Kitchen Re-do on a "2 kids under 2" budget

I'm an HGTV and design blog addict. While I am not, by any stretch of the imagination, a designer, I decided I am going to post before and after pictures of our new house as the rooms evolve and projects get completed.

Our first project was the kitchen. The changes were few, but the impact was huge!

What we did:
1) painted the cupboards black
2) added cabinet hardware
3) changed the wall color
4) painted the trim
5) changed the light fixture over table
6) window coverings
7) new appliances

What we want to do:
1) bamboo or maple floors
2) french doors to backyard
3) new pantry door
4) pendent light over the sink
5) update all the light switches and switch plates (believe it or not, pretty expensive project)

Before


After




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note: we haven't installed the new blinds yet because someone measured wrong, and we aren't sure if we are keeping them. I will post another pic when and if we do install them...

Susan ain't lazy. She's a genius!

Whoever named this ingenious product (probably her husband) needs a swift kick in the rear. It is, by far, one of my favorite organizing tools as of late- the lazy Susan!! Susan is far from lazy by the way. The woman was clearly a genius.

Just as "going vertical" maximizes storage, the "merry-go-round" approach maximizes accessibilty. For years I have struggled with my under sink storage. I am a hoarder of cleaning products and I have always struggled to find a way to organize my "collection" in a way that is easily accessible. It never fails- go to grab the pledge and knock over 8 other products in the process; While trying to complete one task, I created another (that being the picking up of said products). Sad face... Until about a month ago that is. I had an epiphany! Put a lazy Susan under the sink! I can now grab what I need EASILY! Oh, happy days are here again!



It got me thinking. Where else could Susan's laziness change my life? The fridge! Anyone else do the "crouch down and search despairingly under the clear shelf" move to find that sneaky tub of butter? Well, no more crouching for this gal! Thank you Susan!



I'm sure there are about a ga-zillion other places in my home in desperate need of a lazy Susan, but for now I'm going to enjoy these two small victories. How about you? Where could Susan's laziness (or genius) solve one of your storage woes?

Mothers Day: Keeping it Real

Yesterday was Mothers Day. I would like to declare that I had a blissful, relaxing day. That my breakfast was brought to me in bed and that I spent the rest of the day napping and making memories with my grateful children and admiring spouse. But, C'mon Man!! Let's keep it real. My Mothers Day lasted from approximately 7-7:15 AM. Yup. A whole 15 minutes all about me. Most of the day was spent doing the mundane and for most of the day, one or both of my children were crying. There were times over the course of the day that I thought, "really?", but for every hard moment there was a beautiful moment. Here are the highlights... The good with the bad.

I Woke at 7AM to the whimpering of my parasite daughter. (Side note: I think I had gotten approximately 5 hours of interrupted sleep.) After much debate, I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, and decided it would be in my best interests to feed her before her whimpers escalated to wailing. My gift from her: she smiled up at me. Best.Gift.Ever. I'm glad I fed her :).

I went downstairs around 7:10. As soon as he saw me, Rex exclaimed "Momma, Momma!"- Best.Gift.Ever

Tyler had a card and a gift waiting for me on the counter. We joke about greeting cards. How silly they are (i.e. do you like what some other guy wrote for you?), but we both give them to each other on each and every greeting card occasion. Keeping the romance alive, people! I also got a candle. Part of me (the crazy part) screamed "you got me a candle?!! I have given you two children in two years, and you got me a candle?!" The other part of me (the sane part) said thank you and acknowledged and recognized that amidst the chaos of moving, getting our townhouse ready for renters(including painting the whole house), working full- time and parenting our children, he found a window of opportunity to get me something. It really is the thought that counts. Navigating this crazy life together and not ending up on Dr. Phil yet- Best.Gift.Ever

That takes us to 7:15. Mothers Day effectively over... But everything I needed was in those 15 minutes.

Survival tip: Don't overlook what really matters.

We have our health. We have a home. We have each other.

P.S. this was all realized in hindsight. Just keeping it real :).