Kitchen Update - Part 2

A couple of weeks ago,  I posted about the pleasures of removing our popcorn ceiling.  I can't tell you how relieved I was to cross that off my list.  The project was painting, painting, and more painting -- walls & cabinets.

The walls had been the same color (a nice, neutral beige) since we moved into the house in 2002.  I'm not going to lie - I liked it and had intentions of repeating with the same color.

But everyone kept saying - if you are going to paint, WHY paint it the same color?   I'll tell you why - I tend to play it safe that's why!   Well, the more I thought about it - the crazier I realized I was - we needed to step out of the box and try something different.   Replacing countertops was not in our budget, so we decided to go with a color that worked with the hideous color (dark blue-green) instead of working against it.  We chose Sherwin Williams -Tidewater.  Oh my stars - I LOVE IT!

The picture is a little darker than the actual walls.

It brightens up the space!  I wasn't completely convinced at first - it reminded me of a baby's nursery.  However, once we got the kitchen "put back together" - I loved it.  Our furniture is warm oak with honey tones and it complements the paint color.  The pictures I've posted are in the eat-in area of the kitchen. 

Here's one more picture and a sneak peek at one my favorite (and functional) accessories so far!

This picture is more true to color.

More to come...

Thanksgiving 2012

I was a bit of a procrastinator in getting prepared for Thanksgiving this year.  No particular reason - just lots of different things going - maybe I was stressed, but like always it all came together in the end.

For the past two years, I have participated in our local "Turkey Strut".   After awhile the race registrations add up, so I didn't register this year.  All along I thought I would do a 5K through our neighborhood, we have a nice route.  Thanksgiving morning came and I had a million things still left on the to-do list:  make deviled eggs; make fruit salad;  (oh, did I mention I hadn't been to the grocery store yet?!); clean kitchen; vacuum house... and on and on.   Super husband and super son were busy trying to gather the leaves that had fallen last week - for some reason they always accumulate around the front of our house and get tracked inside.   We're all making nice progress - gotta love TEAMWORK - before I realize it, it's noon and we're done!  Our guests aren't arriving until 5p, so I have plenty of time.  And then the excuses begin --

• I've worked hard this morning - I should relax until company arrives.
• What if the virtual 5K times are posted like last year?  Then, I'll feel defeated b/c I'm sure I will be slower than last year.
• I can do it tomorrow when I don't have any plans.
• Still struggling with what the "right" thing to do for my back.

You see where this was going right?  Several friends started posting on Facebook about what a fun time they had on Turkey Trots, Gobble Wobbles, etc and I said ENOUGH is ENOUGH.  And headed out for my own 5K.

And, in under 48 minutes it was DONE!

2012 Third Annual Thankful Virtual 5K

For the past couple of years,  I've done the local "Turkey Strut 5K" on Thanksgiving Day with family.   It really is a wonderful way to get the day started.   Last year, I participated in a Virtual 5K hosted by A Journey to Thin.  Alissa is hosting another Virtual 5K this year, so hop on over to her blog and let her know you'll be participating -- there are some great prizes up for grabs!

Upcycled Christmas Ornament - Angel

Over the past several months, my best pals - Angie & Sally - and I have gotten together for Pinterest craft nights.  We take turns hosting and coming up with ideas using Pinterest as our inspiration.   When possible we try to recycle, upcycle and repurpose items,  the past couple of Pinterest nights we've worked on Christmas items. 

Angie's sister-in-law gave us a bag full of empty shot gun shells.  Hmm!   We searched for some inspiration and found some - but I am most in love with what I came up with this morning.  An ANGEL ornament!!

The only thing that would make them more perfect -- silver wings, but the green glittery wings work just fine too! 

Kitchen Update on a Dime - Part 1: The Ceiling.. uh Popcorn

Well, it's obviously been awhile since I've posted.   After graduation, I got incredibly lazy and just enjoyed doing absolutely nothing.  For three years, I burned the candle at both ends - working full-time, going to school full-time, trying to maintain a home, be a good wife and mother - needless to say I crashed and burned.  :)

Alas, it didn't last too long.  I started on my kitchen.  For a couple of years, I've been wanting to do some updates (click here for previous post!).  However, updates cost money - cha-ching!   My main issue was the popcorn ceiling - it had started to crack in several places, so I thought it would come down easy peasy.   Handy Randy (our neighbor) advised me to be very careful because any knicks into the sheetrock would have to be repaired.  To err on the side of caution, I decided to use a plastic putty knife to get things started.

Well at the end of day 1 (I should note I worked on this after work, so you won't think I'm a complete loser), it looked like this...

Lessons learned from Day 1:

• Plastic, plastic and more plastic - it needs to cover EVERYTHING.  This is a dusty job.
• Time - I need more of it because this is going to take FOREVER.
• Music - Tunes need to be rocking or you'll lose your mind!
• Hubby - Did I mention I got the bright idea to do this when he was unable to help?!  He had a medical procedure and was unable to lift his arm above shoulder height or lift anything heavy for 6 weeks!

Onward to Day 3 - let's keep scraping, scraping, and scraping and it's finally done!

Lessons learned from Day 2:

• Metal putty knife is necessary!  Some friends stopped by to help.  They had metal putty knives - I cringed but I'm certainly not going to turn down help b/c at this rate it is going to take FOREVER!  Their first scrape and it unzips off the ceiling like a zipper.  REALLY!!   I grabbed my metal putty knife and we had the ceiling down by the end of the night.  
• Friends - I needed them.  This was my first DIY major project and it didn't take me long to realize I bit off more than I can chew.  Thankful for their words of encouragement!
• Water is not necessary at least not for me! I had read to spray a small section and scrape, but once I switched over to the metal putty knife it came down so easy.

Day 4 - sanding, putty, sanding, putty... sanding, sanding, sanding.  I feel like I went over the ceiling a thousand times.  I wanted it to be perfect.

Day 5 or 6 and I'm losing my mind -- I want my kitchen back.  I'm tired of the plastic, dust. My family is tired of sandwiches.  Haha!

Again, I'm not sure what day we are on maybe 7 or 8 at this point.  It's finally primed.  I used Sherwin Williams products and couldn't be more pleased, and no, I wasn't paid to say that.  The staff at my local store were incredibly knowledgeable, helpful, and patient with me.  My memory is failing me now, but I think we did 2 coats of primer and 2 coats of paint.  We went with a flat white.  I love the clean look of white.

Here it is finally DONE!  It's not perfect - if you really look, you can tell I should have sanded more.  However my theory is - if someone notices the imperfections and it bothers them - then they don't need to be in my house!   It was a definite labor of love.   Will I tackle other rooms?   Hahaha!!!   I would like to think future rooms might be a bit smoother in the process as this was complete trial and error, but NO I don't intend to do any other rooms in the near future. 

I'll post more later this week on the cabinets, wall color and other updates!