When we first moved in our kitchen was pretty.... average. It has a lot of room... but overall kind of boring.... and it just felt generic to me.

So even though the kitchen is not finished yet... I thought I would share some progress pictures of what has been done so far.

The kitchen cabinets have been painted white.

Bought stainless steel appliances

Updated all light fixtures (but one... still looking for the right one for that spot)

added crown moulding to the top of the cabinets

painted the walls blue

painted the pantry door with chalkboard paint

Redid the kitchen table and chairs.

opened up a few cabinets and painted the backs of those cabinets blue

bought a circular rug for under the kitchen table

 So here are a few in the middle of the kitchen rennovation photos..

Just remember... these are in progress still. Not quite finished...

Still on the ridiculous to do list

Put in wood floors to match the living room

add beadboard to the breakfast bar - and maybe paint Grey?

add corbels to the kitchen cabinets

put in a backspash

Get bar stools

replace that "boob" light that is left in the kitchen

Bamboo blinds for the window

empty wall next to kitchen table - fill with open shelving

french doors for the patio

paint all trim white

replace the sink and faucet

replace wire shelving in pantry with wood shelving

so there is still a long ways to go.

But what do you think so far?

The before picture compared to where it is now... makes me happy.  I love the look of a white kitchen :) and the crown moulding on the cabinets... makes me smile. I love it.

Up next... I believe will be the floors...

Linked up at http://tatertotsandjello.com/2012/08/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-borsa-bella-design-co-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed: blogspot/OivM (Tatertots and Jello)

Easy DIY Wreath

So I finally did it. I finally made a wreath for my front door. I bought a cheap grapevine wreath about... 4 months ago. and this weekend I finally did something with it.
The wreath itself I believe was 5 bucks at Michael's. and I had some satin ribbon leftover from making my nieces these headbands you can find HERE

I realize now that I never actually showed how to make these flowers. And of course I did not take pictures of that process while doing it... again.

but here is how simple it is.
take some satin fabric. cut out a bunch of different sized circles... then take a lighter around the edges and burn them... which will cause them to turn up and in slightly... then hot glue a bunch of layers together to create a flower. take a small bead and glue that in the center. and its done. easy peasy. unless you are clumsy like me with a glue gun... so anything involving a glue gun also ends in me burning my fingers... always

so i cut out a bunch of flowers. glued them onto my wreath... and called it a day. i figured i would try the simplest approach possible for my first wreath and used most of the things i already had on hand. I am already collecting ideas for my fall wreath though. maybe ill try something a little bit more difficult...

But for now... this is cute.. and I like it a lot better then the big blank door!

I still need to spray paint those light fixtures... and figure out what i want to do with that empty space to the right of the door.... but at least it looks a tad more inviting.

Anyone find any fun fall wreaths? Im looking for ideas!

Linked up at http://tatertotsandjello.com/2012/08/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-borsa-bella-design-co-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:

Going Bananas!

I have never had banana pudding before. Yep you read that correctly. Never had it. 

But Bananas are a  hot commodity in my household. 

Maddux will go crazy for bananas. That little monkey loves them :)

So I came across this recipe on Pinterest... and decided... I would try it out...

So here are some pics of the process... Seriously make this. its amazing. i promise.

First thing collect your ingredients.

3 cups of milk (not pictured)

Vanilla wafers

sweet condensed milk

2 boxes of FRENCH vanilla pudding

4-6 bananas

cool whip

package of cream cheese

Put down a layer of Vanilla Wafers

Then chop of your bananas and layer on top of those cookies... like so

Next take the 3 cups of milk and mix up with the french vanilla pudding :)

Then get a cute little helper to mix up the condensed milk with the cream cheese... then fold in the cool whip





Next combine the pudding with the cool whip cream cheese mixture

and spread on top of the cookie/banana bottom :)

Then top off with some more Vanilla Wafers

Then get ready to enjoy pure amazingness :)

I am telling you. I love this.

Its amazing

Make it!

A Little Privacy Please...

Our front door has 6 small open windows... which means... if you want to be a stalker... you can see right inside whenever you feel. And since I have this always paranoid mind frame that  everyone is out to kill me. Seriously. Its a fear. Too many scar movies growing up... I guess.

So I found a few really cute ideas on Pinterest to use clear contact paperto add privacy to windows. SO I had planned on doing a fancy cute design... cut out a bunch of shapes and it took me 15 minutes to line 2 of them up perfectly. Not 2 windows. 2 Shapes on one tiny window... and I thought... well forget this. Lets just see what putting the paper up there in whole will look like....

So the middle one obviously has the contact paper... and it gives it a "frosted" type of appearance... and you cannot see directly inside. So when those contract killers are looking for me... this will slow them down....

Point being. I liked it. Enough to finish the rest of the windows...

So here we are... finally a little bit of privacy :)

Its not permanent. So I can change my mind at any point. Maybe one day ill have patience for that original cutesy idea I found on Pinterest that I loved... or maybe Ill try curtains... or maybe... who knows. But for now I like it.. and I can peel it off at any given moment if I so wish... and best part... 4 bucks for an entire roll :)

Losing My Mind!!!!

I think after a lot of work this weekend I will have some pictures to share...

For the past month I have been losing my mind.... drowning in unfinished projects...

The kitchen is almost to a point of where we will have to stop for now and save money to re-do the floor. The mudroom lockers are almost complete - which means the laundry room is almost complete! :)

And I am currently trying to give the front door... some more privacy with a very simple method I learned on Pinterest. :)

SO once i have the "After" photos to share. I will throw up a few posts :)

But currently... Here are a few in progress photos of the above projects...

Frosted Front Door Windows (In Progress)

Kitchen Updates (Very much in progress)

Mudrrom Lockers & Laundry Room (In Progress)

So hopefully I have a productive weekend :)

Too many projects going on at once!

Why don't I just work on one project at a time????

Sigh. One day I will learn.



DIY Rustic Bath Caddy

I have been drooling over a few of these on Pinterest. I mean Drooling.

Source: etsy.com via Fawn on Pinterest

But this one is 130 bucks... and for me.. its a tad unreasonable...

So I decided... Simple enough right. Ill just make my own version of it.
So I went to Lowe's... picked up some Oak... measured the outside of my tub. Cut the wood. Then added support beams on the under side that would sit on the inside of my tub that would keep the tray from moving.
Tungsten Oil to protect it...

I still think I want to add some candle holders into it... or maybe a circular notch to keep my coffee cup from moving round. But for now...

Here is what I came up with.

I love it :) and it only cost me 20 bucks total... much better than that 130!!!!!!

And now maybe I can actually read the Hunger Game Series (dont judge me... I havent had any time to read!!!!!)


Linked up at http://tatertotsandjello.com/2012/08/weekend-wrap-up-party-and-borsa-bella-design-co-giveaway.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:

Fourth of July

My fourth of July weekend summed up in photos :)

I'm blank because.....

I’m Blank Because…

In the middle of updating my kitchen and it is almost to a point where I can share some pictures. Almost. So for now I thought I would copy a cute little post I found on Little Miss Momma's blog
Thanks for the inspiration :)


I’m weird because…

I love the smell of wet musty old basements. Love it.

I talk to myself. A lot. I may or may not ask myself questions. then answer it. I am not crazy. its just my process of working through something. I usually do this when I am trying to build something or refinish something on the house. full out conversations... with myself.

I love living room dance parties... where really.. its a party by myself and my tv.

If I am cold... I love getting into the bathtub to warm up. A scalding hot bath.

My favorite snack is saltine crackers. American cheese and sweet pickles. Stop wrinkling up your nose i promise. its amazing.

I am easily distracted. I swear I have adult ADD.

I loathe blow drying my hair. or painting my nails.

I hate cold coffee. It can be 100 degrees and I will still want hot coffee.

I eat cottage cheese with croutons or western dressing. Its amazing. try it.

I can put ketchup on almost anything and like it. Especially cold macaroni and cheese - with ketchup. pure awesomeness.

I get head aches from keeping my hair in a pony tail. its terrible.

I love Star Wars or anything Super Heroes.

I don't like Adele.

Target sells a Buddha butter dish. I want it. I actually need it. its beyond wanting.

I can eat chips and salsa as a meal. Or ice cream. Mmm i love ice cream for dinner :)

I can still obsessively watch my Friends DVDs. I know every episode by heart... but still laugh hysterically. Best show ever.

I prefer action movies over comedies. or chick flicks.

I tend to be overly dramatic. And overuse the word Amazing.

I get really excited about little things. For example. Scrabble refrigerator magnets. Cow creamers. elephant salt and pepper shakers. all things that have had me jumping up and down squealing like i won the lottery.

Source: longislandprep.tumblr.com via Kaelee on Pinterest

I’m a bad friend because…

I am terrible at returning phone calls when I am busy.

I have a hard time committing to any sort of get together.

I never make time to catch up


I’m a good friend because…

I love my girlfriends as if they were siblings.

I want to see those I love succeed.

I cherish my friendship and honestly miss those friends who have moved far away....
I am always willing to act like an idiot for a laugh :)

When I finally do make the time to get together... we can pick up from exactly where we left off without skipping a beat.

Source: myrevelment.com via Lauren on Pinterest

I’m sad because…

I feel that I am missing out on so much with Maddux ... while working. And feel guilty

I dwell on things I cannot change.

I wish my friends lived closer.


I’m happy because…

Maddux's personality is getting bigger and bigger everyday. and that boy is hilarious. I could sit and watch him play for hours!

we are spending the day at the beach with my bestie this weekend :)

my kitchen renovation is getting closer and closer to being finished.

I have people in my life... that make me feel anything but ordinary <3

Source: weheartit.com via Gian on Pinterest

I’m excited for…

Summer tans

Maddux's first day at the beach

Horse Races

Cousins laughing

Summer Movies

Ice cream :)

Sweet Iced Tea

Maddux's first vacation to Disney



And this makes me laugh... Every single time

Source: Uploaded by user via Amanda on Pinterest