Mar 31, 2014

Kitchen Conundrum.

I pride myself on having pretty good tastes when it comes to home decor.  My home may not show it, due to lack of funds, but I know what I like when it comes to decorating my house--despite being one of the most indecisive people you'll ever meet.

However.  My husband and I are planning a kitchen remodel in the very near future....and I can't make decisions to save my life.

Here's my kitchen, in it's current state.


I don't know if you can tell from the pictures, but it's a U-shaped kitchen.  It's completely closed off from the rest of the house, unless you're sitting at the dining room table and looking in.  The cabinets are far too light for my tastes (especially combined with the light flooring) and I'm just ready for a change.

This is what I immediately fell in love with:


The two tone cabinets are pretty much the most fabulous thing I've ever seen.  I'm obsessed.  So that's been decided (by me, anyway.  Marty's boycotting this project....anyone want to come to my house and have a painting party in my kitchen??).

Anyway, here's my plans for the kitchen.


Biggest change I want to do?  Paint the cabinets.  I have the colors picked out already, but more on that later.  I'll be painting the upper cabinets one color, the bottom cabinets another and I'll be switching out all the hardware on the cabinets and drawers.


This wall, to the right as you're walking into the kitchen, is going to see the biggest changes.   Use your imaginations here.  We're taking the fridge out and putting it on the opposite wall (picture to come in a second).  Obviously, the bottom cabinets are going to be painted.  But we're also going to cut the entire wall in half--starting at the stove--and creating a bar area.  This allows:  1.  more seating, but more importantly, 2.  a view into the living room when in the kitchen.  I cannot tell you how important this is to me, as a mother.  I know I'm only a few steps away if Avery's calling for me from the couch, but if I don't even have to leave the stove to see my child while I'm making dinner or doing dishes, this is a no-brainer in my book.


This is the third, and final, wall in our kitchen.  These cabinets are going to be taken out....the top ones are probably going to the garage or laundry room, and the bottom ones are just going to trade places with the fridge (see the above picture....above this one. lol).  I'm tossing around the idea of painting the pantry door.  I've seen it on Pinterest and I LOVE the pop of color.  And I'm already painting the cabinets....what's one more thing to paint??

Now.  Here's where I start getting confused--getting the paint colors I've picked out to match with a countertop AND a backsplash.  *cue spinning head*  Bottom cabinets WILL be painted Behr's Juniper Berries.  Top cabinets WILL be painted Behr's Burnished Clay (note:  don't look this color up on the Internet.  All of the websites made it look brown.  It's definitely NOT brown...it's more of a tannish/greyish white).

Options on countertops (as of right now...subject to change):


I like this.  Grey countertops are really what I had pictured in my head when I was envisioning a new kitchen.  Problem?  I cannot find a backsplash that looks good with all three of these colors together.  Also, this countertop only comes in a "Matte" finish.  We were wanting a glossy finish.



When we first looked at this sample, I wasn't really feeling it.  But the more I look at it up against the colors I've picked (and this picture doesn't do the colors or the sample justice), I'm liking it a whole lot. It looks more expensive and more like granite, in my opinion--because real granite is NOT an option right now--and it comes in a glossy finish.  Problem?  I cannot find a backsplash that I LIKE that goes with all three colors.  This color matched a bunch of tans and browns.  I am not a tan or brown person at all.  

Marty and I have looked at Home Depot and Lowes, and aren't loving any of the options we're seeing in the backsplash department.  Anyone have any (reasonably priced!!) suggestions on where to go and look? 

What do you think?  I know these aren't the best pictures in the world, but are you leaning one way or another?  I'm anxious to see what other people think when they look at these two options. 

Mar 28, 2014

"Busy But Crafty" Monthly Craft Challenge: House Numbers Challenge

It's finally time for mine and Sarah's very FIRST "Busy but Crafty" Monthly Craft Challenge!!  We're so excited about this.  We're both just two moms of young kids that wish we had more time to craft....voila!  That's how this link up was born.  Each month, we want to give you the opportunity to take a little time out of your busy schedule to get some crafting therapy going.

This month, we challenged you to make a craft using your house numbers.  We asked you to be creative, and now I can't wait to see what you've come up with!  **scroll down to the bottom to join the link up party**

For my craft this month, I chose to bring a little Springtime inside my house (since the winter here in Kentucky has decided that it never wants to end.  Ever.).

Moss Covered Numbers!


This craft was fairly simple to execute, but very, very messy.  You've been warned.


Materials Needed:

--Paper Mache letters or numbers.  (I picked mine up at Hobby Lobby, but any craft speciality store should carry them)


--Moss mat/adhesive backed moss sheets (Also picked up at Hobby Lobby)


--Super glue
--Scissors

That's it.

How to make these fabulous mossy letters for your decor:

1.  Take your letter/number and lay it down on the back side of the moss mat.  Be sure to trace the number backwards, otherwise, you'll have moss for the back of the number/letter you're wanting to trace, not the front.


2. Trace around the shape with a permanent marker.  I tried pen at first, but the backing is too thick and I couldn't see where I was marking.


3.  Cut the shape out.  The particular moss mat I purchased wasn't hard to cut through, so I just used regular scissors.  I would think an exacto-knife would work just as well, just make sure you have something to protect the surface you're cutting on. 

4.  Glue the moss to your shape.  Continue cutting pieces to cover the sides as well.  


5. You can take some of the extra strands of moss and glue it on where you can see the seams where you glued individual pieces on. 

6.  Clean up your mess.  Because this crap will be everywhere.  It's pretty bad when my 2 year old tells me "Mommy, you made a BIIIIIIG mess." 



7.  Enjoy!



Some of you may be wondering, why 139?  Remember a couple of weeks ago, when I talked about paying homage to our old house?  Well, I printed out the picture that I Waterlogued.  139 was our house number when we lived in Bardstown.  I wanted it to be represented along with the picture.  For now, I have these numbers sitting beside the picture of our old house.  Eventually though, when I get the courage to do it., I want them to be a part of the gallery wall I'm going to build around my giant clock.

There you go.  There's so many possibilities that can happen with this project.  A monogram.  A single initial.  Words on tables at a wedding reception.  When I was in Hobby Lobby to buy my supplies for this project, they had an entire leaflet on craft projects with moss.  I'm particularly loving the stenciled moss glued onto a canvas.  So unique.


Now, it's YOUR turn!!  We want to see what you're doing creatively with your house numbers!  First though, let's get a couple of rules out of the way.

1.  You must link back to either my blog or the Year of Sarah Blog (the link co-host).

2.  Follow both our blogs.  You can do this however your little heart pleases.  Google +, Facebook  (my page is here, Sarah's is here), Bloglovin', etc.  

3.  Your link needs to be a craft blog post.  Please do not link to your Etsy page, business page, own link party or giveaways.

4.  Must be your own original work.

5.  Show some other blogs some love.  Don't we all get the warm fuzzies when we see new blog comments??






Mar 27, 2014

Disney Love.

The Internet is a wonderful place.  It has Pinterest, it has shopping, it has news, it has videos of people that are obviously way funnier than I.....it's just a great place (most of the time)...and it has a variety of awesome Disney things that make my little Walt-loving heart oh-so happy.  In honor of the Internet and it's wonderful Disney offerings, I thought I'd round up my favorite Disney things on the World Wide Web in a list for you to peruse and enjoy. :)

In no particular order:

1.  This video, of two parents singing "For the First Time in Forever" from Frozen.  They also have another video on their YouTube channel where they sing "Love is an Open Door" (also from Frozen).  It's equally hilarious.



I can't decide what's funnier.  The fact that they're doing this, or that their child in the backseat has no idea what's going on in the front.  Wonder if I can convince Marty to do this.....

2.  These candles from Walter and Rosie on Etsy.  Disney-inspired scented candles.  I need them ALL.

 
3.  This picture from AnastassiaArt on Etsy.  It's expensive.  I'd never be able to justify a purchase like this, but I'm dying to have it for Avery's room.  It doesn't match the colors in her new "subtly Princess/Disney movie" themed room I'm very, very slowly working on, but I love it so much.
 
 
 
4.  This CD of music from the Disney Parks.   Problem:  the CD is $36.90 on Amazon and $19.99 on iTunes.  But it's a full two disc CD of music from Disney rides and attractions.  I want it.  BAD. 
 
 
 
5.  This Winnie the Pooh inspired umbrella pin on Pinterest (originally from madincrafts.com). 
 
 
I've been looking for a Disney umbrella for awhile.  But I want a subtle Disney umbrella, not an "in-your-face, Mickey is plastered all over the place" umbrella.  To find a subtle Disney print, adult sized umbrella is virtually impossible.  This pin is inspiring me to make one of my own.  In my creatively overloaded brain, I'm picturing hundreds of different options.  How can I ever choose??
 
 
6.  This webpage that has all the theme songs from the Disney shows of my childhood:  http://blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney/2013/03/09/disney-theme-songs-to-make-you-miss-your-childhood/
 
 
 
I now feel REALLY old and really nostalgic.  Someone go find me an episode of Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers to enjoy.  To the kids of today:  your TV has NOTHING on the kid's shows from the 90s.  Thanks for trying, though.
 
Just a little Disney magic to brighten your day!

Mar 13, 2014

Gluten AND Caffeine Free? Pray for me.

I know I'm a little late to the "giving up something for Lent" game, but better a late start than never starting at all, right?

Today, I'm going to be giving up all Cokes (for me, this technically means Dr. Pepper.  In the South, all sodas are Cokes.  Yes, this makes complete sense).  I'm the type of person that gets terrible caffeine related headaches if I haven't had a Coke (again, Dr. Pepper) by 10 am.  This is going to be reallllly sucky for me.  But for a solid week, I have woken up every single morning with a massive headache.  How do you wake, from a restful night of sleep, with a headache already?  I have been having some dizzy spells and feeling all around sluggish and yucky lately.  Combine that with my constant headaches, and I've decided I need to give up the caffeine as step one in figuring out what I can do to make myself feel better.

On top of that, starting today, I'm on a STRICT gluten free diet.  I feel like crap 90% of the time.  100% of the time after I eat, I'm miserable.  I'll spare you the details, but it leaves me feeling like food is my enemy.  I don't like feeling this way.  I like to cook, I like to find good recipes, and I like to leave a meal feeling satisfied and in a good mood.  Lately, that's not been the case with me.  I've left a meal, dreading what was coming next...will I need a heating pad?  Will I be in intense pain?  And the answer is simple.  A few years ago, I was having the same kind of pains and after multiple evaluations, scans, consultations, tests, the specialist still couldn't give me any kind of diagnosis.  But he did suggest going on a gluten free diet.  Keep in mind, this was before Celiac's or gluten intolerance was really well known.  I fully believe, without being diagnosed, that I am gluten intolerant.  For a short time, I was strictly gluten free.  And it was HARD.  No bread, no breading, no flour, no oats, no wheat....do you see where I'm going with this?  Going out to eat with a gluten intolerance is very near an impossibility.  "What about salads?" you say.  Well, my stomach obviously hates me, because I also have IBS.  Which makes eating lettuce and some green veggies pretty miserable too.  So I'm looking at options like grilled, plain chicken (because some sauces can contain gluten ingredients as thickeners) or grilled, plain fish.  Blah.  And don't even get me started on eating at home.  If you look up "gluten free recipes" on Pinterest, the majority of them call for ingredients I can't even pronounce.  Xanthan gum, millet, guar gum....what in the world?  Something tells me these ingredients aren't readily available on the shelves of my local Walmart.  So what's a gluten intolerant, mom of a 2 year old, semi-pathetic cook to do?  Don't be surprised if you see this blog introducing more mom-on-the-go gluten free recipes.  Because I cannot look at another recipe that wants me to add amaranth flour.  I just can't.

As hard as it is, and as flavorless as it can be, I cannot be miserable anymore.  I hate feeling bad, I hate dreading meals and I hate hating food.  So, gluten free, I go.  If you have any fantastic gluten free recipes that are EASY, send them my way.  A lot of foods are naturally gluten free, so I see a lot of fruits and veggies and meats in my future.  Not to mention a whole lot of processed foods leaving my routine.  They won't be missed. 

And while you're sending me gluten free recipes, send some prayers my way.  Because I have a feeling I'm NOT going to be a very nice person while I'm going through my caffeine withdraws.  Please know, in the next week, if I snap at you or say hateful things, I don't mean it.  I love you.  That's just the lack of caffeine in my body talking. 

Wish me luck!

Mar 6, 2014

Stupid-Proof Stir-Fry



I've been doing really well on my quest to be a better wife and mom by spending more time in the kitchen.  As a result, I will have more recipes to share!  This post:  Chicken Stir Fry.

I LOVE Chinese food.  Seeing as there was a freakishly amazing Chinese to-go place just steps from my college apartment, I practically lived on Chinese food as a late teen/young adult.  But I've always been afraid to try Chinese recipes at home.  Maybe because I have such a high expectation of what it should taste like and I'm afraid to screw it up.  Whatever the reason, this is the only Chinese food recipe in my repertoire.  Enjoy :)

Needed:
  • 1 lb. thawed boneless chicken (you could also do beef or pork), cut into cubes (or strips, whatever you prefer).  
  • 2 tbsp oil
  • Veggies....I'm leaving this wide open for you to choose whatever veggies float your boat. 
I use:
1 red bell pepper, 1 green pepper, 1 can of sliced bamboo shoots, 1 can of sliced water chesnuts and snow peas (I just eye how many I want in there).
  • 2 tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1/3 cup of water
  • 1 packet of stir fry seasoning mix (found in the Ethnic foods aisle)
1.  Start with a large skillet (if you're an amateur cook like me and don't own a wok) or, of course, a wok.  Add oil to pan (I used veggie oil) and let heat on medium.  Make sure the oil has coated the bottom of the pan.

2.  Add whatever meat you chose to pan and stir fry until brown.
{lazy mommy tip:  Sometimes, I'm forgetful and don't put my chicken out to thaw beforehand.  In those instances, I put my frozen chicken straight on my George Foreman grill and pre-cook it.  Then, I cut it into cubes, add it to my pan and finish cooking}.


3.  Add veggies and stir fry.  I always add my peppers first because they take longer to soften than the other veggies. 

4.  In a separate bowl, mix together stir fry seasoning, soy sauce, sugar and water.  Mix together well (make sure you get out all the lumps).


5.  Add liquid mixture to skillet and stir fry until sauce has thickened. 

I serve my stir fry over a bed of rice.


6.  Enjoy :) 

Anyone have any fail-proof Chinese recipes they wanna throw my way?

Mar 2, 2014

Basement Update

Did you think I had forgotten about my basement? You know....this one?

Promise. I hadn't forgotten. In fact, I wanted to take an entire corner of the basement and turn it into my craft room. I've been scouring Pinterest for pictures of unfinished basement offices and I'm actually pretty impressed over peoples ability to make concrete look cute. So, that's my plan. 

A couple Fridays ago, I sent Avery off to school and tackled my nightmare of a basement. I got an insane amount done. I swept and I unpacked and I sorted. But I still hadn't done much to my craft area. 

This is what it looked like prior to tonight. 



I had moved all the boxes that had my office/craft things over to that corner. I moved a couple of bookcases and made a craft table/desk (more on that in another post). But that's about it. 

So I decided to work on it a little more tonight after Avery went to bed. After an hour and 45 minutes of working, this is what I had done. 




I've unpacked almost all the boxes that contained my craft things. I've organized my canvases and paints and other odds and ends.

I still have more organizing to do. I'm going to paint one of the walls and get some more storage bins. Thank you to everyone with an order that been patient. Now you see what I'm tackling before your stuff gets done!

But I have two really big projects I'm wanting to finish before I can really call this little corner of the basement home for my crafting. Because this is located in a big open room of our unfinished basement, I need a way to section this part off to make it secluded. You know, give it walls without giving it actual walls (because finishing our basement won't be happening for a little while longer). First, I thought of room dividers. While I haven't actually measured exact dimensions of the room, I know it's a pretty good space and it would take quite a few dividers to close this off. So, no dividers. Too expensive. 

Then, I thought of bed sheets. But I really do want this to be a cute solution and I'm afraid that hanging bed sheets will make it look.....silly? Shoddy? I don't know.

Then, I thought of curtains. But again, it's a big area and, unless I found the curtains on an insanely good sale, this would also be an expensive option. 

So, there's project number one to be figured out.

Project number two: I need a rolly chair. Because this is a big room and my things will be located in different places, I do want a chair on wheels. But office chairs are expensive. I looked at them today at Walmart and they were $59 and up. Not an option. I would like something comfortable, but also cute and cheap. Too much to ask? 

In short, no, I have not forgotten about my basement. But it's still a massive work in progress. Any volunteers?? 


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